Watched the exhibition game on Sunday, and there was much talk about moving the refs around and how it impacts the game. Of course, they assumed I already knew about the changes. Which I don’t. Anyone want to tackle that for me? What’s new this year?
There was talk about moving the umpire position from behind the defensive linebackers to behind the offense. This would put him with the head ref behind the offensive backfield.
Assuming this is the case, it puts the umpire in a much safer position, and puts him out of the way of thrown balls and running tacklers. The downside is that he has a poorer view of linemen for penalty calls such as holding.
My father was a high school level football umpire who set up shop in the thick of things. We’d watch the local highlight show if he came home from a game where he got crunched or piled upon. He liked it, but I’ll have to ask how he feels about the NFL’s change, as he was being occasionally pounded by highschoolers, not modern pro behemoths.
Another downside, mentioned in the video, is that it will take longer to spot the ball for the next snap. So, in the final 2:00, the umpire will be behind the defense.
If a punt returner makes a fair-catch signal and muffs the ball, he is entitled to “reasonable opportunity” to recover before it hits the ground without interference of the coverage team. The ball will be rewarded at the spot of the interference, but there will be no penalty yardage marked off.
I don’t like the open-ended nature of the term “reasonable opportunity” in this rule. I always thought that if a PR muffed a punt whether he was fair-catching or not that it was immediately a fumble. It seems unfair to the coverage team that hauls ass down the field and are right there in front of or otherwise around the fair-catching returner (without touching him) to be denied the opportunity to immediately recover a muffed punt.
I mean seriously…the defenders have to wait around a bit while the returner scrabbles to recover the ball after failing to catch it (assuming it touches some part of him)? This doesn’t make sense to me.
Also, as to the umpire now being behind the offense and the implication that it will result in more difficulty identifying holding, can’t the linesmen call that penalty (and often do)? They have the best view of the lines clashing, and it isn’t like they move too terribly much. I’m in favor of moving the umpire as I’ve seen too many times the ump interfering with play in some way (or being drilled). I often wondered if offenses had some plays drawn up where they try to use the ump as an unwilling blocker or something.
In a 7-man crew, the four guys on the sides (Head linesman, line judge, field judge and side judge) all key on position players, not guys in the trenches. That’s what the umpire is there to do. (More about individual responsibilities.)
There are definitely “pick” plays where a crossing route is run in the vicinity of the umpire. I’ve also seen a route-runner run into the umpire, so it works both ways.
I read that as once it hits the ground, it’s fair game. Also, if it’s batted back into the air, that would seem to have met the “reasonable opportunity” window, although that’s not something I expect we’ll see too many times. All-in-all, it seems to me to be a reasonable concession to the safety of the returner.
One change I completely disagree with is “if a player loses their helmet, the play is instantly whistled dead.” I agree that it’s safer to stop the play, but this is rife with the possibility of abuse. If the other team intercepts the ball and is heading for a TD, I rip off my helmet and force the ref to call the play dead.
I hadn’t heard about that rule, and went to look it up. There doesn’t seem to be much info, but according to this blog it only applies to the ball carrier, which makes a certain amount of sense.
You’re right, and I was wrong. This Youtube clip is an explanation from Walt Coleman. He explains the difference is that before, it was fair catch interference, so a 15 yard penalty on the kicking team. Now, there’s no 15 yard penalty.
Agreeing that the run by Jason Witten shows how big his stones are, but I agree that if the *ball carrier or a player actively involved in the play as it occurs *loses his helmet that the play should be stopped dead. Not because some random joe who got beat on the play way back upfield wants to cry Nancy foul.
Another point: I thought that NFL players were not allowed to remove their helmet while on the field, regardless of before, during or after a play. They are only allowed to remove their helmets while on the sidelines, or if injured, but this would require an injury time out. Removing your helmet on purpose is a penalty. Right?
Well, I’d probably try, but the idea of the rule is for player safety. I think some schmo way backfield taking his helmet off away from the play would not negate a real interception or runback or something like that. Maybe a misconduct foul to be enforced after the play, maybe, but not a deal breaker.
The play won’t get called dead unless it’s the ‘ball carrier’ who has his helmet removed. Taking your helmet off on the field behind the play (or in celebration as that rule was intended to stop) will still result in a penalty, but after the play.
I don’t understand. Is this supposed to be more lenient for the defense? I.e., can a player have his helmet inside the snapper’s shoulders as long as he’s not exactly in line with him?
What is the purpose of this rule? If it’s to protect the snapper, one would think it should apply to puts not to mention shot-gun formation. I sure hope it’s not to make FGs and extra points harder to block. Those are some of the more unexpected moments.
Also out of curiosity, if they throw a flag for this and it turns out to be a fake field goal is the flag picked up?
There is a big difference between a true long snapper and a shotgun snap. A long snapper looks between his legs while snapping and is, in general, exposed to injury during and immediately after snapping.
One of the changes this year is that the rule applies to punt formations as well. The penalty applies if the offensive team lines up in a kicking formation, whether or not an actual kick takes place.
