Eliminate the slide?

[RedRamage]

This video was in my feed today: 

 

The TL;DRW version is this: The slide rule made sense when in 1985 when defenses has very little rules regarding how they could hit/tackle a ball carrier. But in 2025 stricter rules regarding how defense can tackle, and specific rules regarding how QBs can be tackled, make the slide rule far less necessary.

Further, the video makes the case that the "side effects" of the slide rule out weigh the last lingering benefits. Specifically the video argues two points:

1. It's very hard for a defender who is already in tackle mode to make a split second adjustment if the QB slides. This means the QB may still be hit hard but the sliding position leaves him open for more injury vs. if he prepped for a "normal" hit. 

2. The slide rule is being taken advantage of by QBs. Defenders don't know if the QB is going to slide or not so can't go all out for the (legal) tackle because if the QB slides a half second before you hit him it's 15 yard penalty.

It's an interesting idea that I think has some merit to it. Given the very mobile QBs in todays NFL... I just don't think the slide rule was envisioned with them in mind. I don't blame the QBs for taking advantage of the rules if they can. That's definitely part of the game. But it makes for a less enjoyable game, imho, when you see a defender stop short of a full tackle because you know he's thinking about that possible penalty.

[lordstanley]

What about giving the QB a flag to throw whereby he gives himself up?

[RandyMarsh]

I'm of the mindset that once the QB leaves the line of scrimmage and chooses to be a runner he should be treated no different than any other ball carrier. He's no more defenseless than any other person in that instance and is actually bigger than most non TEs nowadays. 

[RedRamage]

11 minutes ago, RandyMarsh said:

I'm of the mindset that once the QB leaves the line of scrimmage and chooses to be a runner he should be treated no different than any other ball carrier. He's no more defenseless than any other person in that instance and is actually bigger than most non TEs nowadays. 

That's pretty much the opinion expressed in the video: QBs these days aren't at the same size disadvantage as they were in 1985. Add in restrictions on tackling and there just isn't the same huge risk to the QB that there used to be.

[gehringer_2]

I agree if he's running you have to be allowed to tackle him. But I wouldn't want to give up the extra protection completely. Could you make a workable rule where a QB must start his slide at some radius from a defender or forfeit the right? IOW, the QB gets the choice as soon as a defender is near to go down or take his chances but he can't slide once a defender is close enough to begin a tackle "process". IDK if that's workable from an officiating standpoint or how far away the right point would be, but I like an idea like that in theory. If you want to play alt.fullback like Jalen Hurts, then you are on your own.

[RedRamage]

In theory I like that idea... but yeah I'm not sure how it would work in practice. I guess we sorta-kinda already have a rule like this in terms of hitting the QB late. A defender can't hit the QB after he's thrown the pass, but this is usually allowed if it's a otherwise legal hit and it's a split-second after the throw. The refs can essentially say: "There's no possible way a defender could stop in that limited time, so no flag." But I think this would be super hard to officiate. 

[4hzglory]

1 hour ago, RandyMarsh said:

I'm of the mindset that once the QB leaves the line of scrimmage and chooses to be a runner he should be treated no different than any other ball carrier. He's no more defenseless than any other person in that instance and is actually bigger than most non TEs nowadays. 

Any player has the right to slide, not just the QB

[Motor City Sonics]

5 hours ago, RedRamage said:

This video was in my feed today: 

 

The TL;DRW version is this: The slide rule made sense when in 1985 when defenses has very little rules regarding how they could hit/tackle a ball carrier. But in 2025 stricter rules regarding how defense can tackle, and specific rules regarding how QBs can be tackled, make the slide rule far less necessary.

Further, the video makes the case that the "side effects" of the slide rule out weigh the last lingering benefits. Specifically the video argues two points:

1. It's very hard for a defender who is already in tackle mode to make a split second adjustment if the QB slides. This means the QB may still be hit hard but the sliding position leaves him open for more injury vs. if he prepped for a "normal" hit. 

2. The slide rule is being taken advantage of by QBs. Defenders don't know if the QB is going to slide or not so can't go all out for the (legal) tackle because if the QB slides a half second before you hit him it's 15 yard penalty.

It's an interesting idea that I think has some merit to it. Given the very mobile QBs in todays NFL... I just don't think the slide rule was envisioned with them in mind. I don't blame the QBs for taking advantage of the rules if they can. That's definitely part of the game. But it makes for a less enjoyable game, imho, when you see a defender stop short of a full tackle because you know he's thinking about that possible penalty.

They just need to be reasonable with defenders on late slides and if a QB ever does what Kenny Pickett did in college, they will get destroyed the next time they carry the ball and the defense will gladly accept the penalty. 

[RedRamage]

15 hours ago, 4hzglory said:

Any player has the right to slide, not just the QB

This is true and also brought up in the video. However the video (I think correctly) pointed out that it's not only super, super rare to see a player outside of a QB sliding, but also that if a player does slide and gets hit hard and/or late, it's unlikely to draw a flag outside of being an absolute egregious foul... WR, TE, RB are all EXPECTED to take hard hits. It's part of the game. But QBs are so protected that any we treat them with kid gloves.

[RedRamage]

I'm trying to think of an alternative to a slide and I just can't coming up with anything. This is purely just a thought experiment here as I'm quite certain that the NFL isn't searching through message forums for rule change ideas, but...

If we go with the premise that the slide is:

• Unfair as it limits how defenders can try to tackle a QB (for fear of a late slide and a big penalty)
• Unsafe for QBs as it leaves them in a undefendable position if they do get hit

then what's a possible solation? Can we come up with some method to signal to a defender that the player is 'giving up' that:

• Can't be easily faked -- that is, it can't look like the player might be juking or evading the defender. It's a clear "non-football move" that signals "I'm giving up."
• Can be easily seen/detected from all directions -- defenders might be coming from all directions after all.
• Doesn't leave the QB in an exposed/undefendable position in case a hit comes in late.

I just can't come up with something that doesn't boarder on either absurdly silly and/or doesn't protect the QB any better and/or doesn't seem practical at all.

Which makes me come back to the idea of eliminating the slide all together. And I don't totally love that either because defenders will jump at the chance to lay the heavy hit on the QB any chance they get. I want there to be some level of protection vs. straight up: "You're a ball carrier now... have fun!" The only thing I can think of is maybe double penalties and automatic heavy fines to any illegal hit on a QB beyond the line of scrimmage. 

Any hit that's legal... no problem. Any hit that's helmet to helmet or late or whatever... double yardage on the foul.