Skoobydum Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 An illegal snap penalty called on the Colts during Thursday night's game in Green Bay demonstrated a potentially significant problem with the NFL's decision to move the umpires across the line of scrimmage to the offense's side of the field. The league moved the umpires out of concern for their safety -- in the past, umpires lined up near the inside linebackers, right in the middle of the action, and sometimes that meant the umpires got trampled. Starting this season, the umpire lines up behind the running back. Unfortunately for the Colts, the umpire is the official who spots the ball, and the offense can't snap the ball until after the umpire has had time to put the ball in place and move back into position. For a no-huddle offense, that can present a serious problem -- as it did when Peyton Manning called for the snap Thursday night before umpire Garth DeFelice was in place. The referee ruled that the Colts were at fault for snapping the ball too soon, but Manning complained about the call, and ESPN announcers Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski both said DeFelice -- and the new rule -- were to blame . http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/08/27/new-alignment-of-umpires-could-cause-problems-for-colts/ Instead of putting helmets on the refs or any type of protection at all, they put them in the offense's way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conch Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 . http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/08/27/new-alignment-of-umpires-could-cause-problems-for-colts/ Instead of putting helmets on the refs or any type of protection at all, they put them in the offense's way. Could cost someone a chance to win the game in the closing seconds... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zulu Cthulhu Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Good post Skooby. If the NFL has decided to stick with this rule, they better put those umps on some sort of cardio program so they get their asses in position quickly. That or fire everyone and hire some ex-track stars to spot the ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devldog131 Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Could cost someone a chance to win the game in the closing seconds... During the final two minutes of the first half and the game the umpire moves back to his "normal" position on the defensive side of the ball. So, no, it won't hurt teams in the closing seconds, but will definitely hurt in other ways. For instance, as long as an o-lineman keeps his hands inside the shoulders, he can hold as much as he wants and the umpire will never be able to see it as the lineman's back is to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Give the Ump control of the Sky-cam and put him in the press box. PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kota Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 They will change it for Manning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowery4 Posted August 28, 2010 Share Posted August 28, 2010 If you saw the GB game it did screw them up and I thought the ref was old and moved slow. I don't blame Manning for getting pissed about it actually. If this was happening to the Bills in 90 or something we would all be saying they made this rule happen just to screw us. It is really not good for the game and should be changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merle Haggard Posted August 28, 2010 Share Posted August 28, 2010 This is an idiotic move by the NFL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyDingo Posted August 28, 2010 Share Posted August 28, 2010 I thought the Bills killed the No Huddle last season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiderweb Posted August 28, 2010 Share Posted August 28, 2010 I thought the Bills killed the No Huddle last season. That they did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo Billy Posted August 28, 2010 Share Posted August 28, 2010 Baseball umps wear masks and padding, hockey refs at least wear open-faced helmets. Give the NFL refs the hockey helmets and some slim-form, lightweight pads and put them back in the D. That or give the ref control of a sky-cam, with a radio or buzzer or something to signal a linesman to throw a flag for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britbillsfan Posted August 28, 2010 Share Posted August 28, 2010 I thought the Bills killed the No Huddle last season. Many, many things died when the Bills 'ran' the No Huddle last year... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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