Blandino says he’s always looking to simplify the catch rule

[sureletsrace]

landino says he’s always looking to simplify the catch rule

Posted by Mike Florio on October 20, 2015, 8:43 PM EDT

APSunday’s non-catch that became a catch after replay review from Lions receiver Golden Tate has left some fans more confused than ever about what is and isn’t a catch. NFL V.P. of officiating Dean Blandino is not among the confused.
“I’m never confused [by the rule], but I’m certainly always looking to see if we can simplify things and believe me, we don’€™t want to have rules where people are confused and not sure what is a catch and what isn’t a catch. I feel like we do have good rules, but we’re always going to evaluate them and tweak them when needed,” Blandino said on NFL Network’s Total Access, via NFL.com.
On the Tate catch, the confusion for some arose from the fact that a defender quickly stripped the ball from Tate’s hands. At full speed, it looked like a live ball that was intercepted by the Bears. In frame-by-frame slow motion, it was clear that Tate caught the ball and had two feet on the ground.
Also, he wasn’t going to the ground until after he got two feet on the ground with possession of the ball. By then, the play was over because it was a catch and a touchdown.
“Anywhere else, it’s really a catch and a fumble,” Blandino said. “In the end zone because you can’t fumble. . . . That’s when it becomes a catch and a touchdown. When we look at the play. . . . Forget about going to the ground, this is a different part of the rule. It’s different from the Dez [Bryant] play, the [Tyler] Eifert play or the [DeVonta] Freeman play. This is an upright receiver who’s attempting to catch the pass.”

Blandino is right, and the conclusion was correct — even though the ability to slow the play down helped persuade referee Walt Coleman that Tate had the ball long enough, despite that the know-it-when-you-see-it expectations of some were that Tate didn’t hold the ball long enough for it to be a catch.
And that’s what continues to be the problem with the rules regarding what is and isn’t a catch. All too often, the rule (even when properly applied) conflicts with what players, coaches, media, and fans believe should be a catch. The challenge for the NFL isn’t to make the catch/no-catch rule more simple; it’s to make the rule better mesh with what the average person believes is or isn’t a catch.
Alternatively, the NFL needs to do a much better job of getting the average person to buy in to the rules in the same way the man ultimately responsible for their interpretation does.

@cowboyjoe it's nice to see you around here buddy. We miss you! I'd love to hear your thoughts on the season.

I'm not sure why you're not around much anymore, but I hope you're doing well buddy.

 

[SultanOfSix]

Why won't this guy stop putting his foot in his mouth?

 

[Yakuza Rich]

What an idiot. He's the moron that made the rule more complicated. The rule was fine. He's just an incompetent buffoon who doesn't know any better.





YR

 

[InDakWeTrust]

The NFL should never have decided to outsource their decision making out of the stadium. Use college replay rules, where its just another set of replay referees teaming up and challenging plays, not adding to coaches responsibilities.

 

[LandryFan]

If that flag against us never got picked up against the Lions, we wouldn't be talking about any of this.

If Blandino doesn't get on Jerry's part bus, the flag in Detroit still gets picked up and Dez catches the ball. It all started with Blandino getting blasted for partying with Jerry. He then had to bend over backwards to look impartial.
But to your point, you're right about the flag getting picked up in Detroit. Had the flag remained, it's highly likely that Detroit, rather than Dallas, plays GB and the Dez catch reversal never takes place.

 

[Rogah]

funny, we weren't having these issues until this dude become the NFL VP of officiating.

Really? People never argued about what or wasn't a catch until 2013?

Can't say I agree with that there.....

 

[TX_Yid]

Simply this: if the receiver is not juggling ball on the way down, then ground shouldn't change that. Its a catch

Totally on board with this. No different than if you are running with the ball, smashing into the ground shouldn't be called a fumble if you had control of the ball.

 

[LandryFan]

He cannot change the rule. The competition committee makes rule changes.

You are correct in that he doesn't make the rules, but he is responsible for the proper interpretation and enforcement of them. He intervened and reversed a call on the field that should never have been reversed.

 

[erod]

Look at that guy. He looks like an extra from Sharknado. He's never even officiated a high school game, and that's the head of officiating?

People know what a catch is, Deano. Why don't you and your league?

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

I think the simplest way to improve the catch rule and the many over complicated rules that have evolved in today's NFL is to remove Blandino. He's proven time and time again, through his convoluted hypocritical explanations, that he can't make sense of the spider web of today's NFL rules. If he can't see a rule as black and white, how are the players/coaches supposed to play within and referees officiate?

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

The rule has been wrong since they used it against CJohnson in 2010. He was using the ball to stand up and celebrate his game winning TD.

The rule has been wrong since the definition reads like a short story.

 

[sideon]

Get rid of the "football move" part of the rule.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Best way to simplify this problem...Get rid of Blandino cause he's an idiot in the first place.

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

They had it right in the beginning. Two feet and clear possession = A Catch....

 

[links18]

He cannot change the rule. The competition committee makes rule changes.

Yeah, who appointed Bladino rulemaker?

 

[MagicMan]

If you want to make it simple, just have a panel of 5 Pee Wee Football kids review it and they will tell you if it was a catch.........having some "adults" who can bring in their biases, egos, ignorance and agenda into the decision-making just makes it more complicated. A catch may be hard to define, but you know it when you see it.

 

[hornitosmonster]

Still trying to justify the Dez non catch. What a cluster muck. Change is needed at the top, this guy is crooked.

 

[DallasCowboys2080]

Really? People never argued about what or wasn't a catch until 2013?

Can't say I agree with that there.....

like this? on this level? yeh um it was much easier back in the 90s n 80s.

 

[dallasdave]

Thats false there was over 8 minutes left in the game. To much time to know if we lose or still win. If it happened with under a minute then I could see the case being made, not when there is over half the quarter left to play

Yeah, lot of what ifs in that game !!!

 

[mahoneybill]

Totally on board with this. No different than if you are running with the ball, smashing into the ground shouldn't be called a fumble if you had control of the ball.

Agree. Ground can't cause a fumble for runner, why not receiver ??? Answer.... Too simple