A defensive end comes flying off the edge. The quarterback is looking downfield and barely sees him coming. The collision produces a sickening thwack, and quarterback, ball and helmet all fly off in different directions.
Has to be a dirty, helmet-on-helmet hit, doesn't it?
Not in the case of Texas defensive end Sergio Kindle's hit on Texas Tech's Taylor Potts during the fourth quarter of Saturday's 34-24 Texas win. As you'll see in the video below, Kindle used proper tackling technique. The hit just happened to be especially hellacious.
Before we get into the particulars of this discussion, let's get one thing out of our systems. No, Kindle was not texting when he hit Potts.
From Pop Warner on up, any coach worth his salt begins each season with a warning that if you can't see what you're about to hit, you're in trouble. One of ABC's replays (video is below) clearly showed that Kindle saw exactly what he was trying to hit - the football. He planted his face into the ball, which Potts had clutched to his chest. Then Kindle did what any good tackler is taught to do. He exploded from the knees up and drove his body through the ballcarrier. This explosion caused the crown of his helmet to rise into Potts' helmet. Look at the photo above. Notice that even after driving through the tackle, Kindle's eyes remain on his target.
Most people think the helmet-to-helmet rule exists to protect defenseless receivers or quarterbacks. While it does afford them some extra protection, the real reason for the rule is to protect tacklers from themselves. A tackler who dips his head and leads with the crown of his helmet stands a good chance of winding up paralyzed or dead.
Kindle obviously listened to his coaches, because he made a perfect form tackle on Potts. In the process, he also jarred the ball loose and allowed his team to recover deep in opposing territory in the fourth quarter of a one-possession game.
Final verdict: Kindle's hit was brutal, but it absolutely wasn't dirty.
Esti Ginzburg
Anne V
Arizona Rattlers Cheerleaders
Biggest Retirements of 2010
Comments (216) Add A Comment
What are you talking about? Do you not see him drop his head at the last second and leading with the crown of his helmet?
johnwinger
Dallas , TX
Total Comments (2)
John,
He put his facemask right on the ball. It's not his fault Potts' head was directly above it.
Andy Staples
Total Comments (39)
It looked clean on live TV Saturday...who is starting this controversy anyway?
jmhgrapevine
Grapevine, TX
Total Comments (1)
Their both pu*****
Crossdaddy
Tulsa , OK
Total Comments (3)
If you think the hit was dirty, then you are promoting the "Wimpification" of America.
Let 'em play.
Ron75205
Dallas , TX
Total Comments (1)
i agree with you 100% he came in and hit him in the chest area and because of the force of the hit his helmet slid up and eventually was helmet to helmet. if anyone wants to put the blame on anyone, it should go to the RT that let Kindle to the Potts with out being touched.
Broncos51
Temple , TX
Total Comments (38)
Leach, the sore loser
Broncos51
Temple , TX
Total Comments (38)
the last clip in the video is where you see how dirty the hit really is, first contact is made between the crown of Kindles helmet and Pott's facemask...notice how the ball is at the the bottom of kindles facemask. now I agree that sometimes you just gotta let em play but when a controversial play like this happens you gotta call it...that was a dirty hit.
fishingbuddies4ever
Plainview , TX
Total Comments (5)
the last clip in the video is where you see how dirty the hit really is, first contact is made between the crown of Kindles helmet and Pott's facemask...notice how the ball is at the the bottom of kindles facemask. now I agree that sometimes you just gotta let em play but when a controversial play like this happens you gotta call it...that was a dirty hit.
fishingbuddies4ever
Plainview , TX
Total Comments (5)
apparently you haven't heard Mack Brown, now thats a sore loser waahhhh...even when he wins he makes exuces about furby McCoy having the flu and getting over it with magic pb&j sandwhiches at halftime.
fishingbuddies4ever
Plainview , TX
Total Comments (5)
Hey Crossdaddy. I know how you can find Sergio and call him a pu*** to his face. I will use my real name so you can get in touch. Good luck.
James C Ronning
Marble Falls , TX
Total Comments (1)
just make sure you dont text him.
fishingbuddies4ever
Plainview , TX
Total Comments (5)
What you agree is that if the team you are cheering for loses, than the refs should come in a change the outcome. It was a good play. Quite whining and get ready for UH.
DGee
Boston , MA
Total Comments (6)
???? I would be mad about the call even if Tech had won, this didnt decide the game but dirty hits like this should always be called, and Im not on the football team so Im not sure what I need to get ready for.
fishingbuddies4ever
Plainview , TX
Total Comments (5)
Does it matter if it is intentional or not? You never really know the intent, but I thought the rule was put in to protect a player from a blind side hit like this. Andy, it was the crown of his helmet not the face mask, you better look at that one again. He clearly lowered his head prior to the hit. Helmets don't fly off like that unless there is a helmet to helmet hit. If you are going to make it a rule, then call it otherwise just let them play.
Bad Jack
Tulsa , OK
Total Comments (1)
Helmets shouldnt come off period. The only reason helmets come of is because the players dont wear them right. If they were meant to come off, the straps would be held on with velcro. If you notice, Potts chinstrap stayed on the buttons even after coming off. The only reason the helmet came off was because he was wearing it too loose.
Perfectly executed hit by Kindle, facemask to the chest and drive through the player. Great fundamentals and I would show it to kids as to how to drive through the ball carrier. Its football, not futbol.
kirkus10
Colorado Springs , CO
Total Comments (4)
By the way, great article. Its nice to hear this from someone with an outside view. As a Longhorn fan, I would have been upset at the call initially, but after watching the play over and over, its plain and simple that Kindle lead with his facemask. Great job Andy!
kirkus10
Colorado Springs , CO
Total Comments (4)
Where in the heck are you suppose to tackle a Quarterback then if you cant hit at cholder level and cant go at the legs. Might as well play touch and then the QB is down at the touch.
SASpursfanatic
Total Comments (6)
Hi Andy,
I've got to question your comment about Helmet-to-Helmet protecting the defender. The rule is part of 9-3. There are two parts to 9-3. 9-3(a) deals with lowering the helmet and hitting with the top (crown) of the helmet. This seems to be what you are talking about. 9-3(b), however, deals with "target[ing] a defenseless opponent above the shoulders," i.e. a helmet-to-helmet hit. This is clearly meant to protect those getting hit, in this case, Taylor Potts.
skitch
Total Comments (1)
Skitch,
Since when is a quarterback defenseless? He is on the field, playing his position, not being held by another player? Taylor Potts was not defenseless, just didnt have his head on a swivel. Again, if anyone is to blame it is the tackle that completely missed his assignment and the DB's from Texas that cutoff the quick throw that Potts was trying to make.
kirkus10
Colorado Springs , CO
Total Comments (4)
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