Monday Night football

[Jim D]

Was the comment about the tape on the chain, etc. from the Monday night game or the Sunday night game? And what was the story? I do the down box for the Rams so I'm really curious, if it was the Monday night game, what was said?

[JasonTX]

Originally Posted by Jim D

Was the comment about the tape on the chain, etc. from the Monday night game or the Sunday night game? And what was the story? I do the down box for the Rams so I'm really curious, if it was the Monday night game, what was said?

Jim, the title of this thread should have been Sunday Night football. During the Sunday night game there was a situation where they had to check to see where the down box was in relation two the five yard mark. It was 3 inches short, so the R announced they'd be 3 inches short of a first down. Al Michaels then started in on how the R would know they were 3 inches short without meausuring. Al had no clue on how that is determined.

[Jim D]

Thanks. Imaging Al Michaels being ignorant of officiating techniques.

On every play that's close I will tell the HL "long five" or "short five". It did come into play once last night.

[Smiley]

Originally Posted by JasonTX

Jim, the title of this thread should have been Sunday Night football. During the Sunday night game there was a situation where they had to check to see where the down box was in relation two the five yard mark. It was 3 inches short, so the R announced they'd be 3 inches short of a first down. Al Michaels then started in on how the R would know they were 3 inches short without meausuring. Al had no clue on how that is determined.

If it's that close, don't you still have to measure? How do you know the down box is correctly placed? I think Al Michaels had a good question.

[AndrewMcCarthy]

Originally Posted by Smiley

If it's that close, don't you still have to measure? How do you know the down box is correctly placed? I think Al Michaels had a good question.

How do you know the ball is correctly placed after marching 5 yards? The tape on the chain is pretty much a standard mechanic at all levels. If the down box guy isn't on the ball then the HL has to keep him in line.

Interestingly enough, this is where the phrases "on the ball" and "keep him in line" originated.

[Jim D]

With the fields in the NFL marked as well as they are, it's pretty easy to keep the box lined up on the ball correctly. If the nose of the ball in not on the line, either the butt of the ball in on the line or the ball is half way between the lines, etc. so there is always a refernce point. Then all you do is look down at the chain as see if it's a long five or a short five.

Actually the HL has the worst view because he's between the box and the ball so he can't see it that well. NFL linesmen get out of the way and leave it to the box man to line it up correctly.

[Smiley]

If we can trust the box-man to correctly line up the ball in the middle of the field with the box, then why do we ever measure for a first down? Can't we trust the referee to correctly determine where the line to gain marker is in relation to the same ball?

We bring the chain out to determine if the line to gain is reached, why don't we bring it out to see if the ball is in front of or behind the tape? The same thing is at stake - a new series.

[Mike L]

Originally Posted by Smiley

If we can trust the box-man to correctly line up the ball in the middle of the field with the box, then why do we ever measure for a first down? Can't we trust the referee to correctly determine where the line to gain marker is in relation to the same ball?

We bring the chain out to determine if the line to gain is reached, why don't we bring it out to see if the ball is in front of or behind the tape? The same thing is at stake - a new series.

Let see, the original spot of the last first down is really a guesstimate. The HL placing the chains for that first down is a guesstimate. Subsequent down spots and placement of the box to those spots are guesstimates. Why would we suddenly now need some assured placement? And just what are they going to measure against. Was the ball moved at all between the last down and the penalty call? Did the center make an allowed adjustment (I'll bet my last $$ yes), so where is the "spot" now? Sorry, but the bottom line is you take the box spot as your best available guesstimate and if it's 3 inches behind the tape at the 5 yd mark, then a 5 yd penalty leaves you 3 inches short. Move on and quit complaining about it, unless of course you're an idiot announcer who doesn't know jack about how to officiate.

[Jaysef]

I am digressing from the original topic (not nit-picking), but marching off penalties is frowned upon at the highschool level. Something I have struggled with on poorly marked High school fieldss. I have been told walking off penalties is not mechanically correct. Any advice from any veteran middle men?

J

Originally Posted by AndrewMcCarthy

How do you know the ball is correctly placed after marching 5 yards? The tape on the chain is pretty much a standard mechanic at all levels. If the down box guy isn't on the ball then the HL has to keep him in line.

Interestingly enough, this is where the phrases "on the ball" and "keep him in line" originated.

[Jim D]

You don't want to look like a storm trooper goose stepping down the field when you mark off a penalty. It's better to see where the spot is and just move it back 5 or 10 or 15 yards. For example, if the ball is at the 24, you know it has to end up on the 19 so start at the 24, pick up the ball and walk to the 19 and place it there. If it's at the 24 1/2 then it goes to the 19 1/2, etc.

[Jaysef]

Are there any sound techniques for a spot that begins a football length and three inches behind the 43yl (going out), and you're marking off a 15-yarder? I have struggled with this, feeling rushed to keep the game moving, and, as I stated, these high school fields aren't always marked well. NFHS says to walk and point to major yard lines.

Thanks for the input