In Week 4, Browns defensive lineman Adin Huntington committed a textbook example of a hip-drop tackle on Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It was such a perfect example of what the hip-drop tackle rule is designed to prevent that in the NFL’s officiating video that is sent to every team, it was shown to demonstrate what not to do. Unfortunately, the officials on the field missed it.
NFL officiating and rules analyst Walt Anderson narrated Hutington’s tackle on Rodgers and pointed out that it constitutes exactly what is not permitted under the hip-drop tackle rule.
“This is an illegal hip-drop tackle,” Anderson said. “We want players to realize, and we’re working at messaging the officials, that if they see all of the elements of this — the wrap, the swivel, the unweighting and then the dropping or trapping of legs — all four elements are clearly visible on the play. Hip-drop tackle would be the correct call. Whether this is called on the field or not, this is subject to additional discipline, including a fine.”
The uncalled penalty was a big one: It happened on third down, leading the Steelers to punt. If the 15-yard penalty had been called, the Steelers would have had first-and-10 in long field goal range. The Steelers ended up losing the game by three points.
Huntington was fined, but the officials should have flagged it at the time, too. If they had, the rest of the game might have been different.
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