Updated Helmet Guardian Cover For GT

[awbuzz]

They look "better" than before

 

[GTJacketClaw]

They look "better" than before

I think they look much better. And for those who don't know Guardian is ran by a Tech family. One of my buddies from Tech's family started that company and now he gets to travel meeting with NFL and College teams pushing the product.

 

[stinger78]

NFL approved playing with those covers on a couple of years ago. With these logo covers, is the NCAA going to make the same move?

 

[Dave.S]

Decent looking and more padding in the back, my son plays football, well worth wearing!

 

[Northeast Stinger]

But do they eliminate the need for targeting calls?

 

[Oakland]

So ...I think we wear something like 4 different helmets. If all players wore these coverings, we could save money by using just one helmet and switching the covers whenever they wanted to change up.

 

[FredJacket]

Anybody know why (now that these are available) there is still only an extreme minority wearing them?

Do they restrict movement in any way? Too heavy?

Is the research inconclusive on effectiveness?

Or Is it simply vanity? They just look odd compared to what we're accustomed to.

I'm just curious.

 

[RamblinRed]

I think right now it is a combination of the research and vanity.

They have been researching this, but there still likely needs to be more done.
I think alot of it is just vanity though.

I will say I think over time these could become alot more common. My wife, a former gymnast, would not allow our son to play FB - in her opinion too dangerous a sport.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

Per the previous comments, there is only so much a helmet can do. It’s not what happens outside the skull that is the main culprit. It’s what happens inside when the brain smashes against the inside of the skull. Maybe these helmets provide a little more outside protection but is that a big enough difference maker? I don’t know.

 

[forensicbuzz]

Per the previous comments, there is only so much a helmet can do. It’s not what happens outside the skull that is the main culprit. It’s what happens inside when the brain smashes against the inside of the skull. Maybe these helmets provide a little more outside protection but is that a big enough difference maker? I don’t know.

Right, but like crumple zones in cars, anything that can absorb some of the contact force and reduce the acceleration (deceleration) of the brain relative to the cranium is good.

 

[jgtengineer]

These helmets are about lessenign sub concussive impacts over time. Offenseive/Defensive linemen/ running backs and line backers benefit most. QB concussions usually happen from slaming the head on the turf backwards unfortunately this doesn't help that.

 

[stinger78]

These helmets are about lessenign sub concussive impacts over time. Offenseive/Defensive linemen/ running backs and line backers benefit most. QB concussions usually happen from slaming the head on the turf backwards unfortunately this doesn't help that.

I did this once. Literally saw stars.

 

[takethepoints]

My biggest question about the covers - and I haven't read any of the research - has been adding weight to the head. This would seem to lead to probable increases in neck injuries. There's also the athletic form of moral hazard at work here; if players think their heads are better protected they might start taking more risks with their heads as they play. But … I'm just speculating here. If these things lessen concussions, then use them.

I might also note that this is not a new idea. There were helmets with exterior padding back when I was in high school. These helmets also included extensive (for the day) interior padding instead of the suspension network that was more usually used. They slowly passed out of use; the last major team that wore them that Tech played was Duke. I'm not sure why this happened.

 

[stinger78]

When was that?

 

[33jacket]

Started with steve wallace in the 90s due to his concussions. Look it up. Its by far not a new idea. Played for the 49ers

 

[stinger78]

Started with dana stubblefield in the 90s due to his concussions. Look it up. Its by far not a new idea. Played for the 49ers

I know the NFL has approved their use in games.

 

[33jacket]

I know the NFL has approved their use in games.

Not sure what you are replying to. It was steve wallace in the 90s. Not dana.

Point is double helmets or similar go back 30 plus years.

 

[UgaBlows]

But do they eliminate the need for targeting calls?

No but they DO completely eliminate Faceguarding penalties!!!

 

[yeti92]

Not sure what you are replying to. It was steve wallace in the 90s. Not dana.

Point is double helmets or similar go back 30 plus years.

Is that just an extra layer of plastic? Looks very thin either way.

Realistically, helmets need to be waay bigger and soft enough to deform significantly at impact to help substantially with concussions, but I do believe this provides some benefit and is a step in the right direction. As they say, don't let good be the enemy of perfect. Baby steps.