OTL: NFL Bans “Hip Drop” Tackle

Good Morning and Happy Monday, Flock. You may not have noticed, but the annual NFL Owners Meetings started this morning, and John Harbaugh was once again in front of some microphones.

This brings back some unpleasant memories of a year ago. Remember when, just as Harbs was about to sit down for his interview at this event, Lamar Jackson unleashed what appeared to be a scheduled series of tweets announcing that he had asked for a trade?

OTL: “I Requested a Trade” – Lamar Jackson

Good times! It’s nice that we can all look back and laugh upon that now, and that includes Chad Steeele and Harbaugh himself:

Before starting his NFL owners meeting availability, John Harbaugh is checking with Lamar Jackson to make sure there’s nothing up.

Real ones know. pic.twitter.com/RYC95lnmyQ

— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) March 25, 2024

Silliness out of the way, did Harbs have anything of substance to say this morning?

Harbaugh said there’s optimism that both Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy will be back. He said he’s periodically texted with both players, but he’s not sure about their timetable to sign.

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) March 25, 2024

Both Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy remain unsigned, which is good news for Ravens Flock. It remains to be seen whether or not the team will be able to bring one or both back into the fold, but it’s nice that we’re keeping hope alive.

Harbaugh said that Andrew Vorhees will be full good when the offseason program starts.

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) March 25, 2024

Second-year guard Andrew Vorhees, who sat out all of the 2023 season, will be ready to begin offseason activities here shortly. That’s news to the ears of Ravens fans, who remain quite worried about the OL.

Also regarding the heavies up front:

Harbaugh said that Daniel Faalele will get a chance to win the right tackle job.
He also said that “saner heads have prevailed” and Patrick Ricard will be staying at fullback, not moving to OL.

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) March 25, 2024

Somehow I had missed the talk about Ricard potentially moving to OL?

Filed under, “we’ll believe it when we see it:”

Harbaugh said that David Ojabo is healthy and he expects him to break out this year.

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) March 25, 2024

In other news, the league has banned the “hip drop tackle,” which caused Mark Andrews’ injury when Cincinnati linebacker Logan Thomas used it on him at M&T Bank Stadium last season.

The NFL has banned the hip-drop tackle.

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) March 25, 2024

The NFL competition committee had unanimously supported the ban on the hip-drop tackle. The ban will be enacted over the objection of the NFLPA.

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) March 25, 2024

Enforcement of this one should be fun.

Another new rule is that teams will now get a third challenge if they get EITHER of their first two correct (as opposed to both):

NFL owners approved a proposal by the Lions giving a team a third instant replay challenge in a game if it gets either of the first two correct (rather than both).

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) March 25, 2024

John “Never Met a Challenge I Could Win” Harbaugh remains unaffected.

There’s also a proposal on the table for a “hybrid kickoff rule,” which is still being discussed as I type this.

The proposed “hybrid” kickoff… pic.twitter.com/s3AM8jF5T9

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) March 25, 2024

Rich McKay, chairman of the NFL competition committee, says no vote of the owners has been taken yet on the proposed hybrid kickoff format.

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) March 25, 2024

Here’s the original proposal, which was created with input from NFL special teams coordinators with the intention of increasing returns while also reducing injuries. pic.twitter.com/qRpWaBHtsy

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 24, 2024

We’ll see what they settle upon.

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