‘What is a tackle?’ is the new ‘What is a catch?’ in the NFL and the Minnesota Vikings believe it could cost teams games and jobs.
It was last December. After a brutal hit against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football got him in hot water with the league, Pittsburgh Steelers safety Mike Mitchell gave his concerns to the media in an animated press scrum. Although there were many thoughts thrown around in the 90-second rant, there was one comment that stood out above the rest.
"“I signed up to play full-speed, contact tackle football and I feel like we’re not doing that,” Mitchell said in the video posted by The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly. “I feel like I have to ask a guy ‘Hey, are you ready for me to hit you?’ Before I hit you.”"
Fast forward nine months on the calendar and it’s almost like Mitchell’s words were a foreshadowing. The NFL preseason has literally become flag football and we’re not talking about yellow rags hanging from the player’s waists. We’re talking about the yellow rags flying through the air as officials try to enforce new tackling rules that require to lead with the face mask and not put all their weight down while making a tackle.
In a game where players can be flying around the field at top speeds over 20 miles per hour, the question of what is a legal tackle is a hot-button topic heading into the regular season.
"“The one that they [Jacksonville] had called on them, and [CJ] Ham, the guy is tackling him around his legs and he had his head to the side for the most part,” Minnesota Vikings head coach said of a play in Saturday’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this week. “I actually sent that in, to ask them, ‘Why was this called?’ Then you see other places, because I go through the tape with the other coaches, I said, ‘I wonder if this is a penalty, I wonder if this is a penalty.”"
Along with Jacksonville’s penalty, the Minnesota Vikings were victims of the rule when Antwione Williams was called for roughing the passer on a play that looked like a standard tackle.
Like most rules regarding tackling, the main goal is to make tackling safer. The problem here is that the process of making a tackle has been complicated. There are too many things to remember when playing a high-speed game such as football.
"“I want to drive home the point that, especially as defensive players and as ball carries, we want the game to be as safe as you can make it,” Vikings safety Harrison Smith told reporters on Monday. “No matter what, it is football and we are out there hitting. It’s not always going to be possible. We’re not resistant to these changes, they just need to be physically possible, I guess.”"
The safety of the game is incredibly important, but it’s also important to remember that this is what the players signed up for. Even though the risk of CTE is now known, there is still a steady line of players trying to get a job in the National Football League. It’s the equivalent of someone who works in construction upset in their 50s when they can’t walk. They knew the risks and they still signed up for it — just as Mitchell said last winter.
The helmet and (as some Vikings fans have dubbed it) “The Aaron Rodgers Rule” could have an effect on any team’s season. For Minnesota, their hard-hitting defense (especially safeties Smith, Andrew Sendejo and the newly signed George Iloka) will likely draw its fair share of flags this season.
Regardless of what team it is. In a sport where playoff spots and even jobs can be saved or lost on a single play, the tackling rules almost seem like a point of resignation.
"“I don’t fear it,” Smith said. “It’s going to happen. Without a doubt that is going to happen. If you get a big sack, that changes field position, that changes getting a guy out of field goal range, get them on third and long or something like that, or get off the field at third down. Then it’s a whole new set of downs, it’s going to change games.”"
Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer echoed those sentiments. And while the team hasn’t had to deal with those penalties being called on them too much yet, it’s only a matter of time until the new rules make a major impact on the outcome of a game, and possibly some NFL careers.
"“It’s going to cost some people some jobs,” Zimmer said. “Playoffs, jobs, the whole bit, I’m guessing. We haven’t had any called on us so far. It’s just hard to figure out.”"