replay

[mfj]

I'm still upset by the Purdue touchdown that was called back in the WI game. Now I watch a little NFL for the first time all year, and I see it's the same thing in the NFL. I thought there was supposed to be indisputable video evidence to overturn a call. Yet I saw at least three times this weekend where the refs got it wrong with replay.

How in the world could they blow it any more than they did this weekend? I think the Chargers play was clearly a touchdown. For it not to have been ruled as such was atrocious. But then for the ball to have been placed just inside the 1 rather than an inch from the goal line was completely ridiculous. The non catch by the Bears on the play nobody jumped on the fumble was another one. There was at least one last night too.

Between the flag thing, the individualism, and the poor officiating, I find the NFL hard to watch. I fear college football isn't too far behind.

 

[pboiler18]

I think its a factor of a lot of things. The game is getting faster and faster.

The refs seem to be getting older and older (we'll put it nicely here....more 'tenured').

I think you have an older set of guys trying to keep up with a sport that is too fast for them. I make these questionable calls accurately most of the time from the couch, as they happen. I think the thing that most baffles me is the 5 minute long review and then the incorrect call coming down...like say our TD being overturned in the Mizzou game.

I also think replay is used by these officials too much as a safety net. Let's just not call anything because they will review it anyways. I get that the replay rules and how they are governed has continued to evolve but the policy surrounding these situations hasn't evolved with the technology. In the end, we have too few refs on the field and at times they seem unwilling to make the call that is obvious and right in front of them because it might get overturned. Then, that triggers a long review process and from that point with the ambiguity of NFL rules you can make the correct call on the field and then have a multitude of other rules come into play because of the review and now we are looking at elements of the play that were not otherwise in question before.

In the end...I think they do get MORE calls correct because of replay...but honestly it feels like real time there are less correct calls now. To me, there's no excuse to not nail 99% of these on the field though and have replay as the backup...not the decider of some of these games.

 

[Purduemoe]

Personally I think replay as a whole has helped greatly, but there are always some horrible calls no matter what.

 

[FirstDownB]

I think its a factor of a lot of things. The game is getting faster and faster.

The refs seem to be getting older and older (we'll put it nicely here....more 'tenured').

I think you have an older set of guys trying to keep up with a sport that is too fast for them. I make these questionable calls accurately most of the time from the couch, as they happen. I think the thing that most baffles me is the 5 minute long review and then the incorrect call coming down...like say our TD being overturned in the Mizzou game.

I also think replay is used by these officials too much as a safety net. Let's just not call anything because they will review it anyways. I get that the replay rules and how they are governed has continued to evolve but the policy surrounding these situations hasn't evolved with the technology. In the end, we have too few refs on the field and at times they seem unwilling to make the call that is obvious and right in front of them because it might get overturned. Then, that triggers a long review process and from that point with the ambiguity of NFL rules you can make the correct call on the field and then have a multitude of other rules come into play because of the review and now we are looking at elements of the play that were not otherwise in question before.

In the end...I think they do get MORE calls correct because of replay...but honestly it feels like real time there are less correct calls now. To me, there's no excuse to not nail 99% of these on the field though and have replay as the backup...not the decider of some of these games.

Agree that officiating has become too reliant on replay. I railed on this after the Mizzou game and questionable overturn of the Sparks TD. There is a big difference between using replay to fix egregious errors, and relying on the replay safety net and ending up with an equally questionable call. I believe as a result they are getting LESS calls correct on the field. In addition, it might SEEM like there are more bad calls nowdays because of HD and every play being replayed on TV and in slow motion. The game has always involved questionable calls, but over the long run they usually even out.

Replay should be there to fix an occasional obvious blown call.

The "let's stop the game to review every possible judgment call" approach kills the viewing experience. Every game there are big plays where everyone knows it isn't safe to celebrate or react until the replay confirms it. By then the air is out of the balloon. Its like going to a movie theater where they stop the movies at the most dramatic scenes to explain the plot. At the end of the day, sports are entertainment, and replay overkill makes games LESS entertaining.

Replay should be like good offensive linemen, the less you notice them the better.

There need to be some actions taken to discourage overuse of replay. One solution would be to have a group decide instead of an individual. Any overturn must require a unanimous agreement among the group. And the guidelines should state that it must be obvious while viewing at no less than 1/2 live speed, and a agreement must be made within 60 seconds.

Make it painful and rare to overturn calls and you will see fewer appeals as a natural consequence. And also as a consequence there will be more pressure to make the correct call live and allow fans to enjoy the game as it was meant to be. Honestly if they can't make that work, I'd rather eliminate replay review than continue what they have now.

 

[pboiler18]

Agree that officiating has become too reliant on replay. I railed on this after the Mizzou game and questionable overturn of the Sparks TD. There is a big difference between using replay to correct egregious errors, and relying on the replay safety net and ending up with an equally questionable call after all is said and done. I believe as a result they are getting LESS calls correct on the field. In addition, it seems like there are more bad calls because of HD and every play being replayed on TV and in slow motion. The game has always involved questionable calls, but over the long run they usually even out.

In addition, the "let's stop the game to review every possible judgment call" approach kills the viewing experience. Every game there are big plays where everyone knows it isn't safe to celebrate or react until the replay confirms it. By then the air is out of the balloon. Its like going to a movie theater where they stop the movies at the most dramatic scenes to explain the plot. At the end of the day, sports are entertainment, and replay overkill makes games LESS entertaining.

Replay should be like good offensive linemen, the less you notice them the better.

One solution would be to have a group decide instead of an individual. Any overturn must require a unanimous agreement among the group. And the guidelines should state that it must be obvious while viewing at no less than 1/2 live speed, and a agreement must be made within 60 seconds. It's like any form of justice system. Make it painful and rare to overturn calls and you will see fewer replay reviews as a natural consequence.

Agree with the stance.

It was 3-4 years ago in CFB where every single game I was watching, there were some VERY EASY fumble calls (going both ways....fumble or not a fumble) that were just not being called. The play would happen right in front of the ref and he would just stand there befuddled as to what was happening....when from a worse vantage point from my couch it was easy to see the ball out...or conversely that the ball didn't come out until the runner was down and the ball hit the ground and popped out.

There are a ton of judgement calls that are tough to make....but when this stuff is happening clear as day in front of you....you as the ref have to have the guts to do your job and blow the whistle. Even the simplest of replays involve a run over to the equipment, 2-10 views of the play, checking the clock and then several minutes later we are back to the action where everybody in the stadium knew the ball hit the turf and wasn't caught or the runner was down and there was no way it was a fumble!

 

[Hausta01]

It also doesn't help that the screen the ref looks at is not as good as the screens we all watch the game on.

For CBB reviews it looks like they have a 1994 tube 13" RCA to look at the review. No wonder they can't seem to get things right

 

[pboiler18]

It also doesn't help that the screen the ref looks at is not as good as the screens we all watch the game on.

For CBB reviews it looks like they have a 1994 tube 13" RCA to look at the review. No wonder they can't seem to get things right

If anything, CBB refs should have some off site helpers purely from the logistical stand point that you can't have a large monitor courtside.

 

[KentuckyBoiler]

I'm still upset by the Purdue touchdown that was called back in the WI game. Now I watch a little NFL for the first time all year, and I see it's the same thing in the NFL. I thought there was supposed to be indisputable video evidence to overturn a call. Yet I saw at least three times this weekend where the refs got it wrong with replay.

How in the world could they blow it any more than they did this weekend? I think the Chargers play was clearly a touchdown. For it not to have been ruled as such was atrocious. But then for the ball to have been placed just inside the 1 rather than an inch from the goal line was completely ridiculous. The non catch by the Bears on the play nobody jumped on the fumble was another one. There was at least one last night too.

Between the flag thing, the individualism, and the poor officiating, I find the NFL hard to watch. I fear college football isn't too far behind.

I am more upset about the Missouri game call nullifying Sparks touchdown catch. There was no way there was indisputable video evidence to overturn that call.

 

[SKYDOG]

Agree that officiating has become too reliant on replay. I railed on this after the Mizzou game and questionable overturn of the Sparks TD. There is a big difference between using replay to fix egregious errors, and relying on the replay safety net and ending up with an equally questionable call. I believe as a result they are getting LESS calls correct on the field. In addition, it might SEEM like there are more bad calls nowdays because of HD and every play being replayed on TV and in slow motion. The game has always involved questionable calls, but over the long run they usually even out.

Replay should be there to fix an occasional obvious blown call.

The "let's stop the game to review every possible judgment call" approach kills the viewing experience. Every game there are big plays where everyone knows it isn't safe to celebrate or react until the replay confirms it. By then the air is out of the balloon. Its like going to a movie theater where they stop the movies at the most dramatic scenes to explain the plot. At the end of the day, sports are entertainment, and replay overkill makes games LESS entertaining.

Replay should be like good offensive linemen, the less you notice them the better.

There need to be some actions taken to discourage overuse of replay. One solution would be to have a group decide instead of an individual. Any overturn must require a unanimous agreement among the group. And the guidelines should state that it must be obvious while viewing at no less than 1/2 live speed, and a agreement must be made within 60 seconds.

Make it painful and rare to overturn calls and you will see fewer appeals as a natural consequence. And also as a consequence there will be more pressure to make the correct call live and allow fans to enjoy the game as it was meant to be. Honestly if they can't make that work, I'd rather eliminate replay review than continue what they have now.

One easy solution would be to change the rule to the ball carrier or receiver has to hold onto the ball even after hitting the ground. This is how it once was and that would speed up the games and take several replays away. The flow of the game would be much better.

 

[mfj]

I am more upset about the Missouri game call nullifying Sparks touchdown catch. There was no way there was indisputable video evidence to overturn that call.

I agree. That's the one I was thinking of. I thought it was against WI.

 

[FirstDownB]

I agree. That's the one I was thinking of. I thought it was against WI.

The WI game also did have a questionable overturn of a 3rd and 10 pass on our last drive of regulation. Would have been 4th and 2.

 

[Biggie357]

I'm still upset by the Purdue touchdown that was called back in the WI game. Now I watch a little NFL for the first time all year, and I see it's the same thing in the NFL. I thought there was supposed to be indisputable video evidence to overturn a call. Yet I saw at least three times this weekend where the refs got it wrong with replay.

How in the world could they blow it any more than they did this weekend? I think the Chargers play was clearly a touchdown. For it not to have been ruled as such was atrocious. But then for the ball to have been placed just inside the 1 rather than an inch from the goal line was completely ridiculous. The non catch by the Bears on the play nobody jumped on the fumble was another one. There was at least one last night too.

Between the flag thing, the individualism, and the poor officiating, I find the NFL hard to watch. I fear college football isn't too far behind.

Actually the replay in the Bears game was spot on per the rules. It was caught then fumbled but the ref blew the play dead before there was a recovery by either team. So per the rule if there is no clear recovery the play cannot be overturned to a catch. The rule makes sense to me. The problem is they blew the play dead too early. No one got a chance to recover it. Just a very obscure rule that rarely needs to be used.

 

[BoilerMaker P]

The Texans touchdown against the Colts was a clearly blown call and purely situational officiating. Any time that happens during the regular season, a ball carrier with two fingertips on the ball does not constitute "control" as the ball was clearly coming out of his grip before it crossed the goal line. That looked like a cut-and-dry fumble into the endzone and should have been a touchback to the Colts. For whatever reason (trying to bring a little drama I suspect), that was ruled a touchdown. And yes, my awareness of this rule is heightened because it has happened to Purdue on several inopportune occasions.

 

[pboiler18]

Actually the replay in the Bears game was spot on per the rules. It was caught then fumbled but the ref blew the play dead before there was a recovery by either team. So per the rule if there is no clear recovery the play cannot be overturned to a catch. The rule makes sense to me. The problem is they blew the play dead too early. No one got a chance to recover it. Just a very obscure rule that rarely needs to be used.

I didn't think they blew it dead. IIRC, the ball sat there for 10 seconds...not a soul went to pick it up so the ref went and grabbed it.

 

[mfj]

The Texans touchdown against the Colts was a clearly blown call and purely situational officiating. Any time that happens during the regular season, a ball carrier with two fingertips on the ball does not constitute "control" as the ball was clearly coming out of his grip before it crossed the goal line. That looked like a cut-and-dry fumble into the endzone and should have been a touchback to the Colts. For whatever reason (trying to bring a little drama I suspect), that was ruled a touchdown. And yes, my awareness of this rule is heightened because it has happened to Purdue on several inopportune occasions.

You're correct. This is pretty much my point. Why have replay if they are still not going to get the call correct? That ball was CLEARLY not in the player's control, yet the call was confirmed. Why bother? And then in the Purdue case mentioned above there is absolutely no evidence to reverse the TD to incomplete, yet they did.

 

[DannyGranger]

. In addition, it might SEEM like there are more bad calls nowdays because of HD and every play being replayed on TV and in slow motion. The game has always involved questionable calls, but over the long run they usually even out.

Very good point here, it might not have gotten worse we are just that much better at, or better enabled at, sniffing out bad calls as viewers

 

[Biggie357]

I didn't think they blew it dead. IIRC, the ball sat there for 10 seconds...not a soul went to pick it up so the ref went and grabbed it.

That's why no one recovered it. It was blown dead and called incomplete. That's why that obscure rule applied. Going by last years rules it would have been incomplete. But for some reason people couldn't understand what was and wasn't a true catch by the rules so they changed it.