If you are Nate Gerry

[Bowfin]

Have his arms out in position to wrap up after contact. Otherwise, it looks like he is delivering a hit, not making a tackle...and it's also nice to be able to wrap up in case the ball carrier doesn't go down with the hit.

[Saunders]

Have his arms out in position to wrap up after contact. Otherwise, it looks like he is delivering a hit, not making a tackle...and it's also nice to be able to wrap up in case the ball carrier doesn't go down with the hit.

with the way targeting is called, having your hands out and wrapping up doesn't even matter.

[NU5XChamps]

It looked to me that Gerry was attempting to duck under the receiver. As for what should he have done? Exactly what he did, this is freaking football. We were hurt by the ejection, but it didn't cost us the game. Iowa was better then we were yesterday, plan and simple. 4 Ints and 5 Unsportsmanlike penalties. That cost us the game. Of course, everybody is blaming Riley and the staff. The truth is the players blew this game with boneheaded plays.

[VA Husker Fan]

Here's the play

 

http://btn.com/2015/11/27/video-nebraskas-nate-gerry-ejected-from-game-for-targeting-call/

 

You just can't do this anymore. Look at about :32 into that clip, blow it up full screen. Very clearly a head to head hit. You can't possibly argue otherwise.

 

If you have to, let the guy make the catch and keep yourself in the game and maybe they don't break those two long runs later. At least keep your head up and try to knock it away with your hands. Not as effective, but legal.

 

The rule kind of sucks and it'll probably change somehow, because the guy on offense can lead with his head and it can be difficult to avoid. But it won't be just backed out because there are too many head injuries and long term damage.

[HuskerNBigD]

I'm sure he'll stop and think about it the next time there is a play coming to him at full speed. I understand the rule, and by the rule he should've been ejected, I just think it's nonsense to ask someone running 15-20 mph to pull up within a split second cause he might knock the crap out of someone.

[BIGREDIOWAN]

I think it was a B.S. call, of course my Hawk friends disagree. Gerry was already coming into that area at Mach 2 and the receiver was diving to catch the ball. If the receiver is standing up Gerry hit him in the legs and it's a non-issue. That was one of three complete B.S. calls I saw yesterday, but the refs didn't throw 4 INT's either.

[jcsmhammel]

There needs to be some revision to this rule. I do think he should have been ejected based on the rule. I don't really think he could have stopped himself considering he was at a full run and was making a play to break up the pass unfortunately he hit the guy in the head. The problem I have is the inconsistency of the rule sometime the flag is thrown and other times it's not. It's a safety thing I get it out there need revisions.

[TonyStalloni]

Did the receiver ever go back into the game? I would be alright if the call was done another way. Force the defender who made the hit to sit as long as the offensive player is out. If 3 plays later the receiver is able to play then one could say he may have "sold" it to the refs and why keep the defender out if there is no damage? If on the other hand there is a concussion then the defender sits the rest of the game.

[C N Red]

Here's the play

 

http://btn.com/2015/11/27/video-nebraskas-nate-gerry-ejected-from-game-for-targeting-call/

 

You just can't do this anymore. Look at about :32 into that clip, blow it up full screen. Very clearly a head to head hit. You can't possibly argue otherwise.

 

If you have to, let the guy make the catch and keep yourself in the game and maybe they don't break those two long runs later. At least keep your head up and try to knock it away with your hands. Not as effective, but legal.

 

The rule kind of sucks and it'll probably change somehow, because the guy on offense can lead with his head and it can be difficult to avoid. But it won't be just backed out because there are too many head injuries and long term damage.

There was helmet contact, but it wasnt lowering your head to use crown or launching. I really dont see how he got ejected for it after watching the replay. Hell, he had better position than the WR. Hey, you want to call it helmet to helmet fine. Give the flag. But under the definition for ejection i dont see that warranted for this play.

 

TARGETING AND CROWN-OF-HELMET GUIDELINES FOR COACHES, PLAYERS AND OFFICIALS

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

With the 2013 rule change that makes ejection from the game a part of the penalty for targeting fouls coaches, players and officials need to have a clear understanding of Rules 9-1-3 and 9-1-4. It is very important to understand that these fouls have not changed from previous years, and officials should officiate these plays as in the past. The characterization of defenseless players has been expanded (see below), but otherwise these rules for the fouls remain as they have been. It is the penalty that has changed.

 

These guidelines are intended to assist everyone involved in the game to understand these rules, which are so important in protecting the safety of the student-athlete.

 

 

 

RULES

 

Targeting and Initiating Contact With the Crown of the Helmet (Rule 9-1-3)

 

No player shall target and initiate contact against an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet. When in question, it is a foul.

 

Targeting and Initiating Contact to Head or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player (Rule 9-1-4)

 

No player shall target and initiate contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, fist, elbow or shoulder. When in question, it is a foul. (Rule 2-27-14)

 

Note: Beginning in 2013, ejection from the game is a part of the penalty for violation of both Rule 9-1-3 and Rule 9-1-4.

 

 

KEY ELEMENTS

 

Target—to take aim at an opponent for purposes of attacking with an apparent intent that goes beyond making a legal tackle or a legal block or playing the ball.

 

Crown of the Helmet—the top portion of the helmet.

 

Contact to the head or neck area—not only with the helmet, but also with the forearm, fist, elbow, or shoulder—these can all lead to a foul.

 

Defenseless player—a player not in position to defend himself.

 

Examples (Rule 2-27-14):

 

A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass.

A receiver attempting to catch a pass, or one who has completed a catch and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier.

A kicker in the act of or just after kicking a ball, or during the kick or the return.

A kick returner attempting to catch or recover a kick.

A player on the ground.

A player obviously out of the play.

A player who receives a blind-side block.

A ball carrier already in the grasp of an opponent and whose forward progress has been stopped.

A quarterback any time after a change of possession.

 

 

KEY INDICATORS

 

Risk of a foul is high with one or more of these:

 

Launch—a player leaving his feet to attack an opponent by an upward and forward thrust of the body to make contact in the head or neck area

A crouch followed by an upward and forward thrust to attack with contact at the head or neck area—even though one or both feet are still on the ground

Leading with helmet, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to attack with contact at the head or neck area

Lowering the head before attacking by initiating contact with the crown of the helmet

 

 

These indicate less risk of a foul:

 

Heads-up tackle in which the crown of the helmet does not strike above the shoulders

Wrap-up tackle

Head is to the side rather than being used to initiate contact

Incidental helmet contact that is not part of targeting but is due to the players changing position during the course of play

 

 

HINTS FOR PLAYERS

 

Don’t lead with your head

Lower your target--don’t go for the head or neck area with anything

Tackle: Heads-up and wrap-up

[ZRod]

Iowa exploited his vacancy in those two touchdown runs. If Gerry's in there, those runs don't break like that.

Truth. Nate was on point while he was in the game. He was chasing down a busted coverage by a LB on Iowas TD pass. He sniffed out the reverse right away, got outside leverage and force the play back inside. And he cleaned up a few other runs as well.

[cornographic]

To me, it looked like NG was leading with his shoulder at the guy's chest, but then their helmets collided simultaneously. Sometimes it's just unavoidable.

[Hammerhead]

Yep, the same Nate Gerry who was complained about for his poor angles and issues with run support this season.

 

Next excuse, please.

 

Are you just mad that nobody has blamed bad coaching for Gerry getting ejected from the game?

[TheSker]

 

Yep, the same Nate Gerry who was complained about for his poor angles and issues with run support this season.

 

Next excuse, please.

 

Are you just mad that nobody has blamed bad coaching for Gerry getting ejected from the game?

 

Nope. Just pointing out there were calls for Gerry to be benched, yet when two big plays are given up it's because he wasn't in the game......

[MichiganDad3]

The only way to not get that penalty is to pull up and not make the play. But if he does that then he risks the guy catching it and breaking one.

 

Just one of those cases where the rule is what it is and there is nothing he could have done about it.

This is a fact, and I despise this rule because of this. It is up to the QB not to throw the ball where your receiver will get killed.

[ADS]

 

 

 

 

Yep, the same Nate Gerry who was complained about for his poor angles and issues with run support this season.

 

Next excuse, please.

Are you just mad that nobody has blamed bad coaching for Gerry getting ejected from the game?

Nope. Just pointing out there were calls for Gerry to be benched, yet when two big plays are given up it's because he wasn't in the game......

Him not being in there is exactly why those two big runs happened. Go back and watch those runs and see where the safety is who came in for Gerry. The safety needs to be there in case the runner gets to the second level and Aaron Williams made a mistake.