What I said to my wife about that BS unsportsmanlike penalty call on Fowler

[jrry32]

I saw the Rams complaining about being held more than I saw Sheattle complaining. I am sure the Rams are doing some holding. Since it is not being called, they should be. However holding on running plays is still being called. That is likely why the Rams Dline were frustrated. Every time Wilson dropped back to pass, but then decided to run, the refs weren't calling the holding. So, did they not consider Wilson's improvising a running play, because it started as a pass?

For example, here's our TD that tied the game at 7:


No holding. Now, I saw a couple plays that could have been flagged for us, but we were usually a lot less blatant about it than Seattle.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I try to watch games objectively without "Rams" glasses on, but I don't see Goff throwing TD passes with an opposing D lineman getting his jersey stretched because someone is holding. I don't see Goff throwing TD passes with a D lineman the on the other team getting tackled or a hands to the face.

In the New Orleans game with the Rams down 38-35, the last play before we punted, it was a short gain to Cooper Kupp. He got clearly face masked and no call. Now did that cost us the game? No, but that drive would have continued and we had a lost opportunity because the refs missed an easy and obvious call.

If the bad calls were at least equal, I'd be okay but it sure seems like the refs are out to get us this season. Thankfully our team is good enough to to win with bad calls. Under Fisher, we would be 4-6 this season, although the playoff picture would have us "in the hunt" because we are not mathematically eliminated.

I know bad calls happen, but come on man, at least make some bad one in our favor for a change.

And there lies the problem. The bad calls or non calls rarely are equal. They favorite one team or another, which raises suspicions by fans. When it's seen repeatedly for the last several years something's up. When was the last time you saw a poorly officiated game for both teams? Why do they only seem to have bad games for one side? Is it just perception? I don't recall any games like that.

That one non call on Kupp could have changed the entire outcome of the game. And I don't buy the argument that the refs are just letting them play. If that is the case, then why have any rules? Why have refs? They have refs to help keep the games close, and to steer outcomes apparently because there isn't a single crew that can call a game correctly, despite having replay to help.

 

[Rainram]

It’s one thing when a player gets his hands outside the pads occasionally and gets away with a little something. I don’t care about that.

But what’s going on, is players are operating completely outside the framework of the rules...intentionally it seems...because they’re not being held accountable at all. (Ifedi last game was a great example). That’s a big problem on many levels.

 

[Ellard80]

NFL refs receive great salaries and benefits. They can suck it up and deal with a little backtalk when they're blowing calls. I agree that they have every right to flag a guy making threats or acting threateningly (like getting in their face). But flagging a guy for complaining too much is ridiculous. They're getting paid more than enough to put up with it, and the guy is limited in his ability to complain by the game of football he's playing.



These aren't men's rec leagues. This is the NFL. The refs are getting paid six figures with great benefits. They can suck it up and take a little criticism when they're blowing calls.

I'm not really talking about being able to "suck it up" I'm talking about maintaining control of the game. I don't care what level it is - you let the players mouths run amuck towards the officials you are in for real trouble. People don't respect officials at all levels. I'm just as bad myself often - but saying coaches and players can say whatever they want is a danger zone.

That being said... it is possible the official overacted, but it's hard to say without hearing their conversation.

I've also on more than one occasion said that McVay needs to get in the officials ears more - so I'm not saying the officials need to be left alone at all cost.

 

[Ken]

IMO this is a unspoken strategy by the NFL. Our DL in general, and AD in particular, are so good that they let the other teams get away with obvious and blatant holding that they would not let most teams get away with in order to lessen the number of blowouts and make games more competitive. Plus they are favoring offense anyway and are letting all teams get away with more holding than in the past. They don't do it to fix games or to try to steer a narrative IMO. The Rams would likely be 9-1 if the officiating was per the rules, but some of the close wins would have been blowouts and our point differential would be much greater. The Rams are probably the team most affected by this due to our DL whose greatness is being severely negated by this strategy. It's sickening and frustrating to watch. The OL holding non-calls (or the relatively rare call) is one of the biggest arrows in their parity policing arsenal, but it's not the only one. You could see the parity policing in last night's ho-hum Giants-49ers game. Due to these officiating changes ADs (and interior DLs) impact is greatly diminshed, but edge is a little less impacted. So getting better edge play is very important for the Rams moving forward. I'm not kidding when I say I wish AD could learn some moves to escape holding they may inadvertently break the OLs arms. I've seen instances where AD was being double teamed with the OL in front appearing to perform a legal block while the OL behind him was holding him around the waist.

 

[Merlin]

Bottom line is the RAMS are being hurt by the absolute lack of holding calls on passing plays more than any other team. Not only are there more instances of our DL being held, but the most egregious non-calls are almost surely on the Rams.

Come the playoffs I can see what we're going to have to deal with: our DL and wideouts being held all day long. McVay really needs to start getting ahead of this and working the refs, and if necessary throwing an effin tantrum at the podium after the game. Rams' organization, as suggested here by one of our posters, could also put together, disseminate and play on gameday the top holds vs our defensive line.

It's absolute and total fukkin BS and I am fed up with it. How the Rams aren't feeling this way about it I have no idea.

 

[LesBaker]

You dealing with grown men in a grown man sport if you can’t handle a quick 3 second burst of emotion then maybe you need another line of work. You don’t think the Refs say things to the players?? It goes both ways but the difference is the ref not going to penalize himself

I doubt it the refs are saying fuck you or swearing at players. No way.

NFL refs receive great salaries and benefits. They can suck it up and deal with a little backtalk when they're blowing calls. I agree that they have every right to flag a guy making threats or acting threateningly (like getting in their face). But flagging a guy for complaining too much is ridiculous. They're getting paid more than enough to put up with it, and the guy is limited in his ability to complain by the game of football he's playing.

No way, not at all.

Players can't go over the line with refs in any sport and that's a great rule. Obviously Fowler went over the line. It's on him and calling a ref thin skinned or a pussy is just a weak sauce attempt to try to cover up for a guy who acted like a knucklehead.

No holding. Now, I saw a couple plays that could have been flagged for us, but we were usually a lot less blatant about it than Seattle.

That's one play.

I watch the OL enough to know the Rams are doing plenty of it just like every other team in the league is..........as I mentioned in another post there was a picture on the header last week showing Whit literally hugging a Saints player.

Players know they can get away with it and refs can't see it much of the time.

 

[Mackeyser]

Well bro... I can't say the officials did great this game, because they didn't

But we don't know what Fowler said.

I feel like everyone should be forced to ref a rec league basketball season. Will give you an entirely different perspective on being an official.

A pro ref should have thicker skin.

Too often it looks like the Refs are looking at someone the same age as their grown kid and they throw it to show who's in charge.

Sorta like getting rousted by a small town cop who wants you to KNOW who's in charge.

 

[Ellard80]

A pro ref should have thicker skin.

Too often it looks like the Refs are looking at someone the same age as their grown kid and they throw it to show who's in charge.

Sorta like getting rousted by a small town cop who wants you to KNOW who's in charge.

Yeah I responded to this earlier - it's not about having thicker skin.

It's about setting a precedent and controlling the game. If you swear at an official because you didn't like his call - you are going to respect him because he walked away? Yeah I don't think that's how respect works in life.

Like I said before though - maybe Fowler didn't say anything that bad, but only him and the official know what was said.

I have had a lot of issues with some of the calls this year (hekker spot!) but even with my frustration I still understand the game needs to be kept under control.

 

[Mojo Ram]

It's entirely possible our season ends one and done in the playoffs due to this defense.

I'd stand by your comment 100% but as i look around the league and watch whats going on....the good teams, the contenders, the so-so teams, the bad teams....ALL of them are getting shredded on defense. The NFL has officially become Arena football in 2018 and although i think it sucks for the game, it means i can't pin our fate on having a good or bad defense.

 

[LesBaker]

I'd stand by your comment 100% but as i look around the league and watch whats going on....the good teams, the contenders, the so-so teams, the bad teams....ALL of them are getting shredded on defense. The NFL has officially become Arena football in 2018 and although i think it sucks for the game, it means i can't pin our fate on having a good or bad defense.

Teams are averaging 24.1 points per game right now, to date. So scoring is up, but again it's not a huge increase. And some might be because of the two point conversions increasing since they moved the extra point kick so far back compared to what it was.

2017 21.7
2016 22.7
2015 22.8
2014 22.6
2013 23.4

Yards per game are probably up, and causing this perception. But I'm not going to dig out those numbers right now.

 

[Ellard80]

I'd stand by your comment 100% but as i look around the league and watch whats going on....the good teams, the contenders, the so-so teams, the bad teams....ALL of them are getting shredded on defense. The NFL has officially become Arena football in 2018 and although i think it sucks for the game, it means i can't pin our fate on having a good or bad defense.

Our defense doesn't need to be great- but it has to play better than it has the last two games for sure.

 

[LesBaker]

Our defense doesn't need to be great- but it has to play better than it has the last two games for sure.

Against the Chiefs there isn't a lot of room for error so Wade needs to have a solid game plan in place.

 

[Merlin]

I'd stand by your comment 100% but as i look around the league and watch whats going on....the good teams, the contenders, the so-so teams, the bad teams....ALL of them are getting shredded on defense. The NFL has officially become Arena football in 2018 and although i think it sucks for the game, it means i can't pin our fate on having a good or bad defense.

Yes of course. But in a way it makes it even more irritating to realize that if we don't get this defense rolling in time for the playoffs we might well miss a great window of opportunity.

Let's revisit how the scoring defensive numbers look at the end of the season. Hopefully by that time the Rams will be running a hot streak of pre-playoff performances with teams like the Patriots who usually get on track by season's end even when they have down defensive years.

 

[Dxmissile]

doubt it the refs are saying freak you or swearing at players. No way.

And we know Fowler didn’t curse at the ref either

 

[LesBaker]

And we know Fowler didn’t curse at the ref either

How do we know that?

 

[Dxmissile]

How do we know that?

Because he would got a fine and Fowler came out on record saying he didn’t curse at him or use a curse word

 

[LesBaker]

I'm not sure a fine is applicable in this situation, just the flag, according to the rule I posted.

He must have said something pretty harsh, but either way he should know better than to go at a ref that hard, it was foolish.

 

[Ellard80]

Yeah I've heard Fowler's explanation.. Honestly it doesn't make sense.

Fowler said all he said was "That was a terrible call." But there wasn't any call....

If somehow that is the ONLY thing that Fowler said - then that official is hot garbage.

But Fowler's explanation is strange - he also said "I didn't call him by his name or anything..."

So yeahhhh.....

 

[LesBaker]

Yeah I've heard Fowler's explanation.. Honestly it doesn't make sense.

Fowler said all he said was "That was a terrible call." But there wasn't any call....

If somehow that is the ONLY thing that Fowler said - then that official is hot garbage.

But Fowler's explanation is strange - he also said "I didn't call him by his name or anything..."

So yeahhhh.....

I feel like that's all I need to know now.