Getty ImagesEagles quarterback Michael Vick has heard people, including the President of the United States, call for him to slide feet first dozens of times in the last few years.
If Vick played for the Vikings, he might not hear quite as much criticism of the way he ends his runs. Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave wants quarterback Christian Ponder to slide head first after he suffered a concussion on a hit by Redskins linebacker London Fletcher after a feet first slide last season. Musgrave is fine with sliding feet first when there’s no one around, but he thinks Ponder gets to the ground more quickly if he leads with his head in traffic.
“We don’t want to expose ourselves by being a periscope up — exposing all our vital organs. We want to give them a very minimal surface,” Musgrave said, via Dave Campbell of the Associated Press.
Going head first isn’t going to eliminate the possibility of injuries. There’s the chance of a shoulder or wrist injury as you go to the turf and rules governing when defensive players hit you aren’t in place when the quarterback goes head first, to say nothing of the increased risk of injury. In 2010, Eli Manning lost a fumble against the Eagles that contributed to a Giants loss in a season that ended with the Giants one game out of a playoff spot.
There are risks either way, then, and the Vikings will be taking theirs head first this season.
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Okay wait..
If a QB slides feet first, isn’t the defense supposed to stay away?
If he slides head first, he’s open game.
That doesn’t sound right.
Ummm…If you slide head first, isn’t it legal for the defense to nail him? Don’t think that sounds like a good plan. Of course, I am a Packers fan so maybe this is a good idea for Ponder?
Well, this is the Vikings we’re talking about…
Don’t know if it makes sense or not. While it’s true that when you slide feet first, the defense is SUPPOSED to not hit the QB….the reality is that QB’s are still being hit when they go feet first and getting their bell rung when the defensive players don’t slow down in time or just don’t care about a potential penalty. An argument can be made for both sides of this…..so, pick your poison.
That’s wishful thinking if you are a Vikings fan; he was notorious for sliding head first at FSU. I would constantly scream at my TV/at Doak Campbell when Ponder would take off running and risk injury by trying to run past guys and dive head first.
Other than his arm strength, this was the biggest flaw in his game.
tiredofyoureferringtoateamaswe says:Aug 24, 2012 1:52 PM
Ummm…If you slide head first, isn’t it legal for the defense to nail him? Don’t think that sounds like a good plan. Of course, I am a Packers fan so maybe this is a good idea for Ponder?
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Sliding feet first is more of a surrender so it is a bit of a courtesy to not nail someone that is surrendering the play however it is still legal to do so. It is similar to running out the clock when you have a lead but you do have the right to be a jerk and air it out.
Sliding feet or head first still leaves a QB open for hit. So now its either a shoulder or concussion issue versus sprained ankles.
I think Musgrave is making a big mistake here. He is reacting to one incident. The 31 other teams tell their QB’s to slide.
Joe WEB better get ready because he will be needed.
The point is, if you go feet-first, your head and torso are still exposed. If a defender can’t hold up in time (or chooses not to), you’re vulnerable to a nasty whiplash hit. On the other hand, if you go down head-first near a defender, you’re undercutting their legs and taking away their power when they go to hit you. Sure they can still flop on top of you, but it’s probably better to be in a good self-defensive position where they’re hitting your shoulder pads than to expose your head, neck, and chest.
When a QB slides feet first, *as soon as he begins his slide*, he’s down and the play is over, meaning hits that come after he begins his slide are late hits (even if he’s still moving).
A hit in that situation leads to a 15-yard penalty, but does expose the player to a hit to the head since his head is probably at chest level as he begins his slide – or to use Musgrave’s phrasing, “Periscope-up.”
If the QB slides headfirst, he gains more yards and, in Musgrave’s view, gets his head down to the ground more quickly.
I’d prefer a feet-first slide because even after the QB lunges forwards, he’s allowed to be hit to stop his forward progress, like a runningback who leaps forward to score a TD. But I see what Musgrave is saying.
There is good logic to what he says although people here are trying to make it totally a black and white concept and that’s not what he’s teaching and that’s not how this theory applies.
He is right and very smart and possibly many other teams don’t understand this, which they apparently do not from my observation. This is good food for thought to consider and analyze and I think other teams will benefit from his suggestion to review this theory further to see how to maximize the benefits of a better overall strategy regarding how and when to slide.
He just did all of his competitors a favor by opening up his mouth about strategy elements when his best strategy was to keep quiet about anything that he feels gives him and his team a competitive advantage. Most people are foolish and would rather hear themselves talk rather than keep their valuable secrets.
Considering how short-sighted the franchise has been for the last 50 years, it doesn’t surprise me that they would trade losing their starting quarterback for one yard.
Did you read the article ruvelligwebike or were you too busy buying a vowel? Their analysis is that it’s safer to slide head first, not to slide that way in order gain more yardage. Pushing for safety is shortsighted? If you want to try and be cute and make poor attempts at humor, at least be accurate.
zygizag says:Aug 24, 2012 2:08 PM
I think Musgrave is making a big mistake here. He is reacting to one incident. The 31 other teams tell their QB’s to slide.
Joe WEB better get ready because he will be needed.
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What wasn’t mentioned was that Musgrave examined video of head-first versus feet-first slides over the last few years and no quarterback ever got hurt going head-first. The injuries were all on feet-first slides.
Drew Brees is also a head-first slider, as was John Elway.
Yes, put the most vulnerable part of your body in the firing range. GENIUS!
Wouldn’t it just make sense for him to change up the way he slides feet first?
Lead with your head.
If Musgrave doesn’t make it with the Vikes, he’s got a great future as a trainer in boxing.
contra74 says:
Aug 24, 2012 2:07 PM
tiredofyoureferringtoateamaswe says:Aug 24, 2012 1:52 PM
Ummm…If you slide head first, isn’t it legal for the defense to nail him? Don’t think that sounds like a good plan. Of course, I am a Packers fan so maybe this is a good idea for Ponder?
——
Sliding feet first is more of a surrender so it is a bit of a courtesy to not nail someone that is surrendering the play however it is still legal to do so. It is similar to running out the clock when you have a lead but you do have the right to be a jerk and air it out.
Sliding feet or head first still leaves a QB open for hit. So now its either a shoulder or concussion issue versus sprained ankles.
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That’s just plain wrong. A QB sliding feet first is untouchable – automatic 15 yards if the defense hits him – and the ball is spotted where he starts his slide. Going head first eliminates that protection.
Diving head first is more dangerous but atleast you can pick up one extra yard! Thats the way football should be played!
lol, Sounds like they are trying to get rid of him.
contra74 says: Aug 24, 2012 2:07 PM
Sliding feet first is more of a surrender so it is a bit of a courtesy to not nail someone that is surrendering the play however it is still legal to do so.
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You are wrong, as you often are. But no one should be surprised anymore should they? ANY player can slide feet first and the ball is down, not just QB’s. It is illegal to hit them. NFL rules 101.
Contra74:
I don’t want to get into one of those stupid little battles that folks get into on this site, but you are wrong. When a player, not just a quarterback, slides feet first they are “giving themselves up.” By doing this they can no longer be hit (legally). And, as correctly stated by “dukemarc,” the ball is spotted at the beginning of the slide. To hit them at this point is a 15 yard personal foul penalty.
I stand corrected. Stellarperformance is still a douche but I stand corrected.
A debate over sliding QBs? Really? Hey…..bottom line is this Viking fans……regardles of which way Ponder slides…..he still sucks.
Vikes—4-12
Book it.