The "Blow To The Head" Rule

[jwells]

Sorry, can't agree with you on video review for a penalty call. That by definition is a judgment call. Having a staggered penalty for that particular offense of hitting the QB in the head makes sense to me because it gives them some lattitude to determine intent and likelihood of injury. But you can't have video review of a penalty.

P.S. Fumble isn't a penalty, anyway, and they can review that. If its a question of the whistle blowing, that's just life.

Thinking about it more, I don't think it's feasible, but it is a problem. Refs really need to use better judgment on when to blow the whistle. It lost us the game, but it's a bad problem for a lot of teams. Maybe it's just me, but I think the officiating has really gone downhill in the past few years.

But yeah, I was talking about being able to override the whistle blowing on something like a fumble, not a penalty, I don't think it'd work though if they tried.

 

[GAVol]

Maybe it's just me, but I think the officiating has really gone downhill in the past few years.

The replay rules have definitely had a negative affect on how games are officiated.

 

[TheDeeble]

The replay rules have definitely had a negative affect on how games are officiated.

How so?

 

[GAVol]

Among other things, nobody knows when to blow the whistle anymore. You see more and more plays that go on too long or get whistled dead too soon. Also you see a lot of refs looking at each other rather than making decisive calls right or wrong.

 

[sickemsmokey10]

I can understand the rule because the QB is not in the position to protect himself a lot of times. I remember people saying that that called cost us the game in the Florida game. Yes, it was a questionable call, but just before that play there was a questionable block in the back call against Florida on the punt return for a TD by Brandon James, so it evened out.

 

[TheDeeble]

Among other things, nobody knows when to blow the whistle anymore. You see more and more plays that go on too long or get whistled dead too soon. Also you see a lot of refs looking at each other rather than making decisive calls right or wrong.

I'll agree with the play/whistle portion. What game was it last year where they ruled the play a fumble just so it could be reviewed then couldn't overturn it because it lacked visual evidence? I want to say Florida/Auburn.

Although I wouldn't see how replay would cause refs to look to each other instead of making a call. Right or wrong, the coach will flag it if he doesn't like it.

I'll agree that refing quality in general seems to have declined in the past few years, but I wouldn't blame replay for that.

I realize no group of refs will make 100% right calls all the time and replay doesn't correct them all either, but I do think it has helped overturn some bad calls.

 

[sjt18]

The blow to the head rule needs to be changed but I don't think to the complexity LG suggested.

The official needs to have the latitude to judge whether it was an intentional or even careless (if unassisted) and severe blow.

Mapu was basically putting his hand up to block the pass when pushed into Leak. He didn't swing or make any attempt to injure him.

Maybe something like the rule allowing for DB's to go for the ball would help. If a raised hand hits the QB's helmet while going for the ball it should be treated as incidental unless somehow obviously flagrant.