Phantom calls

[gimmesix]

First, I'm not complaining about the officiating in our game Sunday night. In fact, it looked to me that we should have been penalized at least for illegal contact on the flag the refs picked up.

Second, these phantom calls might not be the ones that you think they are. I didn't like the two calls that went against us on the Eagles' TD drive, but I could at least see the reason those calls were made.

The two calls I'm talking about were in the third quarter, and I'm seeing if anyone maybe saw something I didn't when I went back and rewatched what happened. Both of our players motioned that they couldn't believe the calls were on them when they were made, and I agree with them. We still overcame them to score, so they weren't that big of a deal, but these are the kind of calls that kill us in close game.

The first one was a false start on Connor Williams. I've watched it several times and I see no indication that Williams was moving before Frederick snapped the ball. Williams was totally baffled by the call.

The second was holding against Dalton Schultz. Schultz lined up on the right side on a run that went left. He got out on the second level and engaged a defensive back, ultimately pushing him to the ground. I couldn't see any kind of pull or grab, and assume the call was made because the DB went to the ground. Schultz clearly shoved him, though, instead of grabbing him and throwing him. Schultz was pointing up at the big screen as he left the field to show that he did nothing wrong.

Did anyone notice something that I missed?

 

[nobody]

First, I'm not complaining about the officiating in our game Sunday night. In fact, it looked to me that we should have been penalized at least for illegal contact on the flag the refs picked up.

Second, these phantom calls might not be the ones that you think they are. I didn't like the two calls that went against us on the Eagles' TD drive, but I could at least see the reason those calls were made.

The two calls I'm talking about were in the third quarter, and I'm seeing if anyone maybe saw something I didn't when I went back and rewatched what happened. Both of our players motioned that they couldn't believe the calls were on them when they were made, and I agree with them. We still overcame them to score, so they weren't that big of a deal, but these are the kind of calls that kill us in close game.

The first one was a false start on Connor Williams. I've watched it several times and I see no indication that Williams was moving before Frederick snapped the ball. Williams was totally baffled by the call.

The second was holding against Dalton Schultz. Schultz lined up on the right side on a run that went left. He got out on the second level and engaged a defensive back, ultimately pushing him to the ground. I couldn't see any kind of pull or grab, and assume the call was made because the DB went to the ground. Schultz clearly shoved him, though, instead of grabbing him and throwing him. Schultz was pointing up at the big screen as he left the field to show that he did nothing wrong.

Did anyone notice something that I missed?

I thought it was weird because with every other penalty, it seems they replayed it to see...but these two they rushed past like they were trying to move on as quickly as possible.

 

[gimmesix]

I thought it was weird because with every other penalty, it seems they replayed it to see...but these two they rushed past like they were trying to move on as quickly as possible.

Yes, during the game, they never showed what happened on either play, so you had to rewind it yourself to see that. I guess we were too far ahead at that point for the broadcast team to care about penalties against us. We did a great job of overcoming them on that drive, though.

 

[shabazz]

I thought it was weird because with every other penalty, it seems they replayed it to see...but these two they rushed past like they were trying to move on as quickly as possible.

That has happened on many occasions. The networks are vested in maintaining credibility towards the product they pay millions to bring to viewers. Pretty much like getting the NBA and it’s players to be honest about the Human Rights Violations in China. As in everything, just follow the money

 

[gimmesix]

First, I'm not complaining about the officiating in our game Sunday night. In fact, it looked to me that we should have been penalized at least for illegal contact on the flag the refs picked up.

Second, these phantom calls might not be the ones that you think they are. I didn't like the two calls that went against us on the Eagles' TD drive, but I could at least see the reason those calls were made.

The two calls I'm talking about were in the third quarter, and I'm seeing if anyone maybe saw something I didn't when I went back and rewatched what happened. Both of our players motioned that they couldn't believe the calls were on them when they were made, and I agree with them. We still overcame them to score, so they weren't that big of a deal, but these are the kind of calls that kill us in close game.

The first one was a false start on Connor Williams. I've watched it several times and I see no indication that Williams was moving before Frederick snapped the ball. Williams was totally baffled by the call.

The second was holding against Dalton Schultz. Schultz lined up on the right side on a run that went left. He got out on the second level and engaged a defensive back, ultimately pushing him to the ground. I couldn't see any kind of pull or grab, and assume the call was made because the DB went to the ground. Schultz clearly shoved him, though, instead of grabbing him and throwing him. Schultz was pointing up at the big screen as he left the field to show that he did nothing wrong.

Did anyone notice something that I missed?

Meant to add in there that I thought this was a pretty evenly called game. We don't always seem to get that, so I'll take it even with the two phantom calls.

 

[xwalker]

First, I'm not complaining about the officiating in our game Sunday night. In fact, it looked to me that we should have been penalized at least for illegal contact on the flag the refs picked up.

Second, these phantom calls might not be the ones that you think they are. I didn't like the two calls that went against us on the Eagles' TD drive, but I could at least see the reason those calls were made.

The two calls I'm talking about were in the third quarter, and I'm seeing if anyone maybe saw something I didn't when I went back and rewatched what happened. Both of our players motioned that they couldn't believe the calls were on them when they were made, and I agree with them. We still overcame them to score, so they weren't that big of a deal, but these are the kind of calls that kill us in close game.

The first one was a false start on Connor Williams. I've watched it several times and I see no indication that Williams was moving before Frederick snapped the ball. Williams was totally baffled by the call.

The second was holding against Dalton Schultz. Schultz lined up on the right side on a run that went left. He got out on the second level and engaged a defensive back, ultimately pushing him to the ground. I couldn't see any kind of pull or grab, and assume the call was made because the DB went to the ground. Schultz clearly shoved him, though, instead of grabbing him and throwing him. Schultz was pointing up at the big screen as he left the field to show that he did nothing wrong.

Did anyone notice something that I missed?

CW did appear to move just an instant before the snap.

Schultz had his right hand on the outside of the defender's shoulder pad but normally that only get's called if the defender was trying to move to that side.
The refs might have called it on someone else and incorrectly assigned it to Schultz.

 

[gimmesix]

CW did appear to move just an instant before the snap.

Schultz had his right hand on the outside of the defender's shoulder pad but normally that only get's called if the defender was trying to move to that side.
The refs might have called it on someone else and incorrectly assigned it to Schultz.

OK, I can see Williams moving on the slow-mo. Thanks for that. In real time, it looked to me like he moved just as the ball was being snapped, getting a good jump but not a false start.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Neither was a penalty. Just the refs screwing the Cowboys as usual. Been going on for decades. If you can't see a false start unless you watch it on slo-mo, then the refs have no business calling it. The holding call on Schultz was bogus.

 

[Kaiser]

I was really surprised how well the officials did in this game. I didn't see any calls that jumped out as horrible calls, when we had four of those (all against Dallas) in the Packers game.

And the way this year is going in the NFL, even if these were bad calls we should still rejoice and sacrifice animals to the Gods because it was only two of them.

 

[gimmesix]

Neither was a penalty. Just the refs screwing the Cowboys as usual. Been going on for decades. If you can't see a false start unless you watch it on slo-mo, then the refs have no business calling it. The holding call on Schultz was bogus.

I liked Williams' who me? moment after the call. He looked completely baffled. Of course, players who actually commit penalties do that, too. I guess that official had better eyes than I did in real time.

 

[Beast_from_East]

I actually thought the game was pretty fairly officiated, maybe the league was feeling guilty about raping us on Witten TD penalty against the Jets.

That took 4 points off the board and we lost by 2

 

[buybuydandavis]

CW did appear to move just an instant before the snap.

Schultz had his right hand on the outside of the defender's shoulder pad but normally that only get's called if the defender was trying to move to that side.
The refs might have called it on someone else and incorrectly assigned it to Schultz.

You have to go really slow to catch that. They could have called it on Witten too. I think they're just reacting to the snap call faster than Frederick.

One thing I've noticed and wondered about. We have guys in motion and they stow their lateral movement and head upfield. Looks like a penalty to me. Jarwin is on the edge of it on this play, but there were more glaring examples, I think one in particular with Witten.

Anyone else notice that?

 

[Flamma]

OK, I can see Williams moving on the slow-mo. Thanks for that. In real time, it looked to me like he moved just as the ball was being snapped, getting a good jump but not a false start.

Agreed. And when you consider what they allow tackles to get away with on the outside before the snap, no way that should have been called. The one on Schultz was a pure fabrication. The ref made that one up. Do refs have quotas?

 

[Hot_Toddy]

Meant to add in there that I thought this was a pretty evenly called game. We don't always seem to get that, so I'll take it even with the two phantom calls.

This was finally a neutral game called by that officiating crew. From the Dolphins game through the Jets game was horrible officiating against the Cowboys.

With all those phantom calls prior to the last game. Shouldn't the refs have to undergo random drug testing? They kept seeing things that weren't there.

It's like the officials were like Lady Justice in several games. It you have a blindfold over your eyes, there's no use in carrying a scale.

 

[gimmesix]

This was finally a neutral game called by that officiating crew. From the Dolphins game through the Jets game was horrible officiating against the Cowboys.

With all those phantom calls prior to the last game. Shouldn't the refs have to undergo random drug testing? They kept seeing things that weren't there.

It's like the officials were like Lady Justice in several games. It you have a blindfold over your eyes, there's no use in carrying a scale.

I think it's just a tough job and they are often bad at it (as most of us probably would be given all the rules they have to enforce). It would be easy from some of the calls made against us to believe the refs or league is out to get us, but I really think it is just mostly bad luck of the draw. However, some things are probably tendency things, such as some quarterbacks always drawing personal foul calls. Quarterbacks like Romo and Prescott don't play up when they are hit, pointing to their heads or turning immediately to the official. Others like Aaron Rodgers get hit and seem to just signal the officials that it's time to throw a flag.

 

[glimmerman]

Lots of ticky tack calls and if they are calling it close then do it even and do it even across the league. Jaylon was called for a roughing because he was going for the throwing arm and grazes the helmet. Ok. The week before Dak took a beating and some could have easily been flagged. But werent. Wanting to protect the QB is fine but do it evenly.

 

[gimmesix]

Lots of ticky tack calls and if they are calling it close then do it even and do it even across the league. Jaylon was called for a roughing because he was going for the throwing arm and grazes the helmet. Ok. The week before Dak took a beating and some could have easily been flagged. But werent. Wanting to protect the QB is fine but do it evenly.

I'd love to see them call it even, but I think based on the evidence, that's never going to happen. Some of it is because of different angles, reactions, etc. For example, the hit by Woods on Jeffrey drew a flag because of the receiver's reaction to it and the actions surrounding it, such as the ball being dropped before the hit occurred. The hit on Cooper in the end zone was actually worse because it was helmet to helmet, but Cooper had caught the ball and the ref had essentially moved on because he was calling OPI on Cooper. The hit also didn't look as bad because Cooper's reaction to it wasn't as big as Jeffrey's.

 

[Hawkeye19]

Poor officiating is not just a problem— it is single-handedly destroying the integrity of the product on the field.

Solution:

Take away the coaches’ ability to challenge call and instead— The NFL employs a neutral 3rd party that sits in a sky box that evaluates the flow and calls during every game. They have the power to over-rule any penalty called that is not a penalty, and they can call a penalty on any play where a severe infraction occurs but was not flagged.

Before everyone freaks out about slowing the game down— hear me out. I am not advocating for arbitrating ticky tack calls. I am only advocating for accountability on egregious calls that clearly affect pivotal moments in a game.

A system like this actually protects the refs and the NFL. It would also restore confidence in the fans that games are being called fairly. It would also discourage refs from throwing too many flags in fear that they may get publicly overturned.

In short— I believe a system like this would result in fewer flags— not more. It would also eliminate the huge game-changing errors that are affecting too many outcomes at the moment.

 

[Future]

Yes, during the game, they never showed what happened on either play, so you had to rewind it yourself to see that. I guess we were too far ahead at that point for the broadcast team to care about penalties against us. We did a great job of overcoming them on that drive, though.

Pretty sure they do that on purpose.

The NFL would have a vested interest in not showing replays of penalties, I would think.

 

[lurkercowboy]

Look at this flop by the Eagles DB