The league has to address these routes

[Dave_in-NC]

The cheatriots were living off the pick plays. They get called on 1 and get away with several. The Cowboys rarely have run them and get called the majority of time - which is why they rarely run them. Some pick plays are legal - those where the wr gets in the way to slow the db down but doesn't purposely "block" the db. The one where Gronk ran a crossing pattern is one of those legal ones. The Cowboys call them rub plays.

What ever, I will never buy the Ref against the Cowboys mantra. That was my main point.

 

[Macnalty]

We are not going to get the refs to call it consistently so figure out a way to defend or move to the back of the line. No excuses lots of teams are doing this often just watch the redzone of the NFL for a couple of hours.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

We are not going to get the refs to call it consistently so figure out a way to defend or move to the back of the line. No excuses lots of teams are doing this often just watch the redzone of the NFL for a couple of hours.

And if it's working do as the Romans do.

 

[CyberB0b]

We are not going to get the refs to call it consistently so figure out a way to defend or move to the back of the line. No excuses lots of teams are doing this often just watch the redzone of the NFL for a couple of hours.

Well, it doesn't always work. Seattle tried a pick play in the Super Bowl and lost them the game.

 

[TheDude]

Not long ago, Seattle took the approach that its defensive backs would be so physical with receivers on every play, referees wouldn't have the gumption to throw a flag on every play. The referees would adjust - which they did - and the game would play to the Seahawks favor.

The league responded, and now we have these constant contact and holding calls on the defense. It's unwatchable at times, but the NFL doesn't want to obstruct the offense and hack off Fantasy Footballers everywhere.

Now, the NFL has a new problem.

New England, Denver, Green Bay, and others now take the approach that they're going to run illegal pick plays so much, that they can live with the small percentage that get called for pass interference. Yesterday, the refs called two offensive pass interference penalties on the Patriots, when in fact, they could have called 20. Once again, teams are conditioning referees to adjust to the style the team wants to play.

So what now? Is the NFL going to start calling these more often and limit the production of the game's top quarterbacks? I doubt it.

What's especially bothersome is that they're so intentional. This isn't accidentally happening like a defensive PI; these are DESIGNED ILLEGAL PLAYS. They need to be more harshly punished.

For a pick play, I propose 15 yards and a loss of down. Make it hurt. For teams like New England, 1st and 20 is no big deal because they'll just pick their way to another first down. If they do it again, add a loss of a challenge or a timeout. Get these routes out of the game.

I'd also like to eliminate these instant bubble screens where one receiver just takes off blocking, and if the other receiver can catch the ball soon enough, it's legal. Receivers should be running routes on pass plays, not clearing out paths for wide open routes behind them.

So much of this game needs an overhaul. There are too many rules as it is, but this is an area that needs to be addressed, while other areas need to be simplified (what is a catch anyway?).

Dallas was successful against New England early yesterday. The pass rush was eating Brady alive. Then, they just employed their series of illegal pick plays, and suddenly, no problem.

The loss of down is the key deterrent here.

 

[etw926]

When the Cowboys start running them is when it will be investigated.

 

[Blackspider214]

Hahaha @ you really think the refs/Goodell will come down on the Pats. They have blatantly cheated for over a decade in various ways and nothing.

 

[Macnalty]

New Orleans did the same WR rubs so it is not like we have not seen this before... this is about third on my list with Weeden and the playcalling needing more attention.

 

[pancakeman]

Totally agree with OP.
Over and over vs. Pats I kept saying how in heck did that Pat receiver get so open, and then when they played the route replay almost every time it was because of a pick.
At one point they got called and penalized, and the very next play got a huge gain on another pick! At the time I thought "wow that takes cajones to call a pick *one play after* you're penalized for a pick!" But I think it's true that coaches like Belichek figure they won't call it every time, it'll slow down the game too much.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Rogah will be here shortly to explain to us why none of these plays and routes are illegal

 

[sureletsrace]

well than thats a sure fire way to have the league address it. Cowboys start using it in their game planning.

This exactly.

As soon as the Cowboys start doing it, we'll be called on it every single time.

I've always felt like the conspiracy theorists were being silly re:"the league is against us", but as time goes on, a lot of things reek of bias.

 

[btcutter]

Belicheat will continue to exploit the loophole in the rules until NFL cracks down on this. If NFL wants to allow pick plays then even the playing field and allow the DB to grab/hold and destroy the receivers within first 5-10 yds. Stop calling illegal contact.....there should be illegal contact on offense called. 10 yd penalty and lost of down sounds good to me.

 

[LandryFan]

Not long ago, Seattle took the approach that its defensive backs would be so physical with receivers on every play, referees wouldn't have the gumption to throw a flag on every play. The referees would adjust - which they did - and the game would play to the Seahawks favor.

The league responded, and now we have these constant contact and holding calls on the defense. It's unwatchable at times, but the NFL doesn't want to obstruct the offense and hack off Fantasy Footballers everywhere.

Now, the NFL has a new problem.

New England, Denver, Green Bay, and others now take the approach that they're going to run illegal pick plays so much, that they can live with the small percentage that get called for pass interference. Yesterday, the refs called two offensive pass interference penalties on the Patriots, when in fact, they could have called 20. Once again, teams are conditioning referees to adjust to the style the team wants to play.

So what now? Is the NFL going to start calling these more often and limit the production of the game's top quarterbacks? I doubt it.

What's especially bothersome is that they're so intentional. This isn't accidentally happening like a defensive PI; these are DESIGNED ILLEGAL PLAYS. They need to be more harshly punished.

For a pick play, I propose 15 yards and a loss of down. Make it hurt. For teams like New England, 1st and 20 is no big deal because they'll just pick their way to another first down. If they do it again, add a loss of a challenge or a timeout. Get these routes out of the game.

I'd also like to eliminate these instant bubble screens where one receiver just takes off blocking, and if the other receiver can catch the ball soon enough, it's legal. Receivers should be running routes on pass plays, not clearing out paths for wide open routes behind them.

So much of this game needs an overhaul. There are too many rules as it is, but this is an area that needs to be addressed, while other areas need to be simplified (what is a catch anyway?).

Dallas was successful against New England early yesterday. The pass rush was eating Brady alive. Then, they just employed their series of illegal pick plays, and suddenly, no problem.

There are so many flags thrown now that the game is getting to be unwatchable, but your point is well taken.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Does anybody here know what the official rules are on illegal pick plays?

I'm asking because on the big pass play to Edelman, it looked completely obvious that it was a pick play tipped off by Amendola raising his hands in the air.

I can't imagine the refs didn't see Amendola do it, so I wondered if perhaps that was not an illegal pick play since he didn't use his hands. Sort of like those 'point of emphasis' rules they have in basketball.

So I'm wondering what the actual rule is on those plays and what would be deemed 'legal' and what would be deemed 'illegal.'







YR

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

They got away with one pick play and they were flagged for the others.

Sure but when the Pats run the same play twice in a row, getting flagged the first time, and the second the WR is miming not touching the DB as he is doing a bball style box out jumping into the defender, it stinks of refs that just didn't want to call consecutive flags

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

There are so many flags thrown now that the game is getting to be unwatchable, but your point is well taken.

I remember my people making the same complaint near 30 years ago.

 

[Beast_from_East]

LOL...........yea, I am sure the league is going to address the Pats use of pick plays

And the way you defend pick plays is with zone defense, the pick only works if its man to man coverage.

Of course we totally suck at zone defense so at this point it doesn't really matter I guess.

 

[aria]

Sounds like a bunch of people whining and ridiculous conspiracy theories. The Patriots aren't invincible and if the refs aren't going to call it than its our coaches and players who need to figure out how to stop it, plain and simple. What's the alternative? Cry about it and give up? The Patriots had the better team that's why we lost.

 

[NYNY]

Not long ago, Seattle took the approach that its defensive backs would be so physical with receivers on every play, referees wouldn't have the gumption to throw a flag on every play. The referees would adjust - which they did - and the game would play to the Seahawks favor.

The league responded, and now we have these constant contact and holding calls on the defense. It's unwatchable at times, but the NFL doesn't want to obstruct the offense and hack off Fantasy Footballers everywhere.
.

I thought the rule changes occurred years before that due to the muggings Patriot DBs had been giving opponents during the playoffs about 10 or so years ago. I think it's because of them that the "5 yard rule" was put in place or became a point of emphasis.

 

[VACowboy]

Well, it doesn't always work. Seattle tried a pick play in the Super Bowl and lost them the game.

The percentage of time a pat play will work goes down significantly when your opposition has a couple weeks to look at film and prepare. I think it's a pretty safe guess that that rub route was a Seattle staple at the goal line and the Cheaters were looking for it.