Defensive Holding has become a Good Strategy

[T-RO]

As the game has evolved in the past few years it seems like cornerbacks hold, push, grapple and redirect on most every down. The ones playing for Seattle and San Francisco certainly do.

And if you think about it...it's good strategy with the rules set up as they are.

If you hold on every down...officials will quickly let it slide. You simply won't find an official willing to call that penalty more than 5 or 6 times a game (against one side).

And the penalty is only five yards when you do get caught! That' s hardly even a slap on the wrist. Sure it's an automatic first down, but that's far better than giving up a 10 or 20 yard completion.

The league needs to address this. As it stands smart defensive coaches and players are completely abusing the holding rules with immunity.

 

[TTexasTT]

they only call it "5 or 6 times a game"

Thats a excellent strategy, General Patton!

 

[jazzcat22]

If a defense does that, then you need better players...

 

[jobberone]

Actually I've had this thought for awhile. I think it depends a little on your personnel. They have to be able to redirect, play man under, and pressure. And you have to have the safeties to play that.

My thoughts on pass defense, FWIW, is to have people who can play physical and cover reasonably well with 1-2 good corners and at least 1 and preferably two good safeties. You need 9-10 DBs who can give you decent play and don't break the bank acquiring them. I'd pay one safety as it is a pretty safe pick in the first and try to get your corners later. You're most likely going to have to pay at least one corner to get what you want unless you are both lucky and good.

 

[TrailBlazer]

As the game has evolved in the past few years it seems like cornerbacks hold, push, grapple and redirect on most every down. The ones playing for Seattle and San Francisco certainly do.

And if you think about it...it's good strategy with the rules set up as they are.

If you hold on every down...officials will quickly let it slide. You simply won't find an official willing to call that penalty more than 5 or 6 times a game (against one side).

And the penalty is only five yards when you do get caught! That' s hardly even a slap on the wrist. Sure it's an automatic first down, but that's far better than giving up a 10 or 20 yard completion.

The league needs to address this. As it stands smart defensive coaches and players are completely abusing the holding rules with immunity.

The rules are already slanted in favor of offenses. Let defenses have this.

Unless you want to see offenses throw for 500 yards every game. Teams won't even need to run the ball if DBs can't even touch WRs

 

[FiveRings]

I don't think it's a bad point, but I wonder when refs are doing a game with Sherman and Browner that they're more conscious of their physical play and therefore more likely to call it, effectively defeating the purpose of trying to have and edge by it.

 

[Picksix]

I don't think it's a bad point, but I wonder when refs are doing a game with Sherman and Browner that they're more conscious of their physical play and therefore more likely to call it, effectively defeating the purpose of trying to have and edge by it.

Having seen a ton of Seahawks games over the past few years, they don't call it on those guys much at all. Sherman getting two against him today almost put me into shock. If the receiver "stumbles" or "falls down" they're more likely to call it.

 

[T-RO]

I don't think it's a bad point, but I wonder when refs are doing a game with Sherman and Browner that they're more conscious of their physical play and therefore more likely to call it, effectively defeating the purpose of trying to have and edge by it.

I've never seen Seattle's corners get called for 4 or 5 holds in a game. Even that would translate to a measly 25 yards in penalties. And it seems like every play they are arm blocking, grabbing or such.

 

[T-RO]

The rules are already slanted in favor of offenses. Let defenses have this.

Unless you want to see offenses throw for 500 yards every game. Teams won't even need to run the ball if DBs can't even touch WRs

They should enforce the rules or change the rules. Right now the rules are getting butchered. The teams most willing to cheat the rules...and most egregiously...are the teams that win.

 

[KB1122]

Yeah well, Denver sets basketball-style picks on every pass play. Cry me a river, NFL offenses.

 

[TrailBlazer]

They should enforce the rules or change the rules. Right now the rules are getting butchered. The teams most willing to cheat the rules...and most egregiously...are the teams that win.

Might as well tie DBs hands behind their back then. Offenses don't need any help. Their already puttin up astronomical numbers. I don't see this as a problem. If it works then we should do it.

Offensive lineman hold on every play but it doesn't get called every time either. It goes both ways.

 

[Deep_South]

The refs are also allowing DBs to hit receivers before the ball arrives this season, over and over again. The replays clearly show it happening and the broadcast crews just ignore it, even as it is being shown. Sometimes they even say it was a good play by the defender.

In its own way, this is as bad as when they were enforcing "illegal contact" a few years ago when a defender just barely touched a receiver within 5 yards from the line of scrimmage.

I really don't care what the rules are, as long as they are the same for everyone. I just would like them to be consistent.

 

[T-RO]

The refs are also allowing DBs to hit receivers before the ball arrives this season, over and over again. The replays clearly show it happening and the broadcast crews just ignore it, even as it is being shown. Sometimes they even say it was a good play by the defender.

In its own way, this is as bad as when they were enforcing "illegal contact" a few years ago when a defender just barely touched a receiver within 5 yards from the line of scrimmage.

I really don't care what the rules are, as long as they are the same for everyone. I just would like them to be consistent.

I agree 100% with every word. I increasingly don't trust this league. If rules are enforced with such inconsistency the game's credibility is lost.

 

[T-RO]

If it works then we should do it.

I agree that we should be doing it. That was clearly stated in my original post. But it's lame that league has teams in a position where you have to cheat like everyone else.

 

[Hoofbite]

The problem with just holding because it prevents a big play is that it really doesn't. It just gives the offense a green light to thrown downfield and hope for a completion or the much larger penalty in PI.

Not every route is even guaranteed to be a completion of 10 or 20 yards. Very often you'd likely be trading off an intermediate completion for 5 yards and a free first down.

 

[TrailBlazer]

I agree that we should be doing it. That was clearly stated in my original post. But it's lame that league has teams in a position where you have to cheat like everyone else.

Michael Jordan was a great defender because he knew how to foul without it being called. It's just a part of the game.

There are already too many ticky tack calls on DBs that wouldn't have been called ten years ago. As long as its officiated evenly and consistently for both teams, i can live with it.

I just think that defenses are already at an unfair disadvantage, not being able to hit receivers. I miss the times where defenses could impose their will. It's all offense now.

 

[T-RO]

Might as well tie DBs hands behind their back then. Offenses don't need any help. Their already puttin up astronomical numbers. I don't see this as a problem. If it works then we should do it.

Offensive lineman hold on every play but it doesn't get called every time either. It goes both ways.

I agree that we should be doing it. That was clearly stated in my original post. But it's lame that league has put you in a position where you have to cheat like ev

The problem with just holding because it prevents a big play is that it really doesn't. It just gives the offense a green light to thrown downfield and hope for a completion or the much larger penalty in PI.

Not every route is even guaranteed to be a completion of 10 or 20 yards. Very often you'd likely be trading off an intermediate completion for 5 yards and a free first down.

Holding and PI is very rare out in the flats, or in routes of 5 yards. So I'm not getting your point.

 

[T-RO]

As long as its officiated evenly and consistently for both teams, i can live with it.

It's not being officiated evenly. So we can't live with it.

 

[TNCowboy]

As the game has evolved in the past few years it seems like cornerbacks hold, push, grapple and redirect on most every down. The ones playing for Seattle and San Francisco certainly do.

And if you think about it...it's good strategy with the rules set up as they are.

If you hold on every down...officials will quickly let it slide. You simply won't find an official willing to call that penalty more than 5 or 6 times a game (against one side).

And the penalty is only five yards when you do get caught! That' s hardly even a slap on the wrist. Sure it's an automatic first down, but that's far better than giving up a 10 or 20 yard completion.

The league needs to address this. As it stands smart defensive coaches and players are completely abusing the holding rules with immunity.

This was the Pats' strategy a decade ago. Indianapolis receivers couldn't handle it. Ty Law was a master of it. Keep grabbing the guy until only pulling him to the ground draws a flag.

Sort of what the Pistons did 25 years ago in the NBA. Foul, foul, foul, until the refs get tired of blowing the whistle and decide to redefine what a foul is, and you have to murder someone to get it called.

 

[black label]

As the game has evolved in the past few years it seems like cornerbacks hold, push, grapple and redirect on most every down. The ones playing for Seattle and San Francisco certainly do.

And if you think about it...it's good strategy with the rules set up as they are.

If you hold on every down...officials will quickly let it slide. You simply won't find an official willing to call that penalty more than 5 or 6 times a game (against one side).

And the penalty is only five yards when you do get caught! That' s hardly even a slap on the wrist. Sure it's an automatic first down, but that's far better than giving up a 10 or 20 yard completion.

The league needs to address this. As it stands smart defensive coaches and players are completely abusing the holding rules with immunity.