Request for you Referees

[JRutledge]

You need to discuss every game with your crew or umpire for the day what they are looking at to know what part of the line they might start out focusing the most on. No matter what I will start to focus on the break away players on a pass play that might get through during a breakdown in blocking.

Your role is to still focus mostly on the passer and protect them from illegal hits and to see if they throw the ball under duress during a pass play. That is why I say I will watch for beaten blockers if seen because they are usually going to be the threat to the passer or quarterback when it comes to movement. Remember that other officials also have blocking responsibilities even in 5 man and you will not see everything. It is just a discipline that comes with working and knowing you cannot focus on everything. It is no different than watching a running play but the difference is you have to focus on more than the ball in the backfield and often the blocks around the ball. Then when the ball goes down field you clean up. It takes some getting used to if you were a wing at the beginning as the look will change. Otherwise, you call what you see and see what you call in a 5 man. Seven man you have to be more disciplined but your job as an Referee is to mainly protect the passer/QB and if you see something else like a hold or other illegal blocks, then call those if seen. Actually Referees call probably more holding than Umpires in my experience.

Peace