Flags Way Up

[mykc14]

I know this is no news flash but apparently flags were up a whopping 218% over the first weekend of the season compared to last year on the 3 areas of emphasis (Illegal contact, D holding, and hands to the face). Even though this was supposed the be the LOB rule the LOB didn't commit 1 penalty last week, pretty cool. With that being said I hate this. The amount of flags being thrown is ridiculous. Here is an example: last year there were a TOTAL of 37 flags for illegal contact all season long. This year there have ALREADY been 14 which would equal about 340 in a whole season, that is just crazy. The numbers for D holding are just as bad. I know we have discussed this but now that the season has started and we have actually seen the increase in penalties, what do you guys think? IMO this will lead to more 'flops (ala Clay Matthews)' and crying after every incomplete pass. I have already seen DB's complaining after most completions that the WR pushed off. I don't want to see this in our game, just go back to the way it was!

http://espn.go.com/blog/seattle-seahawks

[mykc14]

I also heard a former NFL official (can't remember his name or the exact stat, which is why I wasn't going to post it but I guess I am now) saying that after reviewing all the games from last year they 'only' missed the equivalent of .5 penalties/per team/per game on those types of fouls all of last year. Now they are going in the opposite direction and calling way too many penalties. So my questions is this: Is it better to miss some illegal contact, D holding, hands to the face but only be off by about 1 penalty per game or call all of them but be off by 2 or 3 per game?

[Long Time Fan]

So my questions is this: Is it better to miss some illegal contact, D holding, hands to the face but only be off by about 1 penalty per game or call all of them but be off by 2 or 3 per game?

Excellent question. I can't remember who it was (mb Disraeli) "better to let a thousand guilty men go free than to imprison one innocent man" or something to that affect. Similar thinking here. Better to let an infraction go uncalled than to call a non infraction. Too many flags. The NFL goes too far in adjusting its game. Moves to decrease injuries are fine; moves to induce parity and these moves to benefit offense over defense are BS. The golden goose that the NFL is toying with may eventually just lay an egg.

[mykc14]

Excellent question. I can't remember who it was (mb Disraeli) "better to let a thousand guilty men go free than to imprison one innocent man" or something to that affect. Similar thinking here. Better to let an infraction go uncalled than to call a non infraction. Too many flags. The NFL goes too far in adjusting its game. Moves to decrease injuries are fine; moves to induce parity and these moves to benefit offense over defense are BS. The golden goose that the NFL is toying with may eventually just lay an egg.

That's in line with my thinking as well. This type of officiating is going to make the games take well over 4 hours. I have always liked officials who 'let them play' a little rather than calling a foul with just a little contact ala the NBA in the regular season.

[Hawktawk]

I didn't know the actual stats but as I was watching this weekend I said "too many flags". Not coincidentally the NFL has shown a slight dip in TV ratings recently. Offensive players are begging defenders not to target their legs which has been another byproduct of Goody Two Shoes Goodells utopian dream of glorified flag football. Its time for that jack wagon to go. We need a commish who has played the game in the NFL and really understands whats going on between the whistles. Not this puss who lies every time his lips are moving.

[HumanCockroach]

Of course the NFL feels it's a good move. It helps the offense ( did anyone notice a huge increase in flags on the offense for the illegal contact as well? I didn't,and that was supposed to "even" it out) and that IS exactly what the NFL wants. Players like Megatron, Marshall and the like are STILL pushing off, and DB's can't do a damn thing about it. Which is exactly what the NFL wants. The DB flags in about half the ones I saw were a joke, and seriously sad.

[kalibane]

There is no question that people want to see scoring but I think the league has overestimated exactly how much fans prefer offense over defense. They have taken it to a level where it seems like they believe that fans think defense = boredom, which I don't think is the case at all.

People just don't want to see bad offense e.g. Trent Dilfer handing off twice, throwing a check down and then punting.

People have zero problems watching Seattle, SF or Carolina. And I think it's very telling that removing fan allegiance, the game people look forward to the most right now is not Denver vs. New Orleans. It's Seattle vs. SF, two complete teams built on defense.

Watching a track meet is not fun. You want to see actual competition. And when people do a personal retrospective on the 2013 season the game that they are going think of will be the NFC championship. And yet the league is stubbornly pushing the game towards that abortion that was the Chiefs/Colts wildcard matchup.

[Hawktawk]

There is no question that people want to see scoring but I think the league has overestimated exactly how much fans prefer offense over defense. They have taken it to a level where it seems like they believe that fans think defense = boredom, which I don't think is the case at all.

People just don't want to see bad offense e.g. Trent Dilfer handing off twice, throwing a check down and then punting.

People have zero problems watching Seattle, SF or Carolina. And I think it's very telling that removing fan allegiance, the game people look forward to the most right now is not Denver vs. New Orleans. It's Seattle vs. SF, two complete teams built on defense.

Watching a track meet is not fun. You want to see actual competition. And when people do a personal retrospective on the 2013 season the game that they are going think of will be the NFC championship. And yet the league is stubbornly pushing the game towards that abortion that was the Chiefs/Colts wildcard matchup.

Yeah the "league" namely one Roger Goody Two Shoes Goodell. What a clown...

[THX-1138]

Truth be told, I don't mind defensive HOLDING calls. And I don't think it's a bad idea to keep an eye on WR's that like to EXCESSIVELY push off.

But really, what we mostly see is a lot of hand checking going on by both offensive and defensive players, and that is fine by me. If a defender isn't looking for the ball and he is waving his arms around and bumping, sure, call a PI, even if it's on my guy. If an offensive player is pushing back a bit as both guys are trying to get position for a catch I don't mind if the ref let's it go, even if my guy is the defender. Let them play indeed. We are all smart enough to tell the difference between egregious illegal play and real football. It's like the NFL doesn't want offensive players to be touched. For gosh sakes, it aint fly-up. It's football. There's going to be contact.

The greatest cash cow/golden goose in the history of the planet and the NFL wants to eat steak and eggs instead of go to the bank.

[NorthHawk]

I saw one play (I think it was a Saints WR) where a DB got close and he lurched as if he was hit (the replay showed there was no contact).
There was no penalty called, but he got up and started looking at the Ref with a "what about that" expression.
I sure hope this emphasis on contact doesn't lead to a soccer type acting scenario from WRs.

[THX-1138]

I saw one play (I think it was a Saints WR) where a DB got close and he lurched as if he was hit (the replay showed there was no contact).
There was no penalty called, but he got up and started looking at the Ref with a "what about that" expression.
I sure hope this emphasis on contact doesn't lead to a soccer type acting scenario from WRs.

Bingo. It will be the monster of the NFL's own creation. And that will cause viewership to go down. Steak and eggs.

[Long Time Fan]

The NFL is scared to death that the concussion settlement case will never be closed. There is now an ongoing systematic policy of pumping up offensive production at the expense of hard hitting defense. This ploy is the NFL's attempt to hold onto viewership while it waters down the collisions. The brand of football that we grew up watching is bygone. The Seahawks style of defense is an effrontery to the new age passing game. The best team in the league plays a yesteryear style that the NFL just as soon wishes fans would forget. All of the highlight films of NFL's greatest hits are being mothballed jest the lawyers get ahold of them anytime a retired player next claims he can't remember where he put his keys.

Don't get me wrong; I have a deep sympathy for anyone who gave his heart to this beautiful game and is left less than whole in retirement, but the current version of the game is not evolution, but devolution.

[monkey]

Notice who the 5th most penalized team is?
None other than the San Francisco 49ers!

Yup, the team with the head coach who spent all of last season crying like a little girl about the Seahawks holding and grabbing on every play, is one of the biggest offenders, to the surprise of NO ONE!

Hairball is such a tool. Above reproach right guys? LOL!

[RiverDog]

The NFL is scared to death that the concussion settlement case will never be closed. There is now an ongoing systematic policy of pumping up offensive production at the expense of hard hitting defense. This ploy is the NFL's attempt to hold onto viewership while it waters down the collisions. The brand of football that we grew up watching is bygone. The Seahawks style of defense is an effrontery to the new age passing game. The best team in the league plays a yesteryear style that the NFL just as soon wishes fans would forget. All of the highlight films of NFL's greatest hits are being mothballed jest the lawyers get ahold of them anytime a retired player next claims he can't remember where he put his keys.

Don't get me wrong; I have a deep sympathy for anyone who gave his heart to this beautiful game and is left less than whole in retirement, but the current version of the game is not evolution, but devolution.

The current emphasis on holding and pass interference is not related to the NFL's concerns about safety IMO. But it almost undoubtedly is another move towards emphasizing offense vs. defense even though the emphasis applies to both sides of the ball.

I agree with the OP. I don't like all the penalties. It's like in basketball where you are paying top dollar to watch the best athletes in the world shoot free throws.

[Long Time Fan]

The current emphasis on holding and pass interference is not related to the NFL's concerns about safety IMO. .

RD, only indirectly. It doesn't take a sharp tool to connect the dots from a seismically concussive lawsuit and open-ended settlement process to the alteration of the game de-emphasising defensive and big hits altogether. The rule bias towards offense is a nature outgrowth of an NFL that has both financial and viewership concerns. The Seahawks style of play is in the crosshairs of a league that is trying to reinvent itself.

Its no coincidence that Jerry Jones, who I believe is on the competition committee, called out the Seahawks specifically when the defensive holding rule took center stage. Our team's style of play is endangered. It would not surprise me in the least if officials have been told that in the early portion of the season the Seahawks are not to be called too often for the infraction of defensive holding. But by season's end, the Seahawks will lose a crucial game that will turn on just such a call.

Call me paranoid if you wish, but the NFL is a tightly orchestrated production.

[NorthHawk]

That doesn't hold up to examination since a if a player is held, he will necessarily not be running as fast therefore collisions will be less violent.
If concussions were the genus of this change (or emphasis) then they would want to slow the players down. They moved the kickoffs up to reduce that type of contact.

[Long Time Fan]

That doesn't hold up to examination

The point is being missed. Of course defensive holding has little to do with preventing concussions. It is the prevalence of the the concussions that led the NFL to water down the hitting. This watered down hitting could lead to a decrease in viewership. To prevent a decrease in viewership the NFL thinks more scoring might stem the tide of waning interest. Thus offense bias officiating, including unfettered WR routes. A simple examination of policy change uncovers a rational that is usually profit driven; in any business. In this sense too, the NFL is as if on steroids.

[NorthHawk]

I see what you are saying, but since once the WR has possession of the ball, he can be hit hard, if he catches it at full speed and is hit by a defender going the opposite direction at full speed, there will be a greater collision than if the WR is only going 3/4 speed. Threfore it doesn't mitigate the intensity of collisions - rather it should increase the intensity, and cause more concussions.
If that is what their true intent is, it will make it worse by letting the WRs run free.

I think maybe Sherman was on to something with his Fantasy Football angle in that there are millions if not billions riding on stats, and we all know that money drives the NFL.

[Long Time Fan]

NH, We are on different wavelengths; apples and bowling balls, but no problem both are good veins of discussion.

My point is that the NFL is redesigning a game to be non violent and at the same time somehow entertaining. The seahawks brand of defense is effectively too good to fit the NFL's desired mold. Offenses will be stymied and that can not be allowed to happen. We must have high scoring in lieu of the violence. Where the NFL should laud the model of the seahawks and its rabid fan base; the NFL wants Manning and other Qbs upping the passing tds record annually. Really no different than the Mcquire/Sosa hr record chase days. After all, chicks still dig the long ball.

[RiverDog]

RD, only indirectly. It doesn't take a sharp tool to connect the dots from a seismically concussive lawsuit and open-ended settlement process to the alteration of the game de-emphasising defensive and big hits altogether. The rule bias towards offense is a nature outgrowth of an NFL that has both financial and viewership concerns. The Seahawks style of play is in the crosshairs of a league that is trying to reinvent itself.

Its no coincidence that Jerry Jones, who I believe is on the competition committee, called out the Seahawks specifically when the defensive holding rule took center stage. Our team's style of play is endangered. It would not surprise me in the least if officials have been told that in the early portion of the season the Seahawks are not to be called too often for the infraction of defensive holding. But by season's end, the Seahawks will lose a crucial game that will turn on just such a call.

Call me paranoid if you wish, but the NFL is a tightly orchestrated production.

I don't get the 'connect the dots' link between pass interference/holding and vicious hits. I do think you are correct in that the game has intentionally trended towards an emphasis on offense and that one of the factors is related to safety. But it is not the only one, and only recently has it become a major factor.

The league has been trending towards offense for decades, and long before safety became the hot button issue that it is today. You can go all the way back to the elimination of the bump-and-run defense, the liberalization of offensive holding penalties, and protecting quarterbacks (I can remember Jack Lambert complaining that they ought to put dresses on quarterbacks), which back then didn't have as much to do with a humanistic concern for their long term health as it did a box office concern when so many starting quarterbacks were out of action. That's why all these passing and scoring records are so bogus, as the game has changed so much that it is not an apples to apples comparison when Peyton Manning breaks a record that Johnny Unitas set.

Jerry Jones isn't complaining about the Seahawks because they represent a threat to player safety. He's a whining, sniveling cry baby that is grasping for straws in an attempt to justify the fact that he has grossly mismanaged his team and is looking for an excuse, any excuse, for his ineptitude, so who else better to blame for his woes than the World Champs? The man is in a serious state of denial.

[Long Time Fan]

RD, You make many good points. yours is the best recitation of a historical perspective on the evolution of offense bias officiating. I do not think that it is coincidental that a stricter enforcement on defensive holding comes just after a virtual band on violent hitting. The NFL is like a good sleight of hand magician, divert your attention away from the reduced physicality on the field and look up to the heretofore unprecedented numbers on the scoreboard. In the end no matter the cause, the effect is a changed game. Time will tell if these changes result in a decline of viewership.

I am more concerned about the effect on the Seahawks style of play. As the most penalized team last season, a lack of adherence to the rules was not a sufficient impediment to a championship run. Like any successful game play, adjustment to the rules is a key. The Seahawks coaching seems to be doing a good job adapting to a changing set of rules. I maintain that the NFL does not like the Seahawks style of defense and does not want to see it emulated in this copycat league.

Your portrayal of Jerry Jones is a bit too kind for my tastes. His is not just a state of denial, dude believes his team's shortcoming are not just in spite of his brilliance; His is a state of entitlement and impunity. I hope those strippers have their way with a large chunk of his money. I live in Texas and there is little worse here than the threadbare pride and pompousness of Cowboy fans and even many of them can see through Jerry's delusions of grandeur.

[HumanCockroach]

Pretty soon, we'll be watching glorified eleven on eleven no contact drills, which IMHO is sad, really, really sad.

[Anthony]

Pretty soon, we'll be watching glorified eleven on eleven no contact drills, which IMHO is sad, really, really sad.

I agree I am waiting for them to say that once the ball is thrown only the offensive player can get it, and that all you can do is get in front of the Qb and put your hands up no sacking. I mean some of the call in the Thursday night game were god awful and impacted the game badly. Its getting bad and teams, and fans are complaining. Si hopefully it will change. The real bad thing is the offensive interference is not being called any more than before even though it is happening so that was a load of BS.

[RiverDog]

Your portrayal of Jerry Jones is a bit too kind for my tastes. His is not just a state of denial, dude believes his team's shortcoming are not just in spite of his brilliance; His is a state of entitlement and impunity. I hope those strippers have their way with a large chunk of his money. I live in Texas and there is little worse here than the threadbare pride and pompousness of Cowboy fans and even many of them can see through Jerry's delusions of grandeur.

I thought my portrayal of JJ was pretty harsh, but I'll gladly go with your take. I dislike Jerry Jones more than I do any other individual associated with professional sports, which includes athletes, coaches, broadcasters, et al.