The Slide
Trevor Lawrence was the subject of a nasty hit this weekend after being hit while baseball sliding after a 6-yard scramble in the Jaguars game against the Texans. The hit was made by Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair, who has since been suspended 3 games for the hit.
Lawrence was taken back after the hit and has since been seen walking and in good spirits. He is in the NFL's concussion protocol and is likely to miss the team's next game in Tennessee.
It was definitely a bang-bang play on both sides which is one of the reasons preventing late hits on QBs has been very difficult for the NFL. The matter is not black and white and there are many factors on both sides of the ball that make the idea of changing anything difficult.
That being said, this "late hit" by Al-Shaair may be the final straw that causes the NFL to fundamentally change something. While it can be argued that defenders should have the right to defend themselves in the scenario especially in this case, (Lawrence being 6'6" and 220 pounds) Lawrence was already sliding before Al-Shaair lowered his forearm and dove for the hit. The play happened fast as is the nature of the NFL, but in deep diving into the play, Al-Shaair seemed to be purposely diving at Lawrence at a level indicative of him seeing the slide beforehand.
Azeez Al-Shaair
Al-Shaair has been an exceptional linebacker for the Texans this season after being one of their biggest Free Agency signings in the offseason. He has had a captain-like role on the defense and leads the team in solo tackles.
Al-Shaair has also struggled with following safety rules this season, with his late hit on Lawrence being his third violation of the year and second in as many weeks. His infractions have included a very late hit last week on Tony Pollard who was already out of bounds, throwing a punch at Roschon Johnson of the Bears after Al-Shaair made a physical tackle on Caleb Williams on the same play and the latest Lawrence hit.
In a statement made by NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan about Azeez Al-Shaair, he stated, "Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules puts the health and safety of both you and your opponents in jeopardy and will not be tolerated."
Al-Shaair's three-game suspension without pay will start this week and he will be able to be back on the field in the team's Week 18 matchup at Tennessee.
No Love for the Defense?
The biggest issue comes from the defensive side of the debate. Defensive players have had a disadvantage for several years now do to the NFL doing it's best to overtly protect it's offensive players and specifically Quarterbacks without much regard to the defenders. The NFL adds to or invents new penalties seemingly every couple of years to attempt to prevent injuries and most of them seem to also go above and beyond to protect Quarterbacks or skill players from taking punishment.
Most have caught on to the fact that the NFL's most advertisable and marketable players fall under these guidelines as well and have correlated the fact that the NFL seems protect it's most marketable stars to increase their, (and their teams') profits.
Playing defense and tackling these world class athletes is already difficult enough without the extra penalties. This is and will be one of the main arguments for player like Al-Shaair, who's actions aren't condonable but can be explained using this argument.
Was the Hit Dirty?
Most everyone outside of the Texan's facility who've seen the play believe the hit to be dirty. Lawrence was starting his slide before Al-Shaair dove at the Quarterback. Al-Shaair made no attempt at adjusting his body to soften the blow and even led with his forearm toward Lawrence's head and neck area.
One can argue that the play happened quickly enough for Al-Shaair to be afforded a benefit of doubt as to him not being able to adjust his body before or during the tackle. While that point is debatable the repeated nature of Al-Shaair's late hits and misconduct put the NFL in a position where they had to set an example.
To put it plainly the hit may or may not have been dirty but it was in violation of the NFL's rules and thus was deserving of punishment.
Should the NFL Change it's Rules?
The next logical step is for the NFL to look at the pattern of Quarterbacks suffering these late hits during their slides and make a rule that will help both sides of the ball protect themselves. What that rule change will be is anyone's guess but this sports writer, (and that's all I am, certainly not someone deserving of a spot on the NFL's safety offices or rule-making committee) has an idea or suggestion.
The Fair-Catch.
Since the league's inception, NFL punt returners have used the Fair-Catch to signal a dead ball on possession and prevent them form being hit by incoming opponents. Why not for QBs?
The QB slide has been tweaked and looked at in recent years to crack down on the problem but it's time to eliminate it all together now. The problem is the dangerous nature of the QB slide; how exposed and defenseless it leaves the Quarterback to incoming hits.
While their may be new hurdles to overcome for this rule, (mainly being Quarterbacks trying to abuse this "would-be rule" by faking it) the rule should make it so the referees immediately blow the play dead at the raising of the arm signaling the fair-catch. It would also allow the QB to defend himself against a late hit better than the slide.
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-Z.D.
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