I haven’t studied the replays of the hits on Luther and Powell, but here are my thoughts about what I DID see.
Luther: To be honest, I really only saw the outcome, but not the initial hit. I saw him get twisted and the further punishment, and my emptions immediately thought dirty hit". On the replay that I saw, I’m not so sure. Yes, it was violent, yes, it seemed high, but I don’t think it was dirty. Just a fery violent hit that ended in a scary injury.
We also have to realize that the Command Centre would have automatically reviewed the play, as it resulted in a turnover. They also have to power to call a penalty if it’s warranted, and one was NOT called. We all know the issues of the CC from last week, but I feel as if they would have stepped-in if it was an illegal hit.
Powell: From what I saw, he was being tackled and heading to the turf when he got hit in the head. I call this “unfortunate”, because the Defender was in the motion of making a perfectly legal tackle when their helmets connected. Again, the CC could have called a penalty if it was warranted. Maybe there are other angles that I didn’t see, but I can only go by what I saw.
The other thing to consider is that Milanovich did NOT challenge either play - for an illegal hit on Luther (that caused the fumble) or RTP on the Powell hit. He would have gotten advice from the coach’s box whether or not to throw the challenge flag.
Could someone please post vids of the two hits, with as many replays as possible? I think this is a pretty good topic to debate.
I thought it was a clothesline on Luther and head on head on Powell.
2 high hits. 2 ambulances. I don’t put it on the on field referrees as much as the command centre.
Would anyone have questioned calls on those plays?
Player safety? Really?
The fact there’s a debate about dangerous high hits that sent players to the hospital demonstrates to me that there shouldn’t be a debate. Err on the side of safety.
As son as he tucked the ball and crossed the LOS he’s no longre considered a QB - he’s a running offensive player.
Again, FROM WHAT I SAW, I didn’t think it warranted a penalty. The defender was already in the act of making a tackle that would have hit him somewhere around the hips, and I don’t believe he had the opportunity to alter his trajectory. Powell was being tackled and heading to the turf when the helmets collided.
This is why I would like to see the replays. It’s almost impossible to tell without being able to see them.
It’s quite possible that both hits were 100% clean according to the rulebook.
I would love if TSN provided an analysis of some sort during the 40 minutes the game was delayed, but we all know that story, so we’re left to figure it out ourselves.
I guess my issue is that the refs have no problem throwing a flag, especially against us, for more border line calls.
Plenty of times we’ve had to challenge and got the correct call.
My issue here is these were NOT border line. Very obvious, severe injuries occurred.
Why not throw a flag just to have the opportunity to discuss it with the other onfield officials or CC? We’ve seen then pick up flags before and announce there is no infraction on the play (with no explanation).
At the very least, the same player hurt both powell and Luther. The tone of the game was getting bad, is there not a warning, conversation, something to have been had with the Elk player or coach?
It’s just baffling 2 guys can go to the hospital within the first 10 minutes of rhe game and not a single flag or action taken by the ref to “get things under control” like hockey refs do.
I’m 100% in the it was clean camp. Had they called unnecessary roughness I don’t think it would have been considered an egregious call, but I have no problem with the no call.
With regard to Powell, I’d say it’s 100% clean if it’s any player other than the QB. I believe their shoulders collided and then their helmets whacked together. I don’t believe he led with the head, targeted the head, made first contact with the head. With Powell being a QB, being out of the pocket, being over the line of scrimmage, and choosing not to slide, I think the players need to be able to make a football play. If there’s a QB rule protecting him from any helmet contact at that point then I guess it’s a penalty. I however don’t believe that one should be a penalty either.
Afraid I’m not in the clean group for either hit. What I saw was Morgan at the start of the tackle hitting Haku with his forarm to the side of the head in the neck area. Then on the Powel hit leading with the crown of his helmet from above and slightly behind to the side of powel’s head when he was already being tackled and was almost down. In my mind they both should have been UR penalties based on the rules f and arguably i for the Haku incident & g for Powel from the rule book below. .
Rule 7 Article 4
g. Using the helmet as the initial or primary point of contact to butt, ram, spear, or deliver a blow to an opponent who is in a vulnerable position, including but not limited to, a passer, a receiver in the act of catching a pass, a ball carrier in the grasp of another tackler or a ball carrier on the playing surface not attempting to advance,
NOTE: The expanded definitions of butt, ram and spear are:
Butt: When a player suddenly and quickly moves their head to strike an opponent with their helmet or face mask.
Ram: When a player who is in motion and on their feet uses their helmet as the primary point of contact to deliver a blow to an opponent. If the facemask is the initial point of contact on the opponent, it shall not be a penalty under this rule.
Spear: When a player uses the top of their helmet as the primary point of contact to deliver a blow to an opponent.
f. Delivering a blow to an opponent in the neck or head,
i It shall be illegal to tackle around the head in the open field
I’m in full agreement with 60YearFan, not because I’m a 70 year fan, but because of what I believe I saw in the replays. In fact the right arm clothesline, I think we can call it that, may, IMO, have knocked Luther out, instantly, which could explain how there appeared to be no response, from his body, through the immediately following hits and twists.
Luther was in the grasp of a tackler when #5 Kai Gray’s helmet was the initial point of contact with the facemask of Luther’s helmet.
Taylor was in the grasp of a tackler when #45 Nyles Morgan’s helmet was the initial point of contact with the side of Taylor’s helmet.
Hopefully Morgan will be fined this week for both hits. Before he ends a player’s career.
The same defender involved in two hospitalizations is not coincidence.
This is a whole highlight pack. Forearm shiver to Luther. Head/ neck area.
Good Slo motion view of the same reckless player identifying his target, closing his eyes and smashing Powell in the head as his helmet rolls around on the field.
And finally BOs interception dump off that goes through Bell’s hands. He had no chance of scoring and there was an open receiver you can see to the right.
I just saw the replays of the Powell hit, at full speed and slo-mo.
From what I saw, it was a shoulder-to-shoulder hit, and the defender had his head tilted away - just as they are taught.
The violence of the hit caused their helmets to collide, but the primary impact was completely legal.