The NFL has voted and a new rule has surfaced “to protect the players”. The new rule states that a runner shall not lower their head while making contact with a defender and if this happens a 15 yard penalty will be enforced. Now I have milled over this the past 48 hours and I’ll tell you, when I first heard about the rule I was absolutely livid. I could not believe what I was hearing. You’d think the use of the running game will forever be changed, but the truth is, it won’t be.
Hear me out…
Yes the runner can’t lower their heads but when you think about it what are they really giving up here? Two maybe three extra yards? Granted there will be that one play but how often have you seen a big play set up from a running back lowering their head? The only time you really see it is when they have no other option, they know they are going to get hit, so they lower their head in hopes they can squeak out a couple more yards. For instance look at A.P’s fantastic year last season. In each of his big plays (there are a ton) he lowered his head only a few times and accomplished nothing, a yard if that.
The rule may however change the strategy on third and short. It used to be in this situation you would bring in your back to grind out those last few yards. Now with this new rule you would need one of two things.
- A running back with the upper body strength of Adrian Peterson.
- Or you would need a stellar run blocking o-line, because once a defender hits your running back you can pretty much guarantee your punter or kicker will be coming out.
So with that said we will probably see more screens or quick slants on third and short situations, which honestly I can live with. On the other side of things though this rule will also slow down the game even more, which I am not looking forward to and not to mention some bad calls by the refs.
Wow so they really passed that rule…last time I checked football was a contact sport. Calling bank now to set up my lowering the boom fund
— Matt Forte (@MattForte22) March 20, 2013
Guess I'll get my fine money ready #loweringtheboomfund
— Matt Forte (@MattForte22) March 20, 2013
Next year they'll probably be a no jumping over defenders rule… #loweringtheboomfund
— Matt Forte (@MattForte22) March 20, 2013
So whats a back to do? It’s simple, become more versatile…
You need to be fast or a fullback disguised as a running back. You have to be able to juke and make spins. But If that’s not your style then your stiff arm has to be stellar. The league also didn’t say you can’t lower your shoulder, so backs can still lay the wood. The power element is still available; it is just now a little watered down. I still believe we will see big plays on the running side of the ball as this new rule only changes the running game slightly.
Football will survive for another season I promise.