Former Boise State stars fired up about NFL’s ‘tackling the passer’ penalties
Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews isn’t the only one upset about the NFL’s new application of the roughing the passer rule.
Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford, who played at Boise State, joined a growing list of dissenters after he was charged with a 15-yard penalty in a 24-13 loss to Seattle on Sunday.
Officials told Crawford after his hit on Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson that he used too much body weight on the QB while bringing him down.
“Whatever that means,” Crawford told DallasCowboys.com. “I don’t know any other way to hit.”
Fox TV analyst Troy Aikman, a former Cowboy, backed Crawford.
“Tyrone Crawford comes in, makes a textbook play, and these are game-changing penalties,” Aikman said during the broadcast. “I’m tired of talking about it.”
Dallas owner Jerry Jones added: “That was not roughing the passer under the existing rules. That just was not roughing the passer.”
Former Boise State safety and current Minnesota Viking George Iloka took to Twitter to express his frustration as well.
“They should just change the name of the penalty to ‘tackling the passer’ instead of ‘roughing the passer,’” Iloka wrote.
Vander Esch has best game yet
In only his third NFL regular-season game, rookie linebacker Leighton Vander Esch made his presence known.
Vander Esch played 33 defensive snaps in place of injured starter Sean Lee and ended up leading the Cowboys with nine solo tackles and 11 total tackles in Seattle.
The Dallas News reported that Lee is expected to miss the next few weeks with a strained hamstring. That should mean even more playing time for the 19th overall pick out of Boise State.
Saints’ Hill continues to impress
Prior to New Orleans’ 43-37 overtime win against Atlanta on Sunday, Highland High graduate Taysom Hill had played just two snaps on offense for the Saints.
But as the Saints continue to search for ways to get the dynamic third-string quarterback involved, Hill was on the field for five offensive snaps against the Falcons.
“Every day I’m kind of on my toes waiting to see what’s next, but I love it,” Hill told The Times-Picayune. “Any opportunity to be on the field and contribute in a win is what I’m all about.”
Hill lined up at H-back for several plays and once at receiver in the first quarter.
His biggest contribution came in the fourth quarter when he lined up at QB, faked a handoff to running back Alvin Kamara on the read option and then took it for a 35-yard gain.
“It’s amazing the energy you feel on our bench when he made the long run,” Saints coach Sean Payton told ESPN. “And he brings that same juice to special teams. Everyone gets better. Those are unique players. Those are guys that love football. And our job as coaches is looking at them and (figuring out), ‘How do we give them opportunities to do what they love well?’ ”
Notes: Former Boise State center Marcus Henry has been added to the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad. ... Offensive lineman Rees Odhiambo (Boise State) was signed to the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad. ... The New York Giants recently signed running back Elijhaa Penny (Idaho) from the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad.
This story was originally published September 25, 2018 at 4:27 PM.