NFL Refs calling more Holding (Up 66%)

Never heard of the term "lobster blocks". Is this something the Dallas OL does a lot? Mike Zimmer mentioned some teams are really known for this.

NFL officials threw 96 flags for offensive holding in Week 2, the most in a single week since at least the start of the 2012 season. The spike results from a yearlong point of emphasis that has dramatically impacted the start of this season.

The flurry of flags brought this season's two-week total for offensive holding calls to 178, a 66% increase from the same time period last season. It has also powered a 16.2% increase in total penalties compared to Weeks 1-2 of last season, as well as a slight drop in scoring from 21.97 offensive points per game in 2018 to 20.9 in 2019.

Historically, penalty spikes level off during the course of the season when they are caused by points of emphasis. In some cases, players and coaches make the adjustment. For offensive holding, the NFL is asking offensive linemen to stop using a technique it calls "lobster blocks," where they wrap their arms around defenders on the backside of runs.

Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer, who is a member of the coaches subcommittee that recommended the point of emphasis, said last week it was targeted at a handful of teams that were using the technique.

"There are some teams that are just really bad," Zimmer said, "and they just go out there and they grab the linebacker ... or they grab the offensive tackle or the defensive end. ... They wanted to get that out of the game, so they made a point of emphasis on it."

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/27635992/hold-everything-offensive-infraction-66-yoy

hmm,i think Zimmer is referring to the Packers.

I thought they could have called a bunch more against Washington, tbh.

They are now enforcing backside holding, per league instruction.

There's going to be a ton of holding calls this year.

viman96 said:

"There are some teams that are just really bad," Zimmer said,

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Zimmer is talking esp. about his divisional rival Green Bay.

Anyone remember our most recent Packer playoff game? Uh, yeah.

It was nice to see them actually calling them on the other team after the drought a while back.

T-RO said:

Zimmer is talking esp. about his divisional rival Green Bay.

Anyone remember our most recent Packer playoff game? Uh, yeah.

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We had a game thread going on kick off night where I commented that it was was nice to see the Packers super secret blocking technique getting flagged for what it is.

Maybe it's just me, but I see instances of holding in almost every NFL play nowadays.

erod said:

They are now enforcing backside holding, per league instruction.

There's going to be a ton of holding calls this year.

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I hate penalties...they really screw up the flow of just about every game. That said, as long as the "emphasis" is applied evenly/fairly, I don't have a problem with it (wouldn't matter if I did have a problem with it...)

CowboysRule said:

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What? You call that holding? That's just standard Packer blocking technique!

ClappingCarrot said:

Maybe it's just me, but I see instances of holding in almost every NFL play nowadays.

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There is literally holding on every play of every game.

66% up, except for the Pats ... shhhh ... refs bought and paid for .

Bob-Lillys-War said:

66% up, except for the Pats ... shhhh ... refs bought and paid for .

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I like how no matter where a free agent came from, even with a history of penalties, they learn discipline when they play for the Patriots and sin no more.

Coincidence or strong Patriot values must be the answer

CowboysRule said:

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LeonDixson said:

What? You call that holding? That's just standard Packer blocking technique!

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reddyuta said:

hmm,i think Zimmer is referring to the Packers.

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It has really bothered me having to see it each time we have played Green Bay in the last five years. I cannot imagine how an NFL head coach must feel dealing with it twice a year.

Between the holding and now the PI review, it is getting near unwatchable.

Sarge said:

There is literally holding on every play of every game.

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Sure when they grab the shoulder pad arm holes when they are squared up. That is never called but is holding.

If the defender turns or otherwise tries to disengage it is though and that bear hug the Packers and Texans have been doing should've been as well.

CowboysRule said:

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A still picture is no more an indication of holding than a DB's hand on a receiver's shoulder is an indication of pass interference. Both are penalties determined by motion to determine restriction.

Every year, there's always high number of calls at the beginning of the season for certain rules that are points of emphasis. What's going to happen is by mid-season, that number should fall off as teams will have adjusted.