Colts vs Pats Game

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by cmathews

The replays I saw of the push out touchdown, eventually showed that his heels were in the air...never really on the line...it wasn't a good look, but it did appear that way. Judging by the calls those guys nailed before and after, and the fact that they were standing right there watching that very thing, I will certainly jump on their bandwagon, it was a great call....

I was confused about the no DPI in the endzone though with Caldwell...would like to hear some comment from the involved parties there....

As someone with a huge rooting interest for the Colts in this game (I live in Indy), I thought the officials did a great job!! The reversal of the Wayne interference was dead on (I didn't think the defender even touched his leg as Eastshire stated but either way it was the correct call). I agree the coverage of the pass prior to NE's last FG looked like interference but I'm not sure which official was keyed on that receiver and what angle they had. The play right before the Wayne reversal there did appear to be interference on NE but it was not called. That was a quick pass over the middle and I can't imagine the deep receivers or even the wings would have had a good angle. The only ones who could have seen it were the R and U and they wouldn't be looking at the receiver at that point.

Great job by the crew!! That's why they are at that level and working that game!!

[bisonlj]

There's another play I've seen the Colts get away with a few times and they did it twice again yesterday. It's the plays where NE defense jumps offsides but does not make contact and then a Colt's lineman moves.

Prior to a few years ago, this would have been a foul on the offense since the defense can enter the NZ as long as they get back before the snap. They changed the rule so that if the offensive player moved in reaction to the defensive player jumping offside, the foul would be against the defense since they theoretically caused the movement.

I thought there was a stipulation in the rule (but I guess it is based on a comment by the announcers so it could be wrong), that the movement by the offense had to be a reaction to the defense jumping and not an intentional movement to make the defense's action a foul.

In both plays yesterday, the Colts lineman moved and immediately pointed at the defensive player (and it wasn't the offensive lineman directly across from the defender who moved). They've done that several times the past few games and the call has always gone against the defense.

Thoughts? Were these the correct calls?

[Texas Aggie]

I didn't think the one with the faceguarding was worthy of dpi. I didn't see much, if any, contact.

[RoyGardner]

As a diehard Pats fan who for many years had season tickets I'm in mourning for a day.

As a football fan, one of the best games I've ever seen! So, congrats to the Colts and Manning for getting it done.

As a fellow football official, congrats to the crews in both games, especially in the Pats-Colts game. That was IMO one of the best displays of a crew working together as a true team that I've seen in a long time.

[cmathews]

As was said above, they demonstrated everything we get told, take your time, eye contact etc....and remember these were "all star" crews, not guys that work together normally, so it was that much more important to demonstrate these small things....great job...

[bisonlj]

I was checking out articles on the Boston Globe to get their perspective on the game and stumbled on to the message board for the game (I know I shouldn't have done that). There are a few fans clammering on there that the refs were horrible and the reason the Patriots lost.

They were mostly upset about the DPI called on the "face guarding" play (I honestly didn't notice if there was contact), the OPI on Troy Brown, the RTP on the last Colts drive, and the non-DPI call in the end zone before the Pat's last FG.

The OPI and RTP were both correct per the rules and called correctly in the context of the game. As biased fans they just don't realize or see it that way. The "face guarding" play would not be DPI if there was no contact but the official must have felt there was contact. The only call of the group I would question is the non-DPI call but based on the rest of this game, I'm giving the benefit of the doubt to the crew for getting it right.

That's why they call them fanatics. It always looks different in slow motion from 8 camera angles to a biased fan than to a trained official in real time from 1 or 2 angles. Great job again guys if any of you peruse this site!

[Bob M.]

REPLY: Did they mention the TD catch by Gaffney near the end line when the officials ruled that he'd been forced out? I thought not.

[JRutledge]

I thought the force out call was a great call. I think that clearly fits the rule as I know it. This is why this is a judgment call and not all judgments has to be agreed upon.

Peace

[ljudge]

Originally Posted by RoyGardner

As a fellow football official, congrats to the crews in both games, especially in the Pats-Colts game. That was IMO one of the best displays of a crew working together as a true team that I've seen in a long time.

Good comments. It's so funny how some people simply don't have a clue! I was listening to the radio on the way home (Howard Eskin of 610 WIP in Philly). Howard is a complete jackass! If any of you are ever in the Philly area and need a laugh about someone who doesn't have a clue tune in to the AM station....they're always complaining about something.

He's now commented about poor NFL officiating 4 times in as many weeks. Today he went off about Terry McCauley's call of intentional grounding. He literally "went off" about officials "getting together and talking about things." I have noticed Terry does an excellent job of keeping his eye on the QB. I never saw him take his eyes off the QB to watch the pass.

But jackass Howard says "these officials are chickens and they don't want to make the call themselves so they go ask for help after the defensive complains, then make the call!"

He has absolutely, positively no clue that we each have individual responsibilities and that we're supposed to get together and discuss the entire call so we can get it right as a crew.

[ABoselli]

I, as well, was a little surprised at the call. What is the point at which the R's are instructed to make that call? Is the criteria some amount of force applied ("blow to the head"), or is the helmet simply off limits to any contact whatsoever? Anyone know their protocol?

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by ljudge

Good comments. It's so funny how some people simply don't have a clue! I was listening to the radio on the way home (Howard Eskin of 610 WIP in Philly). Howard is a complete jackass! If any of you are ever in the Philly area and need a laugh about someone who doesn't have a clue tune in to the AM station....they're always complaining about something.

Eskin didn't know what he was talking 27 years ago when I was teen-ager living in Burlington County. How has he lasted this long?

[ljudge]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Eskin didn't know what he was talking 27 years ago when I was teen-ager living in Burlington County. How has he lasted this long?

People thrive on listening to jackasses I guess.