More Video on Jared Allen's Low Hits on Matt Schaub: Dirty or Not?

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Texan coach Gary Kubiak has submitted three plays to the league relating to Viking defensive end Jared Allen's play against Houston. Two of those plays are low hits to the quarterback, which are against league rules.

These hits look particularly bad because Allen is not trying to tackle with his arms but is leading with his helmet toward Matt Schaub's knees. (New video showing both hits above).

Schaub is now out with an MCL injury (perhaps a tear), and is likely going to be out two to four weeks, though some suggest he may be placed on IR.

In 2006, the NFL competition committee changed the rules relating to low hits on quarterbacks, making it the defender's obligation to avoid low hits to quarterbacks who are not running. This became known by some as the "Carson Palmer rule."

In the NFL Rules Digest, it states:

"No defensive player who has an unrestricted path to the quarterback may hit him flagrantly in the area of the knee(s) or below when approaching in any direction."

The video looks pretty ugly. Allen isn't blocked into Schaub, and clearly has no chance to hit him knees or higher with either hit. He doesn't try to wrap up with his arms and leads with his helmet. Each hit individually looks bad, but both together looks dirty. (Even some Viking fans think so).

For those who looked at the other video and thought the helmet to knee contact was accidental, do you still feel the same way seeing both hits? Do you think that Allen made any effort not to hit Schaub low?

Schaub after a slow start to the season had started to turn his season around with some very good numbers. The biggest question with him has been whether he could stay healthy. All the shots he has taken that kept him out of games last year were some pretty serious ones, some penalized and one fined.

No word on what punishment Allen will receive, if any. And even if he receives a fine that is a small part of his salary, this isn't going to help Schaub any.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

11-05-2008 @ 12:37PM

eriadoc said...

I think it's pretty obvious that Allen was not making a conscious effort to avoid a low hit on Schaub.

11-05-2008 @ 12:48PM

jaayteetx said...

Wow, when put in that context, it looks even worse. Haven't heard anything about a fine or suspension yet. Guess the league doesn't give a damn unless your name is Brady or Manning.

11-05-2008 @ 12:52PM

Specnatz said...

The first hit I could see, almost, a case for he tripped, but when you add in the second hit where he lunged intentionally into the side of Schuabs knee there is no doubt what the intent was. Still nothing from the league on it r any network making comments about it. That disgust me as much as the hit.

Spec

11-05-2008 @ 1:33PM

jvsiii3 said...

That's bush league play. Great way to end or shorten at least a career. I say a major fine and suspension is in order. What kind of message is the NFL sending to it's junior fans if they don't?

11-05-2008 @ 1:41PM

skybuwe said...

Looks like a trumpt up charge to me. Allen is an agressive player and I only see an attempt to get to the quarterback nothing more!

11-07-2008 @ 3:59PM

Mark said...

What a joke! He was trying to hit low. Agressive my butt!

11-05-2008 @ 1:48PM

Nock said...

I think Allen has Sage Rosenfels in his fantasy league....

11-05-2008 @ 1:49PM

Ravi said...

fine the bum at least.

11-05-2008 @ 2:15PM

Josh said...

wow thats really insane..jared allen is actually one of my favorite players and i know he is aggressive..but that is even low for him the ball was already thrown first of all...and i understand the first one but the second was so late an their was no effort to even wrap up his ankles for a safer hit..bein a d-end myself i knowyour trying to hurt the other teams best players or slow them down..but you don't try something that many times knowing it can cost the young kid his career..yeah some low shots are dirty..i hate being chopped blocked myself...but where use to the big uglies tryin to take our legs out..schauby was helpless hopefully it isnt as serious as bradys or dauntes

doug said...

Allen would rather hit low than have to get up off the ground and then hit the chest high......What would have happened if Mario had done that to Vikings qb?? probaly a personal foul......Allen should have gotten a penalty.....especially after the 2nd time......and a fine too....

11-05-2008 @ 2:33PM

Eric said...

On NFL.com is a "live chat" with Goodell (it's on their website now) and I sent in this very issue.

http://chat.nfl.com/front/index/42

11-05-2008 @ 3:52PM

carol said...

Definitely on purpose - both hits. Allen should be fined a seriously substantial amount for the first hit and suspended for the second. For a few weeks there the NFL was fining people like crazy - why not this time? Oh, I forgot, it is the Texans and no one cares.

11-05-2008 @ 4:12PM

Arlen said...

The first hit is too hard to call...it appeared he lost his balance heading towards the QB.

The second hit seems to me to fit the categorization of a low-hit to a QB's legs simply for the sake of it. Whether Allen intended to take out Schaub or not, I don't know. I just know that even when you make a hit like that on a QB on ACCIDENT, it STILL warrants a penalty/fine/suspension...just ask any NFL player who couldn't stop his momentum going into a fair catch returner, punter, kicker, QB after he released the ball, a guy going out of bounds, accidentally getting your hand in the face mask, etc etc.

11-05-2008 @ 4:49PM

DQ said...

I saw the video you posted before and it showed another angle of the second hit that showed at least in my opinion that Allen slipped and was trying to regain his balance while his momentum kept him moving forward. In the first hit it appeares to me that he had clearly fallen and was rolling. I'm not a fan of either team or player and am looking at this objectively and in my opinion either hit could have drawn a flag and I would have no problem with it but I don't think either was dirty or intended to injure Schuab.

1Texan said...

I would like to see the Texans, for once, defend their QB from those cheap shots. Someone on the team should have taken the fine for beating the crap out of that guy. Get tough and you might get some respect.

11-05-2008 @ 7:00PM

sgbennew said...

Didn't Schaub get pushed into Allen by Kevin Williams?

11-05-2008 @ 8:08PM

hookinreds said...

The first one Allen was on the way down because of the block. Allen kept coming at Matt, and what could have been "somewhat acceptable" ended when he chose to roll into his legs once he was on the ground. Allen could have gone straight down or used his arms, but he decided to roll over Matts leg. Scum

11-05-2008 @ 9:09PM

PJW said...

Neither one looked like Allen was trying to hurt him on purpose.

You sure are making a big deal in defending a team that teaches their O-Linemen to hit D-Linemen low in the legs. Could that tick off most of their opponents?