Thursday
BUF @ MIA -5.5
Sunday early
MIN @ CHI -3
HOU @ CLE -3
SEA @ KC -1
ATL @ CAR -1.5
CIN @ NO -7.5
TB @ WAS -7
DEN -10 @ STL
SF -4 @ NYG
Sunday late
OAK @ SD -10.5
PHI @ GB -6.5
DET @ ARI -2
SNF
NE @ IND -3
MNF
PIT -7 @ TEN
Something from the Thursday Night game bugged me.
Kyle Orton was called at one point for intentional grounding. It was 3rd down (I believe) near his own goalline, he dropped back and the rush immediately got there up the middle. He flung it up the left sideline, about 20-25 yards past the line of scrimmage. Grounding was called, and since he was in the end zone it was a safety.
(Ah, here’s a clip; my memory was pretty good!)
This was iffy for a couple of reasons. First, when the ball landed Sammy Watkins was about 7-9 yards away from it, as the crow flies. That seems plenty close enough to me for a deep ball. But they brought on Mike Carey to talk about it, and he said it was a good call, and also that the refs aren’t allowed to take route miscommunications into account when calling grounding. (Watkins had made his break away from where the ball ultimately landed; no doubt it was thrown much earlier than the play called for.)
Well, I don’t know exactly what the rulebook says, but in practice the refs almost always give leeway for a mixed up route. The QB throws a 12 yard button hook to the sideline but the WR runs a fly pattern deep, and by the time the ball lands there’s no receiver within 20 yards of the thing; that’s never called. Seems crazy to me that Orton was flagged, and even crazier that Carey would support the call.
I don’t think it was within the spirit of intentional grounding, since he seemed to be throwing a targeted pass and his receiver made a different read, but I’m not sure what the exact letter of the rule is. I agree that it wouldn’t normally be called like that.
It’s no surprise Mike Carey supported it, though. He basically always supports whatever the refs called, right? At least that’s my experience watching him.
Arian Foster is out for this Sunday’s game at the Browns. I was worried about him. Now the Browns just have statue Mallett to deal with, and the game is going to be cold and brutal. I’m feeling good about this one. It would be amazing if the Browns were 7-3 when they get Gordon back next week.
Agreed, on the Carey observation. Everytime I’ve seen him, he supports the decision the refs came up with. True, that’s not behavior that’s restricted to him, but it would be refreshing to hear him say something like, “That’s a bad call.”
Foster is supposedly out, but Clowney’s coming back this game, and it doesn’t look good for Jordan Cameron seeing the field again this year. Plus, even though Mallett may be a statue, he’s a statue Cleveland’s got very little film on. I’m still happily laying 3 (which is just insultingly low) and taking the Browns.
Looks to me as though the refs saw a tackler closing on the QB, and the QB was falling backwards as he threw, and there was nowhere to go because a step or two back would have been an OB safety. I think it was mostly that falling backwards thing, made it look like a desperation throw (not really able to judge where the ball was going).
I’ve never once seen the refs give leeway for a mixed up route. Quite the opposite; they never give leeway.
Your counter-example isn’t grounding because grounding only applies if you’re about to be sacked. If you take a 5-step drop, plant, and throw a deep out to your WR who mistakenly runs a deep in, it’s not intentional grounding because you weren’t trying to avoid a sack.
Oh, hey, just remembered that the official rulebook is online. I always forget they put the whole thing up a few years ago. Anyway, here’s the rule: (emphasis added)
Kevin Seifert covered it pretty well: Inside Slant: There is a reason intentional grounding is rarely called - ESPN - NFL Nation- ESPN
I think we’ll just have to agree to disagree on the route miscommunications. You’re right that being under pressure is necessary, but even in those cases I’ve seen passes that (for one reason or another) missed far worse than the one last night that no one seemed to think deserved a flag.
The rule you quoted is, I suppose, open to some interpretation, but I think a plain reading of the text supports my view: “A realistic chance of completion is defined as a pass that lands in the direction and the vicinity of an originally eligible receiver.” The timing and accuracy of the pass was fucked up by the pressure, but it was clearly a pass for Watkins, and if Watkins had known the pass was coming out early and had been looking for it, he would have had a fair chance at catching it.
It’s been a while, 8 years in fact, since mid-November games were something to be excited about for me instead of something that had to be endured.
Holy shit Mallett’s arm.
I love watching JJ Watt. Dude could be the best defensive player of this generation.
Jay Cutler fumbles, but gets a break because nobody recovered it in time (which wasn’t true, because someone did). But instead of recognizing how lucky he is, he goes onto get an unsportsmanlike conduct on the next play for being a whiny douche. That penalty makes the field goal 15 yards harder, and the kicker misses it.
I really hope this Bears season goes into complete meltdown mode.
Does anyone know where I can watch the Lions game online? It isn’t going to be showing up here in Anchorage.
Let’s go EAGLES!!!
If we were playing at home, I’d say we’d have a much better chance, but Rodgers is just too damn good at Lambeau, rest of Packers too.
Arriba Sanchez has to know not to throw near Clay Matthews, 'cause it will be picked. I’m only hoping our defense can pick or block some of Rodgers passes.
Man I don’t like the rules they have to protect punters. You barely graze them after almost blocking their kicks and it’s 15 yards.
I really wanted to see some Watt vs Joe Thomas, because I think Thomas might be the only the guy in the NFL who could shut him down, but Houston is wisely allowing him to abuse Mitchell Schwartz on the other side.
Just as I say that, Thomas manhandled Watt on a play.
Watt is truly great, but the announcers have literally said his name 200+ times in the broadcast already.
Mike Carey just justified a totally obvious phantom helmet to helmet penalty by saying well, uh… the head… was above the shoulders… and… the defender’s head was above his shoulders too… so, you know, the refs sometimes think that’s head to head.
Or something like that.
They should change the name of the Panthers to the Tonic. They are good for what ails ya…
Still gonna pay Cam? 