Does it seem like everyone wants to blow RG3 up and put the highlight reel hit on him?

[martytheman]

Maybe my tinfoil is on a little tight this morning, but in re-reviewing games from the 2nd half of the season especially, it seems to me like defenders are intentionally trying to blow him up with a highlight reel hit on damn near every shot he takes... and in my opinion, this season he has been hit late/hit in the head an awful lot.
Examples include Dallass and Cincy games, piledrivers and multiple blows to the head, DRC launching for his head and Pollard trying to take his head off on the scramble this week.. Hell even the Ngata hit looked a little excessive (to me it appeared as if he launched himself trying to break the kid in two, not to mention his other hit where he hit him right in the face with the crown of his helmet knocking Griffin's helmet off.

So why is it? Has he garnered that much ill will? Do people just hate him or is it just the game and no different than anyone else gets?
Whatever it is, I cringe every time he takes one of those, fearing he won't be able to get back up.
Worst part about it is for the most part he's getting annihilated behind the LOS and in the pocket, instead of on the designed runs. (minus the awkward fall on the knee injury)

[youngchew]

As far as being hit in the pocket, Robert has been holding onto the ball for way too long lately. If there's nothing there and he has no room to get outside the pocket, let that thing fly into the 3rd row. With our O-line's pass blocking, if there's nothing open after 4-Mississippi, throw it away or be decapitated.

[MustangSteve]

Teams and defenses are scared to death to play against RG3, even JPP from NY put a threat out don't run my way. He not only ran his way but embarrassed him on a 42 yard run by doing it. Defenses don't want to face this kid and you can't blame them. I felt the same way about Vick and looks like he will be back for our game, him and McCoy, who we knocked the **** out of a few weeks ago, Both were cleared of concussions. That game just became a lot harder.

[hawgboy]

It's mainly the ones where he's getting rocked when he's going out of bounds that get me steamed.

[DaGoonie55]

I think they fear his ability to crush their hopes and dreams. I see the shots that he's taking as similiar to the ones that they try and get on Brady and Rodgers. Kill the head and the body will die. I don't like it, but its part of the game. Maybe we are a little sensitive because he is the future of our franchise?

[Henry]

Defenders always lick their chops when a QB takes off running. It's been that way since the dawn of time. It's one of the reasons everyone is saying Griffin is going to get himself killed if he doesn't learn to slide and/or run out of bounds more.

[arkowi]

It's mainly the ones where he's getting rocked when he's going out of bounds that get me steamed.

I agree to an extent, but you can't have it both ways though.

He tries to tiptoe and stay in bounds to get those extra two or three yards when he is going out of bounds, so those defenders are going to try to hit him. If they don't, that is when he is going to break off another 67 yard run.

[Ghost of Nibbs McPimpin]

I think they fear his ability to crush their hopes and dreams. I see the shots that he's taking as similiar to the ones that they try and get on Brady and Rodgers. Kill the head and the body will die. I don't like it, but its part of the game. Maybe we are a little sensitive because he is the future of our franchise?

Yeah but Brady gets tapped and he gets a flag, that's why people only try to get those hits now when he's in the pocket when it's legal.

The league needs to stand by its rules. If you're a QB who can run, it's like they don't even consider out of bounds hits late. They've missed several of those this year, and some head shots. The worst part is, how is Pollard not fined for this launching and making glancing contact with RG3's head?

Is the league serious or not about protecting players? And why did they call D Hall for that lame personal foul when they apparently don't think much of protecting a huge star?

---------- Post added December-11th-2012 at 08:40 AM ----------

I agree to an extent, but you can't have it both ways though.

He tries to tiptoe and stay in bounds to get those extra two or three yards when he is going out of bounds, so those defenders are going to try to hit him. If they don't, that is when he is going to break off another 67 yard run.

Yes, but once he and the defender are out, they're still popping him or pushing him in the back. The play is over. And it's no excuse for spearing with the helmet in an attempt to get a kill shot.

Frankly, you hear how players don't want to hurt other guys but it's not true. Bernard Pollard, in particular, is a piece of **** and we should have chop blocked him out of the rest of the season after that one. Too bad the game was so close that it would be tough to take that penalty.

[Boss_Hogg]

It may seam like that to us because we hear blowhards such as Steve Young, Trent Dilfer, Chucky, Czabe, Chad Dukes, etc preach about Robert not lasting more than a handful of seasons because of the hits.

Or we're just extra sensitive because we have not had a franchise QB in 20 years.

[No_Pressure]

Teams and defenses are scared to death to play against RG3, even JPP from NY put a threat out don't run my way. He not only ran his way but embarrassed him on a 42 yard run by doing it. Defenses don't want to face this kid and you can't blame them. I felt the same way about Vick and looks like he will be back for our game, him and McCoy, who we knocked the **** out of a few weeks ago, Both were cleared of concussions. That game just became a lot harder.

Vick is not returning as the starter, the Eagles announced over a week ago that they were going to stick with Nick Foles for the rest of the season. McCoy's status is anybody's guess.

As for the thread topic, yes. This is something which happens to players like him, especially ones who expose themselves to these types of hits. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are two fantastic pocket passers who are great at avoiding rushes, getting the ball out quickly, and who have multiple new (past decade) NFL rules protecting them from dangerous hits. They have both suffered through the course of their careers one season ending injury, and they don't even get hit that often. Teams want to take them out of games, and when you couple that with the freak injuries and big hits which happen on a weekly basis in football, it's no surprise that teams are gunning extra hard for RG3 and he's been concussed and injured this season.

[HogNose]

We are so focused on RG3 being the savior and franchise QB that any hit on him we cry foul. I don't think their is a 'RG3 bounty".

If he heads down field he is fair game. Learn to slide and much of this goes away.

[Saqs]

He's the talk of the league and every guy he plays against is a competitor. When it comes to intense competition there is nothing in the world like getting the best of your opponent. What's the best way to get the best of them in the defenses eyes? Putting them out of the game. Period.

[HogNose]

*Double post

[Aghar]

I think they fear his ability to crush their hopes and dreams. I see the shots that he's taking as similiar to the ones that they try and get on Brady and Rodgers. Kill the head and the body will die. I don't like it, but its part of the game. Maybe we are a little sensitive because he is the future of our franchise?

I agree 100% with this.

[Forehead]

I felt the same way about Vick and looks like he will be back for our game, him and McCoy, who we knocked the **** out of a few weeks ago, Both were cleared of concussions. That game just became a lot harder.

Philly is going with Foles for the rest of the year, to see what they have for the future. Three of their starting OL are on IR so they may not risk McCoy. DeSean Jackson is on IR. They were eliminated from wildcard contention (whatever percent they still had left) last week. It might be a little tougher than last time, but that team is looking towards the offseason and next year. We'd have much more motivation.

As for the OP, maybe you're right, but defenses get to hit the QB so little nowadays that any chance he gives them is like dangling a steak in front of a pack of Rottweilers. He has to be more careful. I don't think he's being targeted anymore than any other QB who takes off. We crunched Joe Flacco on that scramble he had on Baltimore's possession in OT, and no one complained.