SC vs Mich

[ajmc]

What's worked for me, is declaring a 1st down only when I am absolutely certain that a 1st down has been made. If there is the slightest doubt, I'll measure. The same hold true for the Linejudge. If he's absolutely sure it's a first down, he say so, otherwise he'll defer and suggest I take a look.

So, if there is any doubt, we'll measure. When there is no doubt, we declare 1st down and off we go. If there is any request after declaring 1st down, the response is simply, "Thank you, but we don't need one."

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ajmc

What's worked for me, is declaring a 1st down only when I am absolutely certain that a 1st down has been made. If there is the slightest doubt, I'll measure. The same hold true for the Linejudge. If he's absolutely sure it's a first down, he say so, otherwise he'll defer and suggest I take a look.

So, if there is any doubt, we'll measure. When there is no doubt, we declare 1st down and off we go. If there is any request after declaring 1st down, the response is simply, "Thank you, but we don't need one."

That is exactly our philosophy. When in doubt we measure. Also the LJ is not always the one with the spot, so it is not the LJ's fault if we are close.

Peace

[JasonTX]

Not to continue beating the horse, but in terms of keeping the game moving. I had a game where we couldn't tell if it was a first or if it was short so we were going to measure. The offense was moving in good rythm. As soon as we stopped the clock the coach "informed" us that it was short. He didn't care that it was going to be 3rd down if it was indeed short. He just wanted us to keep the game going without stopping to measure. He was confident his offense could get the 1st down.

I suppose we have just been lucky that we haven't had many close ones. They have all been obviously short or obviously a first down. Watching the NFL you will be lucky to see one measurement in all games that weekend.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by JasonTX

Not to continue beating the horse, but in terms of keeping the game moving. I had a game where we couldn't tell if it was a first or if it was short so we were going to measure. The offense was moving in good rythm. As soon as we stopped the clock the coach "informed" us that it was short. He didn't care that it was going to be 3rd down if it was indeed short. He just wanted us to keep the game going without stopping to measure. He was confident his offense could get the 1st down.

I suppose we have just been lucky that we haven't had many close ones. They have all been obviously short or obviously a first down. Watching the NFL you will be lucky to see one measurement in all games that weekend.

You and I both know that isn't luck. It's awareness of the LTG and spotting the ball appropriately.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by JasonTX

Not to continue beating the horse, but in terms of keeping the game moving. I had a game where we couldn't tell if it was a first or if it was short so we were going to measure. The offense was moving in good rythm. As soon as we stopped the clock the coach "informed" us that it was short. He didn't care that it was going to be 3rd down if it was indeed short. He just wanted us to keep the game going without stopping to measure. He was confident his offense could get the 1st down.

I suppose we have just been lucky that we haven't had many close ones. They have all been obviously short or obviously a first down. Watching the NFL you will be lucky to see one measurement in all games that weekend.

I don't blame the coach depending the down. In the Giant/Cowboy game, it took forever to review a pretty obvious interception, and the DB wasn't down by contact. The Cowboys got the ball back, but way back from the ball would have been had not the whistle blown. They ran one play, and then they had the quarter change. The Cowboys had the Giants on the ropes, but all the extra time allowed the Giants to regroup, get the ball back , and score what was eventually the winning TD.

Say what you will about the Cowboys, most of the games were interesting, and down to the wire. Idiots did cost me on a football pot when they let Cleveland go down, and score a touchdown to send the game into overtime.......................