Roquan Smith unfairly cast as posterchild of recently banned hip drop tackle

The recent tackle by Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith that ended Chris Godwin’s season has ignited a firestorm of criticism. The tackle occurred with 43 seconds remaining in the Week 7 Monday Night Football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

With the NFL’s crackdown on hip drop tackles in full effect, Smith’s play has become the poster example of the newly banned move. But let’s be clear: while Smith’s tackle on Godwin was unfortunate and led to a serious injury, it’s unfair to single him out as the face of this tackling issue.

This is far from the first time it’s happened this season; it’s just the most visible because of the severity of Godwin’s injury.

The hip drop tackle was banned this past offseason, with the NFL citing the technique's high injury risk, especially to the lower extremities. While the league made the right call by banning it, the reality is this type of tackle has been ingrained in defensive play for years.

It’s a difficult habit to break, especially for defenders tasked with bringing down fast-moving ball carriers at all costs. Smith intended to make a stop, not to cause harm, but the collision resulted in a dislocated ankle for Godwin - an outcome nobody wanted.

Smith's tackle is under review by the NFL and could be fined. It’s worth mentioning no player has been flagged for the technique during live play yet, indicating just how hard it is for officials to identify in real time.

Despite this, the NFL has reviewed 22 potential hip drop tackles so far, issuing fines in seven cases, including ones against high-profile defenders like T.J. Edwards, Nick Bolton, and former Raven C.J. Mosley.

Chris Godwin’s devastating injury shouldn't overshadow prior injury risks to other players

So why is Smith suddenly the face of this issue? Let’s not forget about T.J. Edwards’ hip drop tackle on Texans running back Joe Mixon in Week 2. Mixon missed three games with an ankle injury, but the outrage was minimal - probably because it wasn’t season-ending.

Mixon even called out the inconsistency in how the league enforces the rule, pointing out players get fined more for protecting themselves than for delivering dangerous tackles. If Mixon’s injury had been as severe as Godwin’s, Edwards would probably be getting the same level of heat Smith is facing.

And it's not just the Mixon incident. During the very same Monday Night Football game against the Bucs, Ravens receiver Zay Flowers was also subject to a hip drop tackle.

Flowers appeared to injure his ankle, and while he returned, the incident drew no flag. This inconsistency in officiating only adds to the frustration of defensive players, who are tasked with adjusting their technique in a league that’s simultaneously calling for safer tackling while failing to penalize dangerous plays consistently.

The real issue here is the broader challenge of enforcing the hip drop rule, not a supposed recklessness on Smith’s part. The league, by its own admission, has struggled to enforce this ban uniformly.

For Smith to become the face of the league’s efforts to eliminate the technique ignores the reality these tackles have been happening regularly this season. The high-profile nature of Godwin’s injury drives this narrative, not a fair or balanced assessment of the tackle’s frequency or severity.

There’s no question that player safety should be prioritized. But making Smith the scapegoat is a lazy take.

The rule is new, the enforcement is inconsistent, and defenders are still figuring out how to adjust their tackling style within split seconds of action. It’s one thing to call out Smith for the tackle itself, but it’s another to cast him as the main villain when other similar plays have gone under the radar.

Ultimately, the controversy around Smith’s tackle reveals more about the league’s struggle to implement the rule than it does about Smith’s play. Unfortunately, Godwin is sidelined, but it’s equally unfortunate Smith is being unfairly portrayed as the face of a broader issue. The NFL must be consistent in its enforcement and messaging.

If not, more defenders will find themselves facing undue backlash in an environment where they’re already being asked to adapt at a moment’s notice.

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