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Inside Slant weekly officiating review: Spotting ball in Rams-Chargers
November, 24, 2014
By Kevin Seifert | ESPN.com
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/151087/inside-slant-spotting-ball-in-rams-chargers
Our weekly attempt to expose and explore the gray area involved in officiating NFL games. Sunday suggestions welcome via Twitter (@SeifertESPN). For all Inside Slant posts, including the weekly Officiating Review, follow this link.
Play: A five-minute delay to spot the ball after offsetting penalties against the St. Louis Rams and San Diego Chargers
Referee: Carl Cheffers
Analysis: Cheffers' crew entered the weekend with an NFL-leading average of 19.6 penalty calls per game, including declined and offsetting. Its total was 21 on Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium, including two during a controversial sequence in which Rams coach Jeff Fisher vigorously argued for Cheffers to correct his original spot.
Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin's 73-yard punt return was marred by penalties committed by both teams; the Rams' Marshall McFadden was called for holding and Chargers punter Mike Scifres was penalized for a low block. In his original announcement, Cheffers said that by rule, the offsetting penalties meant the ball would be spotted at the Rams' 22-yard line, where Austin fielded the ball.
Cheffers, however, provided an incorrect citation and explanation. A full breakdown can be found deep in a section of the NFL rule book entitled "Double Fouls With a Change of Possession." (Light reading!) From Rule 14, Section 5, Article 2, Exception (c): "If both teams foul after the last change of possession (Double Foul After Change of Possession), the team last in possession shall retain the ball at the spot of its foul or the dead-ball spot, whichever is less beneficial for it."
In this case, McFadden's hold apparently occurred near the Chargers' 40-yard line. (There was not much contact on the hold, but the end zone replay suggested that McFadden used his right arm to grab the outside left shoulder of the Chargers' Andrew Gachkar.) That spot was less beneficial to the Rams than the "dead-ball spot," where Austin finally was downed at the 5-yard line, so the 40 was where the ball was supposed to be.
Still, the change in spot means a difference of 38 yards to the Rams. Cheffers corrected the call after more than five minutes of discussion. All's well that ends well.
November, 24, 2014
By Kevin Seifert | ESPN.com
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/151087/inside-slant-spotting-ball-in-rams-chargers
Our weekly attempt to expose and explore the gray area involved in officiating NFL games. Sunday suggestions welcome via Twitter (@SeifertESPN). For all Inside Slant posts, including the weekly Officiating Review, follow this link.
Play: A five-minute delay to spot the ball after offsetting penalties against the St. Louis Rams and San Diego Chargers
Referee: Carl Cheffers
Analysis: Cheffers' crew entered the weekend with an NFL-leading average of 19.6 penalty calls per game, including declined and offsetting. Its total was 21 on Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium, including two during a controversial sequence in which Rams coach Jeff Fisher vigorously argued for Cheffers to correct his original spot.
Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin's 73-yard punt return was marred by penalties committed by both teams; the Rams' Marshall McFadden was called for holding and Chargers punter Mike Scifres was penalized for a low block. In his original announcement, Cheffers said that by rule, the offsetting penalties meant the ball would be spotted at the Rams' 22-yard line, where Austin fielded the ball.
Cheffers, however, provided an incorrect citation and explanation. A full breakdown can be found deep in a section of the NFL rule book entitled "Double Fouls With a Change of Possession." (Light reading!) From Rule 14, Section 5, Article 2, Exception (c): "If both teams foul after the last change of possession (Double Foul After Change of Possession), the team last in possession shall retain the ball at the spot of its foul or the dead-ball spot, whichever is less beneficial for it."
In this case, McFadden's hold apparently occurred near the Chargers' 40-yard line. (There was not much contact on the hold, but the end zone replay suggested that McFadden used his right arm to grab the outside left shoulder of the Chargers' Andrew Gachkar.) That spot was less beneficial to the Rams than the "dead-ball spot," where Austin finally was downed at the 5-yard line, so the 40 was where the ball was supposed to be.
Still, the change in spot means a difference of 38 yards to the Rams. Cheffers corrected the call after more than five minutes of discussion. All's well that ends well.
