The hip-drop tackle was all the talk this weekend in college football following the leg injury to Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis.
The tackle became a topic of conversation in the NFL as Ravens tight end Mark Andrews will undergo surgery on his ankle and is “likely” out for the rest of the season after that same type of tackle.
The “hip drop” tackle has become a source of controversy in the NFL due to the tendency of the technique to cause lower-body injuries.
Now, it seems players on the defensive side of the ball will be catching major penalties for it as the league is expected to ban it this offseason.
Last year, the NFL thought about banning the hip-drop tackle but chose not to. The problem is figuring out a different way for a player chasing the ball carrier to make a tackle without risking the opponent gaining more yards or scoring by falling forward.
Unfortunately for defenses, they will have to figure it out or face having penalties called against them. The best option it seems is to grab players and hold them until their teammates get there to make a tackle. This is going to be quite the task.
