both he & the defender are not in motion — the defender is kinda limited in how he can bring the guy down without enabling the QB to pass the ball or throw it away. Picking him up & slamming him backwards is about his best option. Which is what happened.

I think they called the "excessive roughness" boloney cuz they saw it as a play that was a half-a-breath away from being whistled dead — & yet the defender slammed the guy to the ground.

But how else is he supposed to do it? If he goes for a lower hold he frees up the QB to get rid of the ball, & if he doesn't pick him up, he's not doing everything he can to ensure the QB has no chance at freeing himself from the hold.

It was the absolute right way to tackle him.

Get wise to the game, ref!