Does it seem that they measure for first downs less than they used to?

[Clawdio]

It seems like they’ve drastically reduced the amount of measurements that were clearly not even close. 10 years ago, I swear we were constantly seeing measurements that were nearly a yard short of a first down. IMO, if feels like we don’t see those anymore.

[EllisDee]

@madsircool

Its impossible to have a 1st and inches except at the goalline.

You can have 1st and short after an offensive penalty (eg: holding) down the field. You get credit for the yards you gained until the penalty, which is enforced from that spot.

[Nars_Glinley]

It also seems to me that referees have become more generous with their spots than they used to be. This is particularly noticeable when it comes to determining forward progress.

[garygnu]

Nah, the refs are only generous with the spot for the other team.

[Do_Not_Taunt]

@madsircool

So its OK to undermine the integrity of the game to just speed it up?

Absolutely. Otherwise, we’d give coaches unlimited challenges, and fans wouldn’t bother showing up.

[Folacin]

@Uncle_Jocko

From the officials’ spotting the ball, to marking the spot on the sideline, to clipping the marker on the chains at a yard marker, there’s enough fuzziness at each step of the process that “bringing out the chains” isn’t nearly as precise a thing as you might think.

When you have a key 3rd or 4th down measurement, and the chains show it’s a couple of inches one way or another - the chains may not have been precisely placed for the 1st down, not to mention the spot may have varied a little from the actual end of the play on 2nd and 3rd down. It’s a very imprecise process, made to look like it’s exact.

I don’t think they do it any more, but I always liked how, after a measurement that came up short, the referee would grab a particular link of chain, then march the chains to the hash mark, re-stretch them, and carefully place the ball on that link.

And then randomly spot the ball after the next play from scrimmage.