There are a few olinemen in the CFL wearing the VICIS zero2 trench helmet. When I first saw them, I thought they looked weird, but after a little research, why aren't all olinemen wearing these? Specifically designed for the position. I can understand WR's and DB's not wearing this skull protection, but in the trenches, this seems a no brainer.
Maybe that's the problem.
https://vicis.com/products/zero2-trench-helmet
I don't know what you are talking about. Frankly, you have it backwards. It's not the linemen that need concussion. Protection it's the. lB! DBs , amd maybe QB, and rbs. That take the collisions. The linemen, nasically have one step and then try and shed each other.
The other positions, have collisions with speed and velocity. Which cause the incredible collisions.
Quote from: DM83 on August 29, 2026, 12:48:59 PMI don't know what you are talking about. Frankly, you have it backwards. It's not the linemen that need concussion. Protection it's the. lB! DBs , amd maybe QB, and rbs. That take the collisions. The linemen, nasically have one step and then try and shed each other.
The other positions, have collisions with speed and velocity. Which cause the incredible collisions.
It's not just about reducing those big concussions. Lots of research has been showing that sub-concussive (I think they might be using the term non-concussive) blows is a big driver of CTE. So think, heading the ball in soccer or linemen coming together in the trenches. Which increased helmet tech could help reduce.
In most snaps don't OL, who are usually the tallest on the field outside of maybe DEs, mostly take hits in the chest and hands? Unless it's a SY play I just don't see how they are butting heads with DTs and LBs. And DEs are usually more interested in hand and arm play than head butts.
Now, for SY and for DTs I could see a definite advantage to these helmets. And for OL, I guess if they like the helmet and there's no downsides, then why not eh?
Quote from: Mikerahl on August 29, 2026, 02:11:45 PMIt's not just about reducing those big concussions. Lots of research has been showing that sub-concussive (I think they might be using the term non-concussive) blows is a big driver of CTE. So think, heading the ball in soccer or linemen coming together in the trenches. Which increased helmet tech could help reduce.
Increased helmet tech is just increased marketing BS IMO, it's an unfixable problem, informed parents won't be signing up their kids to play tackle football for much longer. Could take decades to get through to impoverished undereducated blacks in the US with limited opportunities though, so that's the group they'll continue to exploit with free scholarships and other financial incentives to keep the flow flowing.
Recent CBC article.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/cte-prevalence-nfl-players-9.7318799 (https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/cte-prevalence-nfl-players-9.7318799)
At least one in four former National Football League (NFL) players had evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, at the time of death, according to a new study from one of the U.S. research teams at the forefront of studying the devastating brain disease.
CTE — which can only be confirmed after death — is associated with repeated head trauma, often from contact sports. It can lead to debilitating symptoms ranging from severe memory loss and balance problems to major personality changes, including depression, aggression and thoughts of suicide.
A growing body of research has already shown exceptionally high rates of the disease in the donated brains of former NFL players. But researchers are quick to note that brain banks skew heavily toward people who experienced concerning symptoms during life and wanted their brains studied after death.
The new research, from Mass General Brigham, Boston University and the Concussion & CTE Foundation, aimed to estimate the prevalence of CTE among all NFL players.
The researchers identified all former players who died between 2008 and 2021 — before the rise of soft-shell helmet additions that can reduce the severity of head impacts — including 235 who chose to donate their brains.
More than nine in 10 of the donated brains showed evidence of CTE, according to the paper published Tuesday in the British Medical Journal.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on August 29, 2026, 05:24:00 PMIncreased helmet tech is just increased marketing BS IMO, it's an unfixable problem, informed parents won't be signing up their kids to play tackle football for much longer. Could take decades to get through to impoverished undereducated blacks in the US with limited opportunities though, so that's the group they'll continue to exploit with free scholarships and other financial incentives to keep the flow flowing.
Recent CBC article.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/cte-prevalence-nfl-players-9.7318799 (https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/cte-prevalence-nfl-players-9.7318799)
At least one in four former National Football League (NFL) players had evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, at the time of death, according to a new study from one of the U.S. research teams at the forefront of studying the devastating brain disease.
CTE — which can only be confirmed after death — is associated with repeated head trauma, often from contact sports. It can lead to debilitating symptoms ranging from severe memory loss and balance problems to major personality changes, including depression, aggression and thoughts of suicide.
A growing body of research has already shown exceptionally high rates of the disease in the donated brains of former NFL players. But researchers are quick to note that brain banks skew heavily toward people who experienced concerning symptoms during life and wanted their brains studied after death.
The new research, from Mass General Brigham, Boston University and the Concussion & CTE Foundation, aimed to estimate the prevalence of CTE among all NFL players.
The researchers identified all former players who died between 2008 and 2021 — before the rise of soft-shell helmet additions that can reduce the severity of head impacts — including 235 who chose to donate their brains.
More than nine in 10 of the donated brains showed evidence of CTE, according to the paper published Tuesday in the British Medical Journal.
Tbf I intended COULD to do a lot of heavy lifting in my post :D
CTE in players that played with leather helmets, or what was "state of the art" 30+ years ago is not what we are talking about.
New helmet tech, from the trench model through Guardian caps, are light years ahead of the helmets worn by those dying with CTE now.
That said, I've heard they either have, or are close to having, a non autopsy test for CTE. That will go a long way to telling us how improvements in training, rules and protective gear are working.