Just an FYI to you overtime conspiracy theorists....the reason for the increase isn’t some nefarious plot-it’s the introduction of the 2 pt conversion in the NFL.
Also the rules for OT are different now, I posted an article that mentions that.
I think they will tweak it again soon.
So quick questions. Does anyone doubt the NFL wants to see more offense and scoring? Does anyone not see more holding being allowed? Does anyone honestly think this is not an edict from the NFL? Have the rules changed (in print) for holding?
It's not being "allowed" it's being missed. Players have figured out that the refs can't see a hold if they body up the defender. Look at Donald when he is being held, it's usually in tight quarters and by the front of his pads. Players know what angles the refs have a view too.
It's a trick everyone playing on every OL knows now and uses. They get away with it because the refs don't have the view we have at home. We see it from above looking down. We see everything going on at the LOS. And from different angles a few times each play.
Just like how defenders playing a WR know they can wrap an arm around in certain situations and the refs won't see it.
The solution is more eyes on the field of play.
There is only ONE guy watching the OL. The other ref in the backfield is always watching the QB or the RB depending on whether its a run or pass.
Take a look at what I mean. One guy is watching the entire OL and DL..........so one dude is responsible for half the players on every play. It's not enough.
https://operations.nfl.com/the-offi...ly-good/officials-responsibilities-positions/
9/11 happens and Patriotism is the theme across the country. So a bad Patriots team wins the Superbowl. They don't even get their without the BS tuck rule. Then they mug the Rams in front of the refs eyes and beat them after having no answer for them earlier in the year. Did the suddenly become that much better?
Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans. The city is decimated, the people are more depressed, the nation weeps, Let's give them a Superbowl to lift their spirits. It's a great story and America is gonna lap it up.
The Patriots were not a bad team, they were good, and excellent on defense. They were 11-5, with an O that could score and a D that was one of the best in points allowed. During the season they played the Rams very tough in a close game and held the Rams to 24 points which was low for that team. I'm not defending them for cheatring, and I think they did, but that team was no joke.
As far as the Saints they won that SB like 5 seasons after Katrina. I can't see that correlation since Katrina was a memory by then .
There is nothing that can possibly support a conspiracy about refereeing of games. The thing that can be supported is that there are not enough refs in places where they are needed. They miss calls.
IMO pass interference is as big an issue as holding. Everyone on the LOS is grabbing. Watch Donald when he is pushing someone out of his path..........he has handfuls of jersey plenty of times.
There are 7 refs on the field. 2 of them are in the backfield, 2 are on the sidelines at the LOS, and 3 are watching the ENTIRE rest of the field. And only one is watching for holding.
The Seahawks got away with more PI than any team ever because rather than trying to avoid contact they grabbed where the refs couldn't see. Lots of defenders do the same thing now.
