Chase's Frustration over Hip-Drop Tackle Enforcement
Ja'Marr Chase, the standout wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, found himself at the center of controversy following a contentious no-call during Sunday’s match against the Kansas City Chiefs. The incident, which contributed to Chase’s visible frustration, centers around the NFL's enforcement, or lack thereof, of the newly banned hip-drop tackle.
The hip-drop tackle, defined by the NFL as a maneuver where a tackler grabs a runner with both hands and/or arms, then "unweights" himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body to land on and trap the runner's legs, was outlawed this offseason. It carries a hefty penalty: a 15-yard infraction and an automatic first down when called. Yet, through the first two weeks of the season, this penalty has remained conspicuously absent on the field despite fines being levied off it.
Chase's ire was piqued in the fourth quarter when Chiefs' cornerback Trent McDuffie employed a tackle that Chase believed fell under this outlawed category. His impassioned debate with the officials post-play resulted in a flag for his conduct. According to official Alex Kemp, the flag was thrown for "abusive language toward a game official." As Kemp clarified, "It's pretty clear-cut. It's just simply abusive language toward a game official... I'm not going to repeat to you what he said, but there was no interpretation with the language that he used."
It’s evident that judging a hip-drop tackle in the heat of the moment presents a significant challenge, one that has evidently led to inconsistencies in its enforcement. Chase, feeling the brunt of this inconsistency, expressed his frustrations vocally. His teammates, including star quarterback Joe Burrow and head coach Zac Taylor, lent him their support but chose to defer to his perspective on the matter when questioned by the media.
The underlying issue seems to be the difficulty in real-time adjudication of this specific type of tackle. As the NFL strives to prioritize player safety, the hip-drop tackle ban was implemented to prevent potentially dangerous plays. However, its practical application during live games remains a work in progress, as evidenced by the current season's early games.
With emotions running high, Chase hopes that officials will improve their ability to identify and penalize hip-drop tackles moving forward. His reaction, while resulting in a penalty, underscores a broader concern shared by players across the league about the consistency and efficacy of new rule implementations. The challenge remains for officials to adapt quickly and enforce rules accurately in the high-speed, chaotic environment of an NFL game.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on the officials to see if the enforcement of the hip-drop tackle rule becomes more consistent. For players like Ja’Marr Chase, the hope is that this critical safety rule will be upheld with the diligence and precision it demands, ensuring fair play and the safety of each player on the field.