QB defenseless player any time after change of possession

[BrendanP]

I'm kind of confused on the wording here. The POE here says that the quarterback is a defenseless player any time after a change of possession. So let's suppose Team A's quarterback throws a pick-six, and on the runback, the QB is gaining on the ball carrier to make s tackle. B2 comes from the side and blocks the quarterback from the front. Am I supposed to call B2 for targeting?

[TXMike]

If he hits the QBbin the head or neck area - yes

[DallasLJ]

Remember the protection is limited to "targeting" -- hits with the crown of the helmet or forcible contact to the head or neck.  The QB can still be blocked / hit.  He just cannot be targeted.  Contrast that to an OL chasing down the play -- and he get forcible contacted in the head.  No targeting -- no ejection by rule.  Can still rule the contact as UNR.

[BrendanP]

Ah okay. I guess I'd thought the defenseless player rule meant the quarterback couldn't be hit/blocked period, as he's a defenseless player.

[TXMike]

Not an uncommon assumption unfortunately.  Defenseless does NOT mean hands off

[first_year_guy]

Remember the protection is limited to "targeting" -- hits with the crown of the helmet or forcible contact to the head or neck.  The QB can still be blocked / hit.  He just cannot be targeted.  Contrast that to an OL chasing down the play -- and he get forcible contacted in the head.  No targeting -- no ejection by rule.  Can still rule the contact as UNR.

Provided the OL does not receive an "blind side" block which would make him defenseless and warrant a TGT foul should the hit meet the requirements, any player can be defenseless the QB just carries that tittle through a change of position

[Osric Pureheart]

The key thing here is to remember that "a player who is obviously out of the play" is defenseless, but not all defenseless players should be treated as being obviously out of the play.