If a defender can't hit an offensive player in the head or facemask, there is no reason it shouldn't be a personal foul for an offensive player to straight arm a defender in the head or the facemask.
Outlawing stiffarms? Seriously? It's pussy enough that everything is a targeting foul now, or that everybody expects a targeting foul for the slightest contact to the head.
Huge difference between helmet to helmet contact, a facemask (that facemask penalty yesterday was bullshit, but they don't allow any leeway between a 5 and 15 yarder anymore), and a stiffarm. Don't wanna be stiffarmed? Then tackle lower.
Outlawing stiffarms? Seriously? It's pussy enough that everything is a targeting foul now, or that everybody expects a targeting foul for the slightest contact to the head.
Huge difference between helmet to helmet contact, a facemask (that facemask penalty yesterday was bullshit, but they don't allow any leeway between a 5 and 15 yarder anymore), and a stiffarm. Don't wanna be stiffarmed? Then tackle lower.
Grabbing the facemask is a penalty no matter who does it. That picture with him and USF should've been whistled if it wasn't already. That play with him and VT is legal and should remain so.
Facemask penalties shouldn't be whistled unless the mask is grabbed and the player clearly affected, IMO.
From http://www.dfoa.com/attachments/article/69/2013-14_Football_Rule_Book.pdf
ARTICLE 8. a. No player shall continuously contact an opponent’s helmet (including the face mask) with hand(s) or arm(s) (Exception:By or against the runner).
b.No player shall grasp and then twist, turn or pull the face mask, chin strap or any helmet opening of an opponent. It is not a foul if the face mask, chin strap or helmet opening is not grasped and then twisted, turned or pulled. When in question, it is a foul.
So the exceptions are for things like stiffarms where the facemask is contacted but not grabbed and pulled, and contacting the opponent's helmet during the course of a tackle. It is a penalty if you twist, turn, or pull the face mask of any opposing player.
Make sure to read up on the targeting and horse collaring rules too. Some interesting details in those. You can still horse collar a QB in the pocket.
From http://www.dfoa.com/attachments/article/69/2013-14_Football_Rule_Book.pdf
ARTICLE 8. a. No player shall continuously contact an opponent’s helmet (including the face mask) with hand(s) or arm(s) (Exception:By or against the runner).
b.No player shall grasp and then twist, turn or pull the face mask, chin strap or any helmet opening of an opponent. It is not a foul if the face mask, chin strap or helmet opening is not grasped and then twisted, turned or pulled. When in question, it is a foul.
So the exceptions are for things like stiffarms where the facemask is contacted but not grabbed and pulled, and contacting the opponent's helmet during the course of a tackle. It is a penalty if you twist, turn, or pull the face mask of any opposing player.
Make sure to read up on the targeting and horse collaring rules too. Some interesting details in those. You can still horse collar a QB in the pocket.
I understand the rule, just disagree with it. Many "stiff arms" are really face masks and should be called, but I question the legality of pushing the head back with an open hand to the face mask. The face mask introduces an artificial leverage on the head/neck that provides an unfair advantage any time a hand goes on it. I think the rule should be changed. Also, it's not a safety issue, it is a competitive issue.
Also, that first pic I posted of Johnson was not a "grasp" or "pull," but he got under the mask and twisted the helmet and head backward. I think that should be a penalty even the way it is currently written.