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After the Steelers game the network switched to the Giants Jets game. It was in the 4thQ, the Giants were leading 20-7 and the Jets were on the Giants 33 yd line. Sanchez was in the shotgun and was looking for a receiver was hit and lost the ball. A fumble was ruled on the field.
The players started moving off the field etc. and they showed the replay. Immediatelyl, it was 100% clear that this was no fumble. It was that freaking tuck rule. I easily saw this and I know next to nothing about the rules. Anyway before another play got started Rex Ryan challenged the ruling.
There was no doubt in my mind he was alert and despite all the criticism of the guy, he knows what he's doing. If he had a better team this call could have saved the game.
What happened was Sanchez clearly changed his mind about throwing downfield and began bringing the ball down to secure it. It got about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way to his gut when he was hit and the ball came out. NO DOUBT arm moving forward incomplete pass.
Okay, the guy who comments on these replays for FOX called the shot. He said absolutely 100% example of the tuck rule etc. He would if he was officiating the game immediately called it. And he was right about the ruling.
But when the ref came out and announced the decision he said something like the players arm was moving forward and it is an imcomplete pass. No mention of tuck.
Incidentally, the official was that guy that reffed the Steelers Indy game in 2005 and made that ruling on Polamalu's "fumble".
Now why am I bringing this seemingly meaningless play to Steeler fans . Here's why.
After the Rams game I rewound the tape to take another look at some plays and I overshot the mark. It landed on the San Francisco game in the 4thQ with the Steelers taking the ball at about their own 5 yard line. This game was not really out of reach at this time.
The Steelers ran a couple plays and Ben hit Cotchery on a very important play to about the 28 yard line. There were still 12+ minutes left. On the very next play Ben took the snap in the shotgun and could not find a receiver. He was hit and lost the ball and it was ruled a fumble. San Fran recovered and game over more or less.
Now I watched the replay on this several times. Ben did exactly what Sanchez did. He changed his mind to pass and began bringing the ball down to secure it. His arm absolutely was moving forward and he even got closer to his body than Sanchez did when he lost the ball. There is absolutely no doubt that Ben's arm is moving forward. There is absolutely no doubt that he is not doing the empty hand thing. He was in the pocket he was in the act of passing. Every freaking factor that is necessary to qualify this play as an incomplete pass was there. Except one. Now the only thing I am not positive about in regards to this play as opposed to the easy ruling on the Sanchez play was Sanchez was not engaged by anyone when he initiated his forward pass motion. Ben may have been contacted at the same time or even a little before he initiated his passing motion. If this changes the way the play is called I don't know. But common sense tells me that he absolutely does not lose the ball on this initial contact and his arm is going forward then it cannot be ruled a fumble.
Did anyone else see the end of the Giant's game? If so take a look at that play in the Frisco game and you will see what I am referring to.
Now I have not been reading all the posts on last weeks game and this may have been brought up already. If so I will drop it and check it out there. Because this is just the tip of an iceberg.
The players started moving off the field etc. and they showed the replay. Immediatelyl, it was 100% clear that this was no fumble. It was that freaking tuck rule. I easily saw this and I know next to nothing about the rules. Anyway before another play got started Rex Ryan challenged the ruling.
There was no doubt in my mind he was alert and despite all the criticism of the guy, he knows what he's doing. If he had a better team this call could have saved the game.
What happened was Sanchez clearly changed his mind about throwing downfield and began bringing the ball down to secure it. It got about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way to his gut when he was hit and the ball came out. NO DOUBT arm moving forward incomplete pass.
Okay, the guy who comments on these replays for FOX called the shot. He said absolutely 100% example of the tuck rule etc. He would if he was officiating the game immediately called it. And he was right about the ruling.
But when the ref came out and announced the decision he said something like the players arm was moving forward and it is an imcomplete pass. No mention of tuck.
Incidentally, the official was that guy that reffed the Steelers Indy game in 2005 and made that ruling on Polamalu's "fumble".
Now why am I bringing this seemingly meaningless play to Steeler fans . Here's why.
After the Rams game I rewound the tape to take another look at some plays and I overshot the mark. It landed on the San Francisco game in the 4thQ with the Steelers taking the ball at about their own 5 yard line. This game was not really out of reach at this time.
The Steelers ran a couple plays and Ben hit Cotchery on a very important play to about the 28 yard line. There were still 12+ minutes left. On the very next play Ben took the snap in the shotgun and could not find a receiver. He was hit and lost the ball and it was ruled a fumble. San Fran recovered and game over more or less.
Now I watched the replay on this several times. Ben did exactly what Sanchez did. He changed his mind to pass and began bringing the ball down to secure it. His arm absolutely was moving forward and he even got closer to his body than Sanchez did when he lost the ball. There is absolutely no doubt that Ben's arm is moving forward. There is absolutely no doubt that he is not doing the empty hand thing. He was in the pocket he was in the act of passing. Every freaking factor that is necessary to qualify this play as an incomplete pass was there. Except one. Now the only thing I am not positive about in regards to this play as opposed to the easy ruling on the Sanchez play was Sanchez was not engaged by anyone when he initiated his forward pass motion. Ben may have been contacted at the same time or even a little before he initiated his passing motion. If this changes the way the play is called I don't know. But common sense tells me that he absolutely does not lose the ball on this initial contact and his arm is going forward then it cannot be ruled a fumble.
Did anyone else see the end of the Giant's game? If so take a look at that play in the Frisco game and you will see what I am referring to.
Now I have not been reading all the posts on last weeks game and this may have been brought up already. If so I will drop it and check it out there. Because this is just the tip of an iceberg.
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