Crusader

Lets not guess about it:

ARTICLE 6. CRACKBACK BLOCK

All Crackback Blocks are illegal. It is a Crackback Block if the following conditions are fulfilled:

The block occurs within an area five yards on either side of the line of scrimmage, including within close-line play, by an offensive player who is moving toward the position from which the ball was snapped; and

(a) the offensive player was in a set position and aligned more than two yards outside an offensive tackle (flexed) when the ball was snapped; or
(b) the offensive player was in a backfield position when the ball was snapped and moved to a position more than two yards outside an offensive tackle; or
(c) the offensive player was in a backfield position and in motion when the ball was snapped.

Note: If there is a broken play, significantly changing the original direction, the crackback block is legal. When the change in direction is the result of a designed play (reverse), the restriction remains in effect.

The following is prohibited against a player who is the recipient of a Crackback Block:

(a) Contacting him below the waist;
(b) forcibly hitting his head or neck area with the helmet, facemask, forearm, or shoulder, even if the initial contact is lower than the player’s neck;
(c) lowering the head and making forcible contact with any part of the helmet against any part of the defensive player’s body; or
(d) illegally launching into him. It is an illegal launch if a player (i) leaves both feet prior to contact to spring forward and upward into his opponent, and (ii) uses any part of his helmet to initiate forcible contact against any part of his opponent’s body. (This does not apply to contact against a runner, unless the runner is still considered to be a defenseless player, as defined in Article 9.)

Note: A player who initiates contact against such an opponent is responsible for avoiding an illegal act. A standard of strict liability applies for any contact against an opponent, even if his body position is in motion, and irrespective of any acts by him, such as ducking his head or curling up his body in anticipation of contact.

Penalty: For a crackback block: Loss of 15 yards.

https://operations.nfl.com/the-rules...rackback-block

W.T. Sherman is my favorite General. After all he did order Atlanta to be burned to the ground.

hitta

Hmm, is that a recent change.. it wasn't that way a few years ago. I know in 2017 they made crackback blocks from guys in motion illegal. The rule still made crackback blocks that were not high or low legal though. It must be a new rule this year.

hitta

****. Yea they changed it in this off-season. That is a dumb change. Even the wording is dumb. What constitutes a broken play? Is that at the discretion of the official?

Rugby Saint II

No mention of them hitting Cook in a defenseless position that was also egregious.

saintsfan1976

PLAYERS IN A DEFENSELESS POSTURE

It is a foul if a player initiates unnecessary contact against a player who is in a defenseless posture.

Players in a defenseless posture are:
A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass (passing posture)
A receiver attempting to catch a pass who has not had time to clearly become a runner. If the player is capable of avoiding or warding off the impending contact of an opponent, he is no longer a defenseless player
The intended receiver of a pass in the action during and immediately following an interception or potential interception. If the player is capable of avoiding or warding off the impending contact of an opponent, he is no longer a defenseless player.
Note: Violations of this provision will be enforced after the interception, and the intercepting team will maintain possession.

A runner already in the grasp of a tackler and whose forward progress has been stopped
A kickoff or punt returner attempting to field a kick in the air
A player on the ground
A kicker/punter during the kick or during the return (Also see Article 6(h) for additional restrictions against a kicker/punter)
A quarterback at any time after a change of possession (Also see Article 9(f) for additional restrictions against a quarterback after a change of possession)
A player who receives a “blindside” block when the path of the offensive blocker is toward or parallel to his own end line.
A player who is protected from an illegal crackback block (see Article 2)
The offensive player who attempts a snap during a Field Goal attempt or a Try Kick
Prohibited contact against a player who is in a defenseless posture is:
forcibly hitting the defenseless player’s head or neck area with the helmet, facemask, forearm, or shoulder, even if the initial contact is lower than the player’s neck, and regardless of whether the defensive player also uses his arms to tackle the defenselessplayer by encircling or grasping him
lowering the head and making forcible contact with the crown or ”hairline” parts of the helmet against any part of the defenselessplayer’s body
illegally launching into a defenseless opponent. It is an illegal launch if a player (i) leaves both feet prior to contact to spring forward and upward into his opponent, and (ii) uses any part of his helmet to initiate forcible contact against any part of his opponent’s body. (This does not apply to contact against a runner, unless the runner is still considered to be a defenseless player, as defined in Article 7.)

Vrillon82

No one mention where one ram player yanked off and threw the helmet during 1 play and not a flag anywhere for it?