The Falcons thought they were prepared for the NFL’s new rule that outlaws lowering a helmet to make a hit.
The team reasoned that because they are a rugby-style tackling team that leads with a shoulder, they would be nearly immune from the new rule.
However, early in the exhibition opener against the New York Jets on Friday, the rule came up on some unexpected plays.
On a kickoff return with 4:38 left in the first quarter, Falcons running back Ito Smith was tackled by Jets cornerback Buster Skrine. Both players appeared to use their helmets, but Skrine was flagged for “lowering the head to initiate contact.”
Two plays later, Smith was blocking after quarterback Matt Schaub completed a pass to wide receiver Reggie Davis and the running back was flagged for lowering his head.
“The first two that I saw, I had a good look at,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said after the game on Friday. “I thought they were the correct call.”
With 1:14 left in the second quarter, safety Damontae Kazee, who played a fantastic game and led the Falcons with 11 tackles, was flagged for lowering his helmet.
“I didn’t see Kazee’s, the second one,” Quinn said.
The rule was passed this offseaon. Many people point to the neck injury suffered by Pittsburgh linebacker Ryan Shazier last season as the impetus for the rule change.
The rule was adopted for the players’ own safety, according to Rich McKay, the Falcons’ president and head of the NFL’s powerful competition committee.
As written, the rule makes sense. The problem is going to be with the enforcement by the officials. The design is to get helmet-leading attacks, which used to be called spearing, out of the game.
“What we’re really trying to do with a rule like this is we are trying to have the game changed at all levels with respect to use of the helmet,” McKay said on the team’s web site recently. “Do I think it’s going to dramatically change the way football is played? No, because I don’t believe the helmet was being used this way in the ’70s and ’80s close to the amount it is being used today – and I think that’s what this rule is trying to get at.”
Quinn just wants to know how the rule is going to be called in games.
“I’m anxious to go and look back at those,” Quinn said. “It’s an emphasis. I was disappointed to see our team (get called for that penalty). We take such pride in that, to (not) have those fouls.”
The Falcons have two days off before returning to practice on Monday. During the time, the film staff will compile all of the helmet penalties from the first week of the exhibition season to review.
“We are not only going to show ours, but we’ll show those from around the league this week so that we’ll have more teaching (opportunities),” Quinn said. “Clearly, we have more work to do in that area. We’ll devote the time to it because it is that important.”
The Smith call on a pass play is of keen interest to Quinn.
“I was surprised that it happened on a pass play by a blocker ... we knew it could happen on a receiver on a crack block or maybe an offensive lineman that was pulling,” Quinn said. “But maybe that’s one, that’s part of it. If that’s the way it’s going to be officiated, that’s good that it happened now. So not only for our team, but for teams around the league.”
Overall, the Falcons amassed 10 penalties for 71 yards.
The first-team offense’s only series was sabotaged by two penalties.
On the first play from scrimmage, there was an illegal shift. Two plays later, wide receiver Justin Hardy was called for an illegal block.
The Falcons couldn’t overcome those penalties and were forced to punt.
A problem from last season also reared its head -- penalties on a specials teams play.
Kemal Ishmael’s illegal block above the waist cost the offense 10 yards in the second quarter. Instead of starting on the 27, the drive started at the 17.
Quinn was not pleased with the team’s play.
“I (didn’t) like the sloppiness,” Quinn said. “I (didn’t) like the penalties. We can be better at the ball and going after it. So those are two of things at the top of the list going into the game that I thought we missed our mark.”
Credit: Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Credit: Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
About the Author
