I think you guys have a fundamental misunderstanding of what a holding foul is in the NFL. I don't referee NFL games, but I know quite a few guys that do and here is how holding is explained to them and how they have explained it to me.
1st, and perhaps most important, the NFL rulebook outlines specific scenarios where offensive holding cannot be called by rule. Here are just a few (see rule 12-3-c for full list):
A player is being double teamed
A defender uses the "rip" technique, i.e. goes underneath the lineman's arm. These always look like a player is being clotheslined, and it is completely legal.
The players being held is not at the immediate point of attack or doesn't have likely ability to make the tackle/play.
Now with that being said, there is one exception to all of the above: takedowns. If a player is physically taken to the ground, it will be holding anywhere on the field. These are easy, because if a defensive player is taken to the ground it is always a holding foul except for one case, and that is an overpowering block. An overpowering block is the offensive lineman trying to go downfield and pushing a player over. You'll almost never see a "legal takedown" on a passing play, only on running players.
So what is holding? Paradoxically, and I think this is where fans get confused, the least important thing to look at is the player's hands. You can call holding and be right nearly 100% of the time just from looking at the players from the waist down. If the offensive player is physically between the defender and where he wants to go (usually the QB) he can't be guilty of holding. If the defender is even with or beyond the offensive player, and the offensive player SIGNIFICANTLY prevents him from going where he wants to go, then it is holding (assuming it's at the point of attack etc. as mentioned above).
The above is simplified by the NFL into specific "holding" categories. NFL officials are required to submit to the NFL what category the hold is whenever called.
One last thing, Riveron made offensive holding a point of emphasis before the game last week because too many were being missed / passed on, which probably explains the uptick in OH fouls.
1st, and perhaps most important, the NFL rulebook outlines specific scenarios where offensive holding cannot be called by rule. Here are just a few (see rule 12-3-c for full list):
A player is being double teamed
A defender uses the "rip" technique, i.e. goes underneath the lineman's arm. These always look like a player is being clotheslined, and it is completely legal.
The players being held is not at the immediate point of attack or doesn't have likely ability to make the tackle/play.
Now with that being said, there is one exception to all of the above: takedowns. If a player is physically taken to the ground, it will be holding anywhere on the field. These are easy, because if a defensive player is taken to the ground it is always a holding foul except for one case, and that is an overpowering block. An overpowering block is the offensive lineman trying to go downfield and pushing a player over. You'll almost never see a "legal takedown" on a passing play, only on running players.
So what is holding? Paradoxically, and I think this is where fans get confused, the least important thing to look at is the player's hands. You can call holding and be right nearly 100% of the time just from looking at the players from the waist down. If the offensive player is physically between the defender and where he wants to go (usually the QB) he can't be guilty of holding. If the defender is even with or beyond the offensive player, and the offensive player SIGNIFICANTLY prevents him from going where he wants to go, then it is holding (assuming it's at the point of attack etc. as mentioned above).
The above is simplified by the NFL into specific "holding" categories. NFL officials are required to submit to the NFL what category the hold is whenever called.
One last thing, Riveron made offensive holding a point of emphasis before the game last week because too many were being missed / passed on, which probably explains the uptick in OH fouls.