Officials to Focus on Offensive Holding

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  • phillyesq
    Legend
    • May 2008
    • 7568

    Officials to Focus on Offensive Holding

    From PFT:

    Pereira says offensive holding calls will rise in 2009
    Posted by Tom Curran on August 21, 2009 12:09 PM ET

    Mike Pereira, the NFL's V.P. of officiating, attended Thursday night's game between the Bengals and Patriots at Gillette Stadium. It was a normal course of action for the soon-to-be-retiring Pereira, who likes to get around to as many camps as possible, in order to visit directly with teams and officiating crews.

    Asked what rules changes/emphasises (emphases?) he feels will be impactful in 2009, Pereira's response was immediate.

    "Offensive holding."

    According to stats compiled by the league, officials made 587 offensive holding calls in 2008. It was the second-most called penalty, behind false starts (653) and ahead of offside (313).

    As a whole, total penalties were at their lowest point (3,392) since 1992 (3,344).

    And the drop in holding calls was noticeable. In 2005, officials threw flags for holding 880 times, a difference of nearly 300.

    Pereira said that, in breaking down video of all games from 2008, officials failed to penalize 177 holding calls. He said there were also "about 50 missed calls, for more than 220 mistakes in total."

    Pereira added, "From more than 3,200 plays, that's not that bad, but it's something we're working on."

    This preseason, he already has seen more flags thrown for offensive holding. "I'm OK with [the increase] because I think the players will adjust," Pereira said. "We need to see less grabbing, less hooking, less of guys getting their hands outside. It was getting to the point where a lot of hooks and even take downs were getting through."

    After the game, we mentioned the new emphasis to Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer.

    "Really? I don't like to hear that," he replied.

    [Editor's note: Palmer likely also felt at that same moment a searing pain in the lightning-shaped scar on his left knee.]
    I'm not sure how this will effect the Steelers offensive line, but calling the missed holds could make the defense even better.

    Of the 177 missed holding calls last year, I wonder how many were on James Harrison?
  • Oviedo
    Legend
    • May 2008
    • 23824

    #2
    Re: Officials to Focus on Offensive Holding

    I don't buy it. This is just an attempt at a face saving PR by the NFL because it got so blatant last year with the holding calls that were missed. The NFL will do nothing to override their #1 desire to protect the QB to pump up the offense. This is true unless it is Big Ben who gets a number of non calls on late hits against him because of his size.

    I expect the holding against Harrision and Woodley to be frequent and uncalled.
    "My team, may they always be right, but right or wrong...MY TEAM!"

    Comment

    • papillon
      Legend
      • Mar 2008
      • 11340

      #3
      Re: Officials to Focus on Offensive Holding

      I'd hate to see the referees have a larger say in the outcome of games; I would prefer that they leave things alone. The games at times are becoming brutally slow due to penalties. Harrison was held last year a lot to be sure, he also recorded 16.5 sacks. Leave things as they are or eliminate some calls if anything. The stupid tackle being uncovered on the line call is one of them. What advantage does this give the offense if the TE steps back of the line and the WR doesn't step up? Help me with this one.

      It's almost impossible to watch an entire football game in which the Steelers aren't playing.

      Pappy
      sigpic

      The 2025 Pittsburgh Steeler draft

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      "Football is a physical game, well, it used to be anyways" - Mel Blount

      Comment

      • skyhawk
        Hall of Famer
        • Dec 2008
        • 3732

        #4
        Re: Officials to Focus on Offensive Holding

        Guaranteed this means more holding calls on our JV offensive line. Get Ready.

        Comment

        • steeler_fan_in_t.o.
          Legend
          • May 2008
          • 10281

          #5
          Re: Officials to Focus on Offensive Holding

          Originally posted by papillon
          I'd hate to see the referees have a larger say in the outcome of games
          Okay Pappy....but

          James Harrison gets dragged down on an obvious hold, but it goes uncalled. QB completes a long TD pass and we lose the game.

          Isn't that a case of the ref having a larger say on the outcome of a game?
          http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/k...to_Mike/to.jpg

          Comment

          • Jooser
            Legend
            • Jul 2008
            • 5102

            #6
            Re: Officials to Focus on Offensive Holding

            They have to call some of the arms around the neck take downs on JH. It was absolutely obscene at times last season.
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            • Discipline of Steel
              Hall of Famer
              • Aug 2008
              • 3882

              #7
              Re: Officials to Focus on Offensive Holding

              Originally posted by Jooser
              They have to call some of the arms around the neck take downs on JH. It was absolutely obscene at times last season.
              Yes and they can call it the James Harrison Interpretation to go along with the Hines Ward Rule.

              And Im still pissed about that no call on the lurching charge by Shaun Rogers.
              sigpic
              Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, hear the lamentations of their women.

              Comment

              • stlrz d
                Legend
                • May 2008
                • 9244

                #8
                Re: Officials to Focus on Offensive Holding

                Originally posted by papillon
                I'd hate to see the referees have a larger say in the outcome of games; I would prefer that they leave things alone. The games at times are becoming brutally slow due to penalties. Harrison was held last year a lot to be sure, he also recorded 16.5 sacks. Leave things as they are or eliminate some calls if anything. The stupid tackle being uncovered on the line call is one of them. What advantage does this give the offense if the TE steps back of the line and the WR doesn't step up? Help me with this one.

                It's almost impossible to watch an entire football game in which the Steelers aren't playing.

                Pappy
                That goes back to the days when numbers weren't designated for position. Now that eligible receivers can't wear numbers 50-79 (and I think numbers 90-99 too) this rule could go by the wayside.

                A defender no longer has to look for the end man on the LOS to determine eligibility...they just look at the number. The size of the guy is usually a giveaway too.

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