Officiating

[FKAGobucks877]

I've seen several articles that mention this, so I thought I'd throw it out here for us to discuss. Does anyone else have a problem with the officiating this year? And I'm not talking about some kind of bias against tOSU, I'm just talking in general. Offensive holding is apparently not a penalty anymore. Conversely, if you are a member of the kick-off or punt coverage team, it is no longer legal to block whatsoever. If you try, you will be flagged. Another one I've seen mentioned, but not witnessed personally, is the roughing the punter call. This trend is really starting to bother me - especially the holding. When you have a stellar pass rush, and your opponent resorts to what amounts to cheating to neutralize it, there is nothing you can do if the officials don't call it. I couldn't believe how many times I saw holding go uncalled last night in the Tenn/LSU game. Unbelievable.

[osugrad21]

Wait until the referees are instructed to call the helmet-leading hits more frequently...

Then it will be time to break out the flags or play some 2-hand touch.

[Dryden]

Originally Posted by FKAGobucks877

I couldn't believe how many times I saw holding go uncalled last night in the Tenn/LSU game. Unbelievable.

Aside from the blatant holding no-calls last night, the officiating crew completely missed all the motion penalties and false starts, particularly on Tennessee. One or the other of Tennessee's tackles either came out of his stance or held on every single play, and Tennessee's FB fell forward out of his stance, or took a half-step, before the snap every single time they lined up in the I-Formation. What killed LSU is that they got called for offsides routinely because they'd jump the line when the FB stepped forward. There were at least 15 uncalled motion penalties on Tennessee in that game last night, and a handful that were wrongly called against the LSU defense.

Everything about that game last night, Tennessee's first half, LSU's second half, Les Miles' clock management, Fullmer's QB rotation management, Russell's and Ainge's decision making, the officiating, the announcing/commentary, even the damn production who couldn't get the audio/video in sync, lost the audio, displayed wrong graphics ... every single aspect of the game last night was a train wreck. If we add the FSU/Miami special teams play from four weeks ago we'd have an entire instructional video series for how not to play, coach, officiate, or broadcast football.

[Spazztic1]

The Block in the back against O'neal on Teddy Ballgames punt return really upset me. He barely touched him. However he did put his hand on his back right in front of the ref. Worst part is I don't think it would have mattered either way if O'neal touches him or not. I think Teddy would have still taken it to the house if O'neal just stands there and watches the guy wiff on the tackle. I know this is a given but Damn TGII is amazing. Just had to say it.

[Onebuckfan]

Just a thought are the referee's and the umpire's spending more concentration on ball possession,(fumbles,whether an arm is going forward,etc) so they won't be overturned on review. Instead of looking for holding by the OL.

[coxew]

The (non)holding crap has been going on for years now. Remember Will Smith getting held every play? The same is now happening with Kudla and Carpenter. It's not just college either. This is happening in the NFL as well.

Wait until the referees are instructed to call the helmet-leading hits more frequently...

See Atlanta v Phily. The Atlanta linebacker got fined for the hit he put on McNabb right in the chest. The officials didn't see it worthy of throwing the flag but as part of their review process, the NFL deemed it worthy of a fine. Since officials are graded and this play went uncalled affecting their grade, you can bet it's going to be called the next time someone puts a head into another players chest. This is football for crying out loud. Let them play.

Another one I've seen mentioned, but not witnessed personally, is the roughing the punter call.

I understand protecting the kicker but the acting job they do has gotten ridiculous. I don't think Whitner should have been called against Miami. Both camera angles looked to me like he went under and behind the punter and he then lost his balance and tripped over Donte. This happens all the time yet they still call it when it's obviously not roughing the kicker.

[FKAGobucks877]

The roughing the kicker crap has gotten pretty bad. I think there should be an "unsportsmanlike" flag thrown on the kicker if they pull an acting job to get the flag.

Also, while the offensive holding (non)calls have been going on for several years, it's really gotten worse recently. Last night in the LSU/Tenn game, that Mahelona guy busted throught he LOS and was chasing the QB while the OL was hanging onto his shirt. There was the QB, the DL being held by the OL, and nobody else. It was obvious, it was flagrant, and it was uncalled. Ridiculous. I can't believe how bad it's getting. Yet, while it is ok to hold on passing plays, if you engage a DL on a sweep or end-around, that will draw a holding flag every time.

[Zurp]

Originally Posted by FKAGobucks877

The roughing the kicker crap has gotten pretty bad. I think there should be an "unsportsmanlike" flag thrown on the kicker if they pull an acting job to get the flag.

Thats a pretty good idea. It might have been Army-ISU game on Friday where the ISU punter was "bumped" and then he fell down. It was pretty obvious that the bumping did not knock him down, but he got the penalty, anyway.

[jwinslow]

I am one of the biggest soapbox members about roughing the kicker. I hate professional soccer for the same reason, but they began handing out yellow cards for fake dives. It should be fifteen yards and a rekick.

What makes me upset is the way ESPN showcased the missed holding call on sportscenter, even tho those who watched it realized LSU was lucky to be within FG range in OT after their more blatant hold on the previous drive.

Originally Posted by coxew

The (non)holding crap has been going on for years now. Remember Will Smith getting held every play? The same is now happening with Kudla and Carpenter. It's not just college either. This is happening in the NFL as well.

I think it is getting worse... especially in how it is blatantly ignored. When one team is dominating the other, and punishing the QB, the ref seems to stop calling holding. Pro refs do a little better job than college, IMO.[quote]One of these days, the spearing rule will make it to college. Right now its a non-factor, b/c Salley and Whitner spear guys all day long knowing the refs won't call it. Its not evil or mean, its just the way the college game is called.

[bucknut4life]

Originally Posted by FKAGobucks877

The roughing the kicker crap has gotten pretty bad. I think there should be an "unsportsmanlike" flag thrown on the kicker if they pull an acting job to get the flag.

i could agree more..its geting out of hand..i forget which game it was, but a DB was laying on the ground, didnt touch the kicker, the kicker did his stupid little acting job, and got a running into the kicker penalty...

NEWS FLASH~~ you cant run into the kicker if your laying on the ground..

[coxew]

I heard another one last year that was supposed to be getting called in the NFL but don't know how much it was called...holding on a defensive lineman. I've never heard of such a thing but the reason behind it is they didn't want the DL holding onto the OL, thus preventing them from getting to the LBs.

[LordJeffBuck]

There are two reasons that the officials are instructed to be lenient on holding in the NFL: (1) to increase offensive production, and thus fan enjoyment; and (2) to protect the QB's on passing plays (generally, the officials calling holding more strictly on running plays). I would imagine that a similar train of thought would apply to the college game.

[kinch]

I have a question about a call that never became an issue, likely because it was rendered irrelevant.

In the Nebraska/Pitt game Pitt went to kick a field goal, on 3rd down, at the end of the game.

The snap was early and hit the holder in the head, then bounced into the hands of the kicker. The kicker paused, thinking “oh [censored],” and then threw a forward pass downfield, close to or into the end zone, right down the middle. The kicker was between the tackles, dead center almost, and nobody went downfield—there were no receivers.

This all left one second on the clock and they kicked again on 4th down. The kick was blocked (or kicked low into the line), and the whole thing became moot.

So, was this grounding? There were no eligible receivers, so why shouldn’t it have been? If this shouldn’t be grounding, then what is stopping a QB from just sailing balls downfield, way past everyone, enabling him to ground the ball without being outside the tackles?

This should have been grounding. . . (IMHO )

[FKAGobucks877]

I've never seen intentional grounding called when the ball is thrown in-bounds and past the LOS. QB's will chuck the ball through the endzone while still in the pocket and they don't get called. I don't know if the officials just let this go, or if that is just some type of loophole in the rule.

[Dryden]

Originally Posted by kinch

I have a question about a call that never became an issue, likely because it was rendered irrelevant.

In the Nebraska/Pitt game Pitt went to kick a field goal, on 3rd down, at the end of the game.

The snap was early and hit the holder in the head, then bounced into the hands of the kicker. The kicker paused, thinking “oh [censored],” and then threw a forward pass downfield, close to or into the end zone, right down the middle. The kicker was between the tackles, dead center almost, and nobody went downfield—there were no receivers.

This all left one second on the clock and they kicked again on 4th down. The kick was blocked (or kicked low into the line), and the whole thing became moot.

So, was this grounding? There were no eligible receivers, so why shouldn’t it have been? If this shouldn’t be grounding, then what is stopping a QB from just sailing balls downfield, way past everyone, enabling him to ground the ball without being outside the tackles?

This should have been grounding. . . (IMHO )

Rule 7-3-2, (III): On third down near the end of either half, potential field goal holder A4 muffs the snap and A4 or potential kicker A3 recovers the ball and immediately throws it forward to the ground. RULING: Illegal pass, not a valid attempt to conserve time.

Under all the rules concerning the forward pass, the one above most closely covers the situation that happened in the Nebraska/Pitt game. For purposes of rules interpretation, the Nebraska kicker attempted to spike the ball (though 20 yards down field) to stop the clock, which is an illegal pass. It's just a loss of down.

According to the rules (college anyhow), intentional grounding can only be committed specifically by a QB from a conventional offensive formation or any other up-back who receives the snap with intention to pass within 5 yards of the spot of the ball at the line of scrimmage. A FG kicker doesn't meet these criteria, but a FG holder could if he took the snap, approached the line of scrimmage, and then did the same thing on a busted fake.