Yup. Not gentle, but not pounding them into the turf with the DT on top of them. Showing you can still do a football hit, and stay within the rules.
Rams show rest of league the right way to take down a quarterback
Posted by Mike Florio on September 30, 2018, 9:50 AM EDT
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.c...gue-the-right-way-to-take-down-a-quarterback/
While the NFL’s roughing-the-passer rules continue to be unsettled and uncertain (more on that in a bit), here’s one thing that is settled and certain: The best team in the NFL has provided the best examples of getting a quarterback to the ground without also landing on top of him.
NFL executive V.P. of football operations Troy Vincent has posted a video with three sacks from Thursday night’s Vikings-Rams game, a game that included no fouls for quarterback hits. And it’s easy to see why, when watching the video.
Twice, Rams defensive tackle
Aaron Donald approaches Vikings quarterback
Kirk Cousins. Instead of laying on Cousins or executing the scoop-and-dump maneuver (either of which are aimed at compressing the chest and/or busting a shoulder), Donald struck Cousins from the side and rolled him to the ground. On the other play, Rams defensive tackle
Ndamukong Suh, one of the most-fined players in recent years, used the same technique.
The most frequently asked question the last three weeks: How do you tackle the passer? Your answer from
@RamsNFL @AaronDonald97 and
@NdamukongSuh on
#TNF #NFLWaytoPlay #NFLgameday pic.twitter.com/KYdgHhWbaL
— Troy Vincent (@TroyVincent23)
September 30, 2018
That’s not a mistake or a coincidence. It’s coached, practiced, and planned. And it keeps quarterbacks from being crushed, injured, and ultimately unable to play possibly for weeks.
The overriding goal is clear: The NFL wants exciting games, and the NFL knows that exciting games won’t happen if backup quarterbacks are playing. If fans are going to be complaining about anything, it’s better that they complain about too many flags than not enough games worth watching, because too many substandard signal-callers are on the field playing.