Divisional Round Weekend

CoffeeNerdness

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 6, 2012
8,908
This is ironic given that Ryland was dogshit from the right hash this year and missed multiple kicks from that spot and at the end of the Giants game the Pats did not try to get to the last hash for the game tying kick. So naturally Ryland missed the kick and the Pats lost 10-7.
Q: On young players, [Chad] Ryland as an example, what is the best way in your view to deal with players when they make mistakes, don't have the success that they want to, from a mental standpoint to able to get the best out of the guy moving forward?

BB: Yeah, well, with everybody, I think you identify what the issue was and work to correct that in practice and make sure that becomes a consistent good habit and not a consistent bad habit, so it repeats again. You try to make those fundamentals, especially at that position, consistently good so that they're good and they're right every time. So, that's what we'll do there. The operation's pretty defined. It's not like playing a regular position where there are a lot of different things that can happen. It's pretty defined. But, the operation between the snapper, the holder and the kicker, you're working on that consistency all the time. And, the conditions – whether it's wind, temperature, field position, hash mark, all those things – you try to get 100 percent consistent on every kick. So, that's what we'll do, keep working on that.
Maybe they didn't want to win all that much?
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

Throw Momma From the Train
Moderator
SoSH Member
May 20, 2003
35,989
Deep inside Muppet Labs
The NFL also banned that Pats' eligible receiver scheme because Harbaugh was on the rules committee and whined about it.

The rule change, which was proposed by the Ravens, allows a player wearing an eligible offensive number (1-49, 80-89) to be declared ineligible, but requires that he line up within the tackle box.
Harbaugh is a fucking baby.
 

cornwalls@6

Less observant than others
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
6,314
from the wilds of western ma
How do you even abuse a rule? It's a rule. If you run a play within that rule, no sympathy for someone who wasn't prepared for it, whining about it. Apparently the rule has been changed, but it was a perfectly legal, frankly pretty brilliant bit of research and application that day.
 

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
37,914
Hingham, MA
I don't recall if the Pats were subbing in that scheme. I do recall Harbaugh saying after the game "WE'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN FOOTBALL HISTORY" and it turned out a college team had been using that scheme earlier that very year.
Not just any college team. ALABAMA. Against LSU. On national TV. It’s not like BB pulled it from some D3 tape.
The Pats didn't do anything illegal in the game. But they definitely abused the rule. The only reason for the rule is to let the owners be as cheap as possible, not to have any effect on the playing of the game. That's why it was quickly recognized as abuse after the game and nearly immediately fixed.

It's similar to how in the old days, they didn't have well-defined substitution rules. So offenses would just send 10 guys out and then have the 11th step off the sideline into the field just before the snap and then throw him a wide-open TD pass. It was legal at the time, but definitely an abuse of the what is intended by rule.
This is ironic. What’s the point of the PSI rule? Oh right it’s because that’s what the Wilson box says is the ideal range.
 

Jim Ed Rice in HOF

Red-headed Skrub child
SoSH Member
Jul 21, 2005
8,404
Seacoast NH
Why does fandom have to be rational in terms of who you root for or against?
I think this pairs nicely with @Marciano490's P&G thread about sports grudges. We're talking about our emotions being linked to what grown men do with a ball/puck so we're all irrational about why we root for/against teams. I choose to think Mahomes is whiney and have no desire to hear about Taylor Swift at all so I will root against them next week. Others will root against Baltimore because Ray Lewis was an "alleged" murdering prick who played for them a decade ago. Both opinions are valid and totally nuts at the same time.
 

cshea

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
36,271
306, row 14
I don't recall if the Pats were subbing in that scheme. I do recall Harbaugh saying after the game "WE'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN FOOTBALL HISTORY" and it turned out a college team had been using that scheme earlier that very year.
I don't recall the specifics but they must've subbed because they would've had to take the tackle off the field that Vereen was "replacing." But Harbaugh wanted more time to figure out what was happening.

I believe they got the play from Alabama.
 

CFB_Rules

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 29, 2016
1,636
What?

Abused the rule? Absolutely not.

When the ref gets on the speaker system and tells the defensive team DO NOT COVER 34, well you lose all chance at arguing that your team was treated unfairly.
We had this discussion when the Lions fucked up their ineligible play. The Patriots didn't break the rules. The officials handled it correctly, the Ravens were not treated unfairly. BUT, the rule itself was inherently unfair. The ONLY REASON that players are allowed to change numerical eligibility is so the owners can save money on roster space. That's it. It's not meant to be used for deception, similar to how the substitution rules are not to be used for deception.

Similar to how the fumble rules were fixed after the Holy Roller, the NFL immediately fixed this rule once the loophole was blown wide open. Except, really, their fix didn't go far enough.
 

CoffeeNerdness

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 6, 2012
8,908
What would you have done instead? Run it on 3rd down and concede a chance of a TD? If you say run on 2nd down then fine I’d have probably been good with that too, I hated the deep shots. If you say run it left on first down, sorry, you simply aren’t trying to set up a FG try in that situation.

Also, rewind to Pats Giants this year. Ryland having similar wide right issues. Missed from 37 the week before against Indy. Pats facing 3rd and 8 from the right hash. What did the Pats call? Left to right end around that ends with the ball on the right hash. Ryland then missed.
You realize you can pass the ball to the left, right?

And please with the Ryland shit. The guy made 65% of his kicks. Bass: 90% from the left, 77% from the right. Clear statistical evidence that you wanted the guy taking the most important kick of your season from the left hash.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 2, 2006
22,459
Philadelphia
What would you have done instead? Run it on 3rd down and concede a chance of a TD? If you say run on 2nd down then fine I’d have probably been good with that too, I hated the deep shots. If you say run it left on first down, sorry, you simply aren’t trying to set up a FG try in that situation.

Also, rewind to Pats Giants this year. Ryland having similar wide right issues. Missed from 37 the week before against Indy. Pats facing 3rd and 8 from the right hash. What did the Pats call? Left to right end around that ends with the ball on the right hash. Ryland then missed.
The first down play call was pretty bad. Everybody expected a run, which hadn't been working for about a quarter, so they could bring the clock down to the 2:00. If you're going to run a give up play with low yardage expectation, you might as well go toward the left hash so that you're maximizing your FG chances if you don't move the ball any further on 2nd/3rd downs. Even better would have been something more deceptive like an Allen bootleg or designed run or something. Instead, they effectively gave up a down and got the ball on to the kicker's weaker side. Then by going deep immediately they basically squandered any of the benefit from running the clock down to 2:00 as Mahomes would have had plenty of time and two timeouts anyway if the second down shot had connected.

Just a clusterfuck all around.
 

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
37,914
Hingham, MA
You realize you can pass the ball to the left, right?

And please with the Ryland shit. The guy made 65% of his kicks. Bass: 90% from the left, 77% from the right. Clear statistical evidence that you wanted the guy taking the most important kick of your season from the left hash.
Do you have the same data for Ryland?

No one disputes that the play calls (or Allen decisions) were optimal. If Allen threw underneath once or twice there likely would have been a different outcome. Regardless of hash.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

Throw Momma From the Train
Moderator
SoSH Member
May 20, 2003
35,989
Deep inside Muppet Labs
We had this discussion when the Lions fucked up their ineligible play. The Patriots didn't break the rules. The officials handled it correctly, the Ravens were not treated unfairly. BUT, the rule itself was inherently unfair. The ONLY REASON that players are allowed to change numerical eligibility is so the owners can save money on roster space. That's it. It's not meant to be used for deception, similar to how the substitution rules are not to be used for deception.

Similar to how the fumble rules were fixed after the Holy Roller, the NFL immediately fixed this rule once the loophole was blown wide open. Except, really, their fix didn't go far enough.
But why would the rule need to be fixed at all? This is how I found the formation described:

The Patriots came out with 4 offensive linemen and 6 skill position players. The OL lined up at LG, C, RG, and RT; they put TEs on either end of the line, and then spread the other four players wide with Brady the lone player in the backfield.


The issue is that you can only declare 5 eligible receivers on any given play, and players who are not so declared may not pass the line of scrimmage before the ball is thrown. There must be one eligible receiver on each end of the offensive line on the line of scrimmage.


What the Patriots did was put Hoomanawanui at LT on the line of scrimmage, with both receivers to his left off the line. On the other end, Vereen AND the receiver outside of him were both on the line of scrimmage, while Gronkowski was off the line. Either one of those alignments by itself would be an illegal formation, but combined together, they basically shifted the "offensive line" to the right, leaving the "left tackle" as an eligible receiver and designating the slot receiver as the "right tackle." In the end, there were 7 players on the line and 4 players off the line, as there were supposed to be. They just weren't the 7 players that the Ravens were expecting.


So Vereen is basically a decoy offensive lineman while Hoomanawanui is a hidden receiver. The Ravens rush four and drop two deep safeties, so the Patriots know that they have three receivers against two defenders on the left. It's an easy throw for Brady to Hoomanawanui on the seam route while a Ravens defender stands around covering Vereen, who is a decoy.
The officials gave the defense about 10 seconds on the play clock when they announced Vereen was ineligible. The rule book requires 7 seconds.
 

scott bankheadcase

I'm adequate!!
SoSH Member
Nov 1, 2006
3,097
hoboken
We had this discussion when the Lions fucked up their ineligible play. The Patriots didn't break the rules. The officials handled it correctly, the Ravens were not treated unfairly. BUT, the rule itself was inherently unfair. The ONLY REASON that players are allowed to change numerical eligibility is so the owners can save money on roster space. That's it. It's not meant to be used for deception, similar to how the substitution rules are not to be used for deception.

Similar to how the fumble rules were fixed after the Holy Roller, the NFL immediately fixed this rule once the loophole was blown wide open. Except, really, their fix didn't go far enough.
I have a complete non-sequitur officiating question, if you don't mind.

I've never understood why spiking the ball isn't international grounding? And if there's a carveout for it in the rules somehow, couldn't a QB almost always just spike it at any point in the play and claim he was killing the clock? I've never understood this one.
 

CoffeeNerdness

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 6, 2012
8,908
Yes, Bill Belichick tanked it when he is trying to reach the wins record. It also led to him being fired.

I think it’s time for you to let go of this one and admit defeat.
Yes, I am clearly defeated because you guys are pulling from memory that Ryland is shit from the right hash.

Bricks from the left:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcK5oDLVhYg&pp=ygUSY2hhZCByeWxhbmQgbWlzc2Vz


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlWdDQGS0Es&pp=ygUSY2hhZCByeWxhbmQgbWlzc2Vz


Three makes from the right lol:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST7OGMLA7WE


Two Chad Ryland makes in college from the right:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozZ_tYNoOX4


45 yarder from the right in a Bowl game:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVJ0MecL-i4
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

Throw Momma From the Train
Moderator
SoSH Member
May 20, 2003
35,989
Deep inside Muppet Labs
I have a complete non-sequitur officiating question, if you don't mind.

I've never understood why spiking the ball isn't international grounding? And if there's a carveout for it in the rules somehow, couldn't a QB almost always just spike it at any point in the play and claim he was killing the clock? I've never understood this one.
I'm not CFB, but my understanding is that the spike is contained in the rules as allowable to stop the clock. And that the spike must be done immediately upon receiving the snap, not at any time afterwards in the play.
 

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
37,914
Hingham, MA
I have a complete non-sequitur officiating question, if you don't mind.

I've never understood why spiking the ball isn't international grounding? And if there's a carveout for it in the rules somehow, couldn't a QB almost always just spike it at any point in the play and claim he was killing the clock? I've never understood this one.
Because it leads to more drama at the end of games. Period.
 

CFB_Rules

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 29, 2016
1,636
I have a complete non-sequitur officiating question, if you don't mind.

I've never understood why spiking the ball isn't international grounding? And if there's a carveout for it in the rules somehow, couldn't a QB almost always just spike it at any point in the play and claim he was killing the clock? I've never understood this one.
Yeah there is a carveout for immediately spiking the ball. You have to do it as soon as you get control of the ball and it can't hit the ground.

There was actually a play in the NFL a couple years ago where the QB took the snap, took a very quick look at a WR, and then spiked it. It was flagged for ING, because if he had time to make a read then the spike wasn't immediate.
 

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
37,914
Hingham, MA
Yes, I am clearly defeated because you guys are pulling from memory that Ryland is shit from the right hash.

Bricks from the left:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcK5oDLVhYg&pp=ygUSY2hhZCByeWxhbmQgbWlzc2Vz


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlWdDQGS0Es&pp=ygUSY2hhZCByeWxhbmQgbWlzc2Vz


Three makes from the right lol:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST7OGMLA7WE


Two Chad Ryland makes in college from the right:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozZ_tYNoOX4


45 yarder from the right in a Bowl game:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVJ0MecL-i4
Ok so your answer is basically that they should have run left or thrown left. Incomplete is incomplete. Guess what. If that kick is from the left hash then he has to guide it right. The kick sliced horribly knowing he had to kick it left. That kick was missing no matter where it was from.
 

CFB_Rules

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 29, 2016
1,636
But why would the rule need to be fixed at all? This is how I found the formation described:



The officials gave the defense about 10 seconds on the play clock when they announced Vereen was ineligible. The rule book requires 7 seconds.
Here's the formation:

76947

The Patriots are intending for this to look like two receivers at the top and three at the bottom. However, there are actually three receivers at the top and two at the bottom. All three at the top have eligible numbers and all three at the bottom also have eligible numbers. The defense can't see down the line of scrimmage because they are standing on the field. So the officials need to tell them who is eligible and who is not.

Now, look at Harbaugh's actual complaint from the presser immediately following the game:

76951

He's saying that the officials would declare one of the 6 ineligible and then the offense would immediately snap. Well, there's a big difference between having 3 receivers on one side of the field vs 2, and he felt like they weren't given any time to adjust. Note that he says the officials did exactly that after that series, but they had already given up a touchdown.
 

CFB_Rules

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 29, 2016
1,636
Now here is the play that the Patriots borrowed it from:

76952


But here there is a BIG key difference. The tight end at the top is wearing number 89. The guy split out wide is 350 pounds and wearing number 74. If the defense can't figure out that 74 is a lineman being split out wide, that's on them.
 

CoffeeNerdness

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 6, 2012
8,908
Ok so your answer is basically that they should have run left or thrown left. Incomplete is incomplete. Guess what. If that kick is from the left hash then he has to guide it right. The kick sliced horribly knowing he had to kick it left. That kick was missing no matter where it was from.
I'll leave this by one again quoting the greatest coach of all time "And, the conditions – whether it's wind, temperature, field position, hash mark, all those things – you try to get 100 percent consistent on every kick. So, that's what we'll do, keep working on that." You're literally arguing against giving your kicker the best statistical chance at making one of the most important kicks in your franchises history, so there really isn't much more to talk about here.
 

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
37,914
Hingham, MA
Here's the formation:

View attachment 76947

The Patriots are intending for this to look like two receivers at the top and three at the bottom. However, there are actually three receivers at the top and two at the bottom. All three at the top have eligible numbers and all three at the bottom also have eligible numbers. The defense can't see down the line of scrimmage because they are standing on the field. So the officials need to tell them who is eligible and who is not.

Now, look at Harbaugh's actual complaint from the presser immediately following the game:

View attachment 76951

He's saying that the officials would declare one of the 6 ineligible and then the offense would immediately snap. Well, there's a big difference between having 3 receivers on one side of the field vs 2, and he felt like they weren't given any time to adjust. Note that he says the officials did exactly that after that series, but they had already given up a touchdown.
Except Vinovich announced on the PA 34 is ineligible. Do not cover 34. How is that not letting the defense know
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

Throw Momma From the Train
Moderator
SoSH Member
May 20, 2003
35,989
Deep inside Muppet Labs
But the officials TOLD THEM who the ineligible receiver was: Vereen. He identified him by number: 34. DO NOT COVER 34.

The real problem was the the Ravens stayed in man. Had they switched to zone they would have been alright.
 

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
37,914
Hingham, MA
I'll leave this by one again quoting the greatest coach of all time "And, the conditions – whether it's wind, temperature, field position, hash mark, all those things – you try to get 100 percent consistent on every kick. So, that's what we'll do, keep working on that." You're literally arguing against giving your kicker the best statistical chance at making one of the most important kicks in your franchises history, so there really isn't much more to talk about here.
No, I am arguing against prioritizing the hash mark when you have a chance to take the lead with a touchdown.

Edit: also, those are words by BB. Why did he not run up the middle in the Giants game to put the ball directly in the middle of the field? The answer is because there are other factors involved. Like trying to make a first down and win the game. You are making this way too simplistic.
 
Last edited:

cshea

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
36,271
306, row 14
The officials announce the number of who is ineligible. Why do the Ravens need more time to adjust? I think in this specific case the officials even said not to cover 34.
 

CFB_Rules

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 29, 2016
1,636
Really the NFL "fix" was the wrong way to go about it. Teams should be allowed to run it exactly as the Patriots do, but it should just be handled under substitution rules. Defense can matchup and all that.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

Throw Momma From the Train
Moderator
SoSH Member
May 20, 2003
35,989
Deep inside Muppet Labs
Really the NFL "fix" was the wrong way to go about it. Teams should be allowed to run it exactly as the Patriots do, but it should just be handled under substitution rules. Defense can matchup and all that.
Yes. All Baltimore had to do was switch to zone. Or blitz a guy on Vereen's side and laugh at the idea of Vereen suddenly becoming an OL.
 

CFB_Rules

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 29, 2016
1,636
Yes. All Baltimore had to do was switch to zone. Or blitz a guy on Vereen's side and laugh at the idea of Vereen suddenly becoming an OL.
Yeah I understand. But I would be hot too if I was a coach and I had to decide my defense based on the timing of the Referee's announcement. It should just be based off of the offense.
 

Auger34

used to be tbb
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
9,726
Just to set the table, I haven't read this thread at all so maybe this has been covered.

I live in Tampa and I am a big Bucs fan.

I think Todd Bowles is one of the worst head coaches I have seen. The complete lack of aggression or trying to WIN the game (as opposed to doing everything possible to not lose) is unforgivable and tough to watch.

As unbiased observers here, am I missing something? I am trying to talk myself into the fact that I may be too harsh, but I really do not want to watch another year of him patrolling the sidelines looking like he smelled a fart all game
 

CoffeeNerdness

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 6, 2012
8,908
Edit: also, those are words by BB. Why did he not run up the middle in the Giants game to put the ball directly in the middle of the field? The answer is because there are other factors involved. Like trying to make a first down and win the game. You are making this way too simplistic.
They ran the ball to the right on 3rd and 8 with Tyquan F'n Thornton because they could a. get a first by some miracle b. get to Ryland's preferred hash- which he prefers over the left and middle? If it seems simplistic because it is. Kickers have a preferred side and kicking in these situations is a likely outcome.
 

Auger34

used to be tbb
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
9,726
I will be rooting for the Ravens. I can't stand Harbaugh but I like Lamar and I am tired of the Cheifs. Plus, the Mahomes press conference after the Kadarius Toney offsides was one of the most pathetic, whiny things I have ever seen....and it was about a call that the refs actually got right. I can't stand him.
 

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
37,914
Hingham, MA
They ran the ball to the right on 3rd and 8 with Tyquan F'n Thornton because they could a. get a first by some miracle b. get to Ryland's preferred hash- which he prefers over the left and middle? If it seems simplistic because it is. Kickers have a preferred side and kicking in these situations is a likely outcome.
So again - you would have done what? Run left on 1st down? Ok.You can say Hardo fucked up by letting Brady call for a run right. But again, I have much more of a problem with what they did on 2nd down, 3rd down, the fake punt, etc. than that play. YMMV (and obviously does).
 

Hoya81

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 3, 2010
8,498

CFB_Rules

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 29, 2016
1,636
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4Q3gmF0U0Y

Not great quality, but all 3 passes are shown here. One of the issues was that the loudspeaker announcement does not come in clearly at all on the TV broadcast, but there are announcements before each snap.
I am 100% sure Vinovich announced the eligibility change before all three plays, because Referees are required to. It sounds like Harbaugh's complaint is timing related, that they were not sufficient time to adjust coverage to the sudden declaration of who was eligible. It feels to me that rather than banning it, they should just treat it like an offensive substitution.
 

The Social Chair

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 17, 2010
6,132
I'm pointing to Reid's son because he got drunk at the facility. Andy Reid and the Chief's organization allowed this to happen and therefore, imo, are partly responsible. Britt Reid is obviously the primary person responsible and is rightly being punished. I'm not saying Andy Reid should be in jail but I'm not sure why that is difficult for people to understand that some might not approve of his actions.

The Patriots had a murderer on their team with a checkered past. The NFL is dirty everywhere.
 

cshea

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
36,271
306, row 14
I am 100% sure Vinovich announced the eligibility change before all three plays, because Referees are required to. It sounds like Harbaugh's complaint is timing related, that they were not sufficient time to adjust coverage to the sudden declaration of who was eligible. It feels to me that rather than banning it, they should just treat it like an offensive substitution.
How would that even work? The offense lines up and then the official stands over the ball until the defense figures out who to cover/not cover? How long does the defense get? Do they signal they're good when they have figured it out? What if the playclock runs out? Announcing a player is ineligible should be sufficient enough. If he's ineligible, don't cover him.

I didn't see anything that needed to be fixed. It's essentially a reverse of a tackle eligible. Do defenses get more time to adjust when a tackle declares as eligible?

The Patriots sprung someting on the Ravens that the Ravens were unprepared for. The Ravens were free to take a timeout to sort things out or check into a safe zone, which is typically what teams do if they see something in-game they haven't seen before. They did neither and acted like they were entitled to more time to figure things out.
 

CoffeeNerdness

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 6, 2012
8,908
So again - you would have done what? Run left on 1st down? Ok.You can say Hardo fucked up by letting Brady call for a run right. But again, I have much more of a problem with what they did on 2nd down, 3rd down, the fake punt, etc. than that play. YMMV (and obviously does).
Given that Bass is statistically better from the left and that the wind was blowing left to right and since I'm not aware of any flaw or weakness in the Buffalo personnel or playbook that prevents them from trying to score and or make positive yardage using the left side of the field, I would have reminded my QB and OC of the fact that, while we want to win above all else, having to kick a FG is a likely outcome and our kicker prefers kicking from the left.
 

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
37,914
Hingham, MA
Given that Bass is statistically better from the left and that the wind was blowing left to right and since I'm not aware of any flaw or weakness in the Buffalo personnel or playbook that prevents them from trying to score and or make positive yardage using the left side of the field, I would have reminded my QB and OC of the fact that, while we want to win above all else, having to kick a FG is a likely outcome and our kicker prefers kicking from the left.
Ok. Well, on both 2nd and 3rd down the Bills had more eligible receivers to the left than the right. On both plays, Allen looks left. So, it's entirely possible that they did have this conversation, and it just played out like it did.

On the first down run (from the left hash), Cook was lined up to the left of Allen, and then he jump-cut back right. Perhaps that was a failure in coaching.
 

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
37,914
Hingham, MA
How would that even work? The offense lines up and then the official stands over the ball until the defense figures out who to cover/not cover? How long does the defense get? Do they signal they're good when they have figured it out? What if the playclock runs out? Announcing a player is ineligible should be sufficient enough. If he's ineligible, don't cover him.

I didn't see anything that needed to be fixed. It's essentially a reverse of a tackle eligible. Do defenses get more time to adjust when a tackle declares as eligible?

The Patriots sprung someting on the Ravens that the Ravens were unprepared for. The Ravens were free to take a timeout to sort things out or check into a safe zone, which is typically what teams do if they see something in-game they haven't seen before. They did neither and acted like they were entitled to more time to figure things out.
Honestly, it was really just the first Hooman play that the Ravens had any reason to complain about (if they even did have a legit reason). Perhaps everything happened extremely fast on that play. I could see it playing out that way, if Vereen told Vinovich he was ineligible, then Vinovich making a quick announcement. Hooman was lined up looking like an LT on that play and made the catch. Obviously that would confuse the Ravens.

The 2nd play, Edelman makes the catch. There's no reason on earth to not cover Edelman. No excuse.

The 3rd play, we clearly hear Vinovich say that 34 is ineligible. It was the same play as the first play. No excuse.
 

CFB_Rules

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 29, 2016
1,636
How would that even work? The offense lines up and then the official stands over the ball until the defense figures out who to cover/not cover? How long does the defense get? Do they signal they're good when they have figured it out? What if the playclock runs out? Announcing a player is ineligible should be sufficient enough. If he's ineligible, don't cover him.

I didn't see anything that needed to be fixed. It's essentially a reverse of a tackle eligible. Do defenses get more time to adjust when a tackle declares as eligible?

The Patriots sprung someting on the Ravens that the Ravens were unprepared for. The Ravens were free to take a timeout to sort things out or check into a safe zone, which is typically what teams do if they see something in-game they haven't seen before. They did neither and acted like they were entitled to more time to figure things out.
Consider why the substitution process works the way it does. The offense substitutes, the defense gets time (probably 15 total seconds or so) to substitute. Why? Because the defense has the fundamental right to identify what the position players are out there, what they are doing, and respond accordingly. You see the same thing in other sports. When a team in the NBA goes to a 4 guard lineup, the other team is given a chance to run somebody small up to the table and get them in as well.

So, in this case, the team is using a game administration rule to mask who they have out there. This rule was only meant to save the owners money, not have any effect on the actual game itself. They're not telling the defense if they have lineman or tight ends or what out there. Then they tell the Referee, who announces it but doesn't delay the snap.

It would be like if an NBA team sent 10 players to the sub table, five stepped onto the court and then the ref put the ball in play immediately. It's not against the rules, but it's not exactly fair. In the NBA the officials would just refrain from putting the ball in play until the defense saw who was out there. That's all I feel like the officials should have had to do here.
 

Trlicek's Whip

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 8, 2009
5,607
New York City
Agreed. Post Hill the Chiefs and especially Mahomes specifically aren’t really all that unlikable, I’m just tired of them and I would like some of Brady’s resume to remain untouched.

Relatedly, the spectrum of Brady feelings on this board throws me for a loop. You have a significant contingent that thinks saying Mahomes is good is a shot at TB. (Narrator: it isn’t.) And yet in this very thread we have folks who presumably worship the man’s football achievements and are hanging on to decade-old Ravens hatred as a more significant rooting interest than not wanting to see Mahomes keep pace with Brady on actual titles. Both sides baffle me.
Reading some Pats fans on SoSH high on 20 years of an all-universe, unicorn run of individual and team dominance go hoarse rooting for Miami, Buffalo, and the Ravens in three consecutive weeks is amazing to watch.

It's also a through the looking glass glimpse of how everyone else in American football thought of the Patriots, and Pats fans for the past two decades. I know we all know how fandom and fan projection works, but it's still wild to see it with such little self-awareness when the script is flipped.