Geezer wrote:shin2
Re: All the hub-bub about the NFL cracking down on violent hits and the major fines and suspensions they are preparing to hand out.
I read a comment from Joe Paterno and I was wondering if you had any thoughts. His solution would be to remove the face mask from the helmet.
"I have been saying (it) for 15 years," Paterno said. "Then, you would get back to shoulder blocking and shoulder tackling and you wouldn't have all those heroes out there. Guys (would) have to worry about broken noses, knocked-out teeth, which we would like to prevent, but you don't get anything for nothing. "We used to have one single bar; now we have a weapon."
I think I buy it. I wasn't around in the no face mask era... but I know we were never taught to block or tackle with our heads or faces.
I can see how removing the cage would change the way guys tackled. But do you think it would hurt the game?
I think removing the face mask would change how the game is played. Despite helmet posters being pasted up in every single football locker room from high school to the pros which warn against leading with the helmet, that's how blocking and tackling have been taught for a number of decades. For example, since probably the middle 80's, virtually all blocking sleds are built to teach this type of technique.
Is Coach Paterno right in saying that going maskless will probably deter many players with leading with their helmets? It sounds logical. In terms of run blocking, that would create a huge change in technique from leading with the head and hands to shoulder blocking. The zone-blocking schemes which are so prevalent in the running game would be difficult to execute. Pass blocking however, probably wouldn't be affected. Strike techniques for defensive linemen would definitely change; they'd be less aggressive, and you'd probably see more slanting and stunting by them to compensate. As far as tackling, as someone else noted, you'd probably see more rugby-style tackling: high hits, more grabbing and wrestling ball carriers down than the violent strikes you see currently in football from high school through college to the pros.
The most catastrophic head injuries, such as those leading to paralysis, are usually when the crown of the head is dealt a blow, not when a player plants his face mask into an opponent. So would eliminating the face mask lead to more players ducking their heads and exposing their crowns to hits? Or what about if players still decide to use the helmet as a weapon and strike, not with their head up, but with their head down?
Also, would those involved in football from players to coaches to school administrators to parents to athletic associations allow a piece of equipment to be worn that provides less safety than what is currently being used now?