How will technology affect officiating?

[Doomsday101]

Stars and stripes. The NFL always will be about both, whether you're talking today or 2020.


After offensive stars set record after record this past season, I'm going to try to have 20/20 vision, if you will, when it comes to seeing the future. What will the game of football look like in the next eight years? Will there be more technology? Will there be more guys in striped shirts? Will replay expand or maybe even contract?

I need to look backward before I can go forward.

Before radical changes are made to the game, the NFL's powerful competition committee discusses them. For example, the NFL first began to use instant replay in preseason in 1978. It wasn't until 1986 that it was brought into use for the regular season. It imploded in 1991 for a number of reasons. It wasn't until 1999 that they brought it back as the system we know today.

So, what has the committee been talking about over the past few years? I will give you some insight and my opinion on where things are headed.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/...line-microchips-instant-replay-changes-020212

 

[Hoofbite]

I'd rather see less technology. A yellow line on the field for players to see? Give me a break. Speakers in the helmets of linemen and WRs? Worst idea ever. Why not just take the 12th man out of the game. The only aspect the fans can actually influence and they have discussed negating it?

I don't care at all for the instant replay system that they have now.

I think it's the most nonsensical system out there.

They limit the number of challenges to 3, providing the coach got the first 2 correct.

This in itself is ridiculous. My guess is they do it so they don't have to watch a referee overturn a dozen calls each week. They might say it's about saving time but I think they'd be mighty embarrassed if an official had to repeatedly go over and look at blatant mistakes and then report them over and over again to the crowd.

The automatic review on scoring plays is probably the dumbest idea I have ever heard. Are you telling me a play where a ball carrier is pushed out at the goal line and is ruled out of bounds is any less worth of a replay than the exact same play with the ruling being a touchdown? It's essentially a free review for the defense which may be good now that I think of it because it's about the only rule they've made in favor of the defense in about a decade.

I think penalties should be reviewable as well. When the 9ers played the Ravens, a penalty for a chop block was called on a 70 yard TD to Ted Ginn. Replay showed clear as day that the defender was not engaged when the RB hit him.

http://i5.***BLOCKED***/albums/y188/thehoofbite/ScreenShot2012-02-02at31914PM.jpg

http://i5.***BLOCKED***/albums/y188/thehoofbite/ScreenShot2012-02-02at31932PM.jpg

The game doesn't need any more technology. They just need to use the technology they have to a reasonable extent and get better officiating.

 

[Doomsday101]

I'd rather see less technology. A yellow line on the field for players to see? Give me a break. Speakers in the helmets of linemen and WRs? Worst idea ever. Why not just take the 12th man out of the game. The only aspect the fans can actually influence and they have discussed negating it?

I don't care at all for the instant replay system that they have now.

I think it's the most nonsensical system out there.

They limit the number of challenges to 3, providing the coach got the first 2 correct.

This in itself is ridiculous. My guess is they do it so they don't have to watch a referee overturn a dozen calls each week. They might say it's about saving time but I think they'd be mighty embarrassed if an official had to repeatedly go over and look at blatant mistakes and then report them over and over again to the crowd.

The automatic review on scoring plays is probably the dumbest idea I have ever heard. Are you telling me a play where a ball carrier is pushed out at the goal line and is ruled out of bounds is any less worth of a replay than the exact same play with the ruling being a touchdown? It's essentially a free review for the defense which may be good now that I think of it because it's about the only rule they've made in favor of the defense in about a decade.

I think penalties should be reviewable as well. When the 9ers played the Ravens, a penalty for a chop block was called on a 70 yard TD to Ted Ginn. Replay showed clear as day that the defender was not engaged when the RB hit him.

http://i5.***BLOCKED***/albums/y188/thehoofbite/ScreenShot2012-02-02at31914PM.jpg

http://i5.***BLOCKED***/albums/y188/thehoofbite/ScreenShot2012-02-02at31932PM.jpg

The game doesn't need any more technology. They just need to use the technology they have to a reasonable extent and get better officiating.

I can't see them ever reviewing every penalty. I do think you have some valid points. For me I accept the fact there will be bad calls just as I accept the facts players will make mistake and coaches will make mistakes so will refs.

I'm not crazy about only 2 challenges. I think replay is quick enough that any blown call could be stopped if need be not by the coaches challenge but just because it was an obvious bad call.

 

[Hoofbite]

I can't see them ever reviewing every penalty. I do think you have some valid points. For me I accept the fact there will be bad calls just as I accept the facts players will make mistake and coaches will make mistakes so will refs.

I'm not crazy about only 2 challenges. I think replay is quick enough that any blown call could be stopped if need be not by the coaches challenge but just because it was an obvious bad call.

I wouldn't allow every penalty to be challenged.

You have your number of challenges, use them how you wish.

 

[Doomsday101]

I wouldn't allow every penalty to be challenged.

You have your number of challenges, use them how you wish.

I don't care for the challenges concept. I think replay should be able to reverse a bad call when it happens.

Maybe give coaches 2 challenges on calls that are considered non reviewable right now like penalties

 

[Yeagermeister]

What drives me crazy is the refs will blow a call then basically wait for it to get challenged. Basically forcing the team to waste a challenge and possibly a TO.

Just make the right call the first time

 

[rkell87]

i like the scoring play being reviewed, though i think the refs need to take advantage of it, instead of making a judgment call if it is close they should just call a TD. There were more clear TDs that weren't called TDs than TDs that were reversed.

 

[Kevinicus]

Replay challenges are unlimited as long as they continue to be successful. There is no cap.

 

[rkell87]

Replay challenges are unlimited as long as they continue to be successful. There is no cap.

are you saying this is the way it should be?