Was the Targeting Ejection for TJ Edwards the Right Call?

Was the targeting call and subsequent ejection against TJ Edwards the correct call on Saturday against Purdue? Badger of Honor offers its opinion

Wisconsin’s star inside linebacker TJ Edwards was ejected on a controversial targeting call on Saturday against Purdue. As a result he missed the final four snaps of the first half and the entire second half

We’ll take off our cardinal-and-white colored glasses to determine whether this was the correct call.

Immediately after the hit, twitter exploded. Some folks though it was the wrong call others thought the right application of a bad rule.

Valid opinions all around. So to start with, lets look at the actual text of the NCAA rule book. You can download a free copy of the PDF online.

The targeting rule itself is found on page FR-87 under Rule 9. Here is what the rulebook states for Articles 3 and 4 which cover the targeting foul:

"ARTICLE 3. No player shall target and make forcible contact against an opponent with the crown of his helmet.ARTICLE 4. No player shall target and make forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder"

Both rules require at least one element of Note 1 of the rule. To be clear, the presence of any single element suffices. Not all the elements need to occur.

"Targeting means that player takes aim at an opponent for purposes of attacking with forcible contact that goes beyond making a legal tackle or a legal block or playing the ball."

The rule then goes on to describe specific “indicators.” Those include launching yourself at the ball carrier, lowering the head, hitting from a crouch, or attacking the head or neck.

Note 2 covers defenseless players. The Purdue WR on this play was clearly defenseless since he didn’t have time to protect himself following the catch.

Purdue had a 4th-and-6 with :22 left in the first half from the Wisconsin 42. The WR ran a crossing route and made the catch, sliding (slumping) down as he made the catch.

TJ Edwards uses safe tackling technique but makes contact with the WR’s helmet. Yet, he is flagged for targeting, ejected, and it’s all upheld on replay.

That looked like good technique as the receiver is going to ground. Edwards eyes are up "see what you hit" doesn't lower his helmet https://t.co/YnxqT7Wioa
— Badger of Honor (@BadgerOfHonorFS) October 14, 2017

Now let me apologize because I couldn’t find video anywhere online of the actual hit. But the description above is accurate. Edwards uses clean technique. USA Football even has a “Heads Up Football” safety campaign that preaches the idea of keeping your head up protects both the ball carrier and the tackler.

However, here we are looking at Article 4 since Edwards hit a defenseless WR. The definition of “targeting” includes the important qualifier to the tackle. Namely that it goes beyond making a legal tackle or a legal block or playing the ball.

Next: Wisconsin Football Defensive Backfield Doing Work

My read of this targeting rule suggests that Edwards was unfairly penalized. He kept his shoulders and arms back, his head up, and hit the ball carrier. It’s not his fault the WR slips down.

Therefore, I don’t see how Edwards went beyond a legal tackle in any way. You want the guy to lead with the face mask not the crown of the helmet. That’s what he did.