New NFL rule on QB hits creating concern for the read-option

[Auggie]

espn

San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh wants to ensure that mobile quarterback Colin Kaepernick isn't blatantly targeted Sunday by the Green Bay Packers, so he has gone to the NFL for clarity about when Kaepernick is supposed to be safe before he's declared a runner.

Kaepernick ran the read-option to near perfection on a big stage against Green Bay in the NFC divisional round in January. By league rule, a quarterback in that scheme isn't as protected as his peers once he leaves the pocket and it's clear he's running.

"You're hearing a lot of tough talk right now. You're hearing some intimidating type of talk, the same thing we were hearing a couple years ago," Harbaugh said Wednesday. "It sounds a lot like targeting a specific player. You definitely start to wonder.

SNIP

"One of the things that the referees have told us is that when these quarterbacks carry out the fakes, they lose their right as a quarterback, a pocket-passing quarterback, the protection of a quarterback," (Green Bay Packers Linebacker Clay) Matthews said. "So with that, you do have to take your shots on the quarterback, and obviously they're too important to their offense.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9637065/jim-harbaugh-san-francisco-49ers-green-bay-packers-talk-seems-targeting-colin-kaepernick

As we all remember, Kaepernick humiliated the Packers defense in the playoffs last year while rushing for 181 yards. So I totally get Harbaugh's concern over revenge-type talk.

[trotsky]

1. I hate both the Pukers and the Farty-Whiners so I don't have a dog in this hunt.

So I will just say that Harbaugh is true to his team's name. A whiner.

[Auggie]

2. It's a legitmate request for everyone to be on the same page regarding rules

that affect your primary offensive attack and potential season-ending injuries at the quarterback posioitn. Pete Carroll and Mike Shanahan should take note too.

[trotsky]

3. Then he should just ask...

and not throw in crap about "you start to wonder" and casting aspersions (or asparagus!) at other professionals.

He's a whiner.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/jim-harbaugh-vows-handle-super-bowl-loss-class-055335133--nfl.html

[Auggie]

4. I agree ... Harbaugh should not throw asparagus

[Goblinmonger]

5. But they aren't going to hit a running QB any harder

than they would a RB. So should we install rules to protect Peterson? He's as valuable as any QB and takes some pretty serious hits. If you have a QB that can't take a hit, don't run him. I, like trotsky, hate the Packers and the 49ers, but a lot of the reason the 9ers were able to smack the Packers was the rule that protected the QB in that instance.

[Auggie]

6. A quarterback is much more valuable and fragile than a running back. Even Peterson.

What Harbaugh wants clarified is when protection ends and begins. Otherwise a QB could be a sitting duck.

From the link:

"The quarterback can be hit like a runner until he's clearly out of the play," (NFL vice president of officiating Dean) Blandino said in the video.

Blandino noted that if a quarterback is carrying out an option fake, normal unnecessary roughness rules apply. But once the quarterback hands the ball off on an option play, he is protected and cannot be unnecessarily contacted if he is backing up, fading backward or standing still.

I find "clearly out of the play" a bit ambiguous. I'm sure it'll be a point of contention during the season.