SIAP: Did Wilton Speight have off-season surgery?

Submitted by HenneGivenSunday on

Off the bat, my apologies if this was previously discussed.  

I happened to see an article this morning about WS attending Steve Clarkson's QB Camp last weekend, and it seemed as though Steve Clarkson may have let it slip that WS had off-season surgery.  He doesn't say what the surgery was, but the article notes that Wilton himself has not mentioned this at all.  

The article is freep so no link as I'd prefer not to spend time in Bolivia.  

Can anyone shed any light on the matter?  

Again, apologies if this has already been discussed.  I didn't see it in a search.  

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Wilton Speight

Double-D

June 5th, 2017 at 10:26 AM ^

He took a direct helmet to his shoulder. It looked like it should have been targeting to me. It definitely affected the finish to the season. I am looking forward to a healthy Wilton this year.

Joined: 12/21/2013

MGoPoints: 87520

Hail Harbo

June 5th, 2017 at 11:48 AM ^

When a defender leads with the crown of the helmet a targeting call is required.  It doesn't matter what the other player is doing nor what part of the body is attacked by the crown of the helmet.

  • Lowering the head before attacking by initiating forcible contact with the crown of the helmet

Joined: 06/18/2015

MGoPoints: 13428

Fezzik

June 5th, 2017 at 4:41 PM ^

You keep your face up. You do not lead with the crown of your helmet with your eyes looking at the ground. You are in an on your toes, forward leaning, body position when preparing for contact. You are taught leverage which is the lower man wins. You lower your pad level and drive through your opponent. Your helmet level will always lower when doing these things.

Joined: 09/11/2015

MGoPoints: 5552

goblue224

June 5th, 2017 at 12:57 PM ^

The way the rule is written, interpreted, and applied on the field are three completely different things. Not saying that it should be this way, but based on the history of targeting calls Michigan has been involved in, I don't think the written rule is what is being applied on the field on play.

Joined: 09/28/2014

MGoPoints: 2475

gbdub

June 5th, 2017 at 11:56 AM ^

This is a common misconception. Per NCAA rules, "forcible contact with the crown of the helmet" is targeting, regardless of where you hit the opponent. You cannot lead with the top of your helmet. The Iowa player clearly and intentionally lowered his head to deliver a hit to Speight, and should have been called.

Hitting above the shoulders with any part of the body can also be targeting, and is what we most commonly think of as targeting, but it's not the only type of targeting. 

Joined: 02/16/2010

MGoPoints: 26761

pescadero

June 5th, 2017 at 1:48 PM ^

"forcible contact with the crown of the helmet" is targeting

 

Yep... but almost never called.

 

If it was called consistently - you'd see running backs getting tossed regularly. How many ball carriers have you seen get called for targeting?

Joined: 03/28/2013

MGoPoints: 12081