Football's Dumbest Rule

[Sven Draconian]

http://www.virtualsportsnet.com/2010/01/11/the-dumbest-rule-in-sports/

Discuss

 

[adembroski]

Can't disagree... defensive backs are handcuffed to a degree that is diluting the game. I simply can't take seriously all Payton Mannings' "records" considering how we treat receivers anymore. Dan Marino's 30 touchdowns in '94 (not even getting into his 49 and 44 TD seasons) is more impressive than any numbers Brady's ever put up.

There was a big change in the rules in '78 that balanced the game between run and pass, and those were great rule changes. They ushered in the '80s, the greatest era of diversity of offensive scheme in NFL history. The rules since 2000 have tipped the scales too far the other way, and now we're back to seeing the same thing from every team... only now, instead of 3 yards and a cloud of dust, it's 60 in the air and pray for a flag.

 

[Len B]

I'd make a comment here, but I don't want to come off like I hate the Colts (because I don't).

 

[Bear Pand]

My problem with illegal contact is it seems like the refs throw it out of pity way too often.

*Wide reciever misses pass and waves his arms at the official praying for a PI flag*
*Official feels bad and throws an illegal contact flag*

 

[Derrville]

My problem with illegal contact is it seems like the refs throw it out of pity way too often.

*Wide reciever misses pass and waves his arms at the official praying for a PI flag*
*Official feels bad and throws an illegal contact flag*

This. Im so sick of seeing Players whine for a flag and ultimately get it.


PS Good article, man.

 

[Saluki]

I actually don't think its the rule thats bad, there's way worse rules like if u even touch the QBs helmet how they'll throw a flag. I think the problem comes in with the way its called. When u watch the games probably 1/3rd of the IC calls are pity calls, refs won't even call games with consistency, if u call it on the D you can't let WRs get away with running over DBs either

 

[zack54attack]

Good article.

 

[Archer]

Another good article . I agree completely with everything said .

 

[Sportsbuck]

The rules are way overboard in favor of the offense. The offense already has the advantage in that it knows what the play is in, and also in a pass play as a WR from your first few steps off the ball you should know what the coverage is so you are already at an advantage.

My mind kind of blanked on me right here so I don't know how I was going to finish this.

 

[adembroski]

I'd make a comment here, but I don't want to come off like I hate the Colts (because I don't).

Yeah, I didn't wanna make it seem like I don't appreciate Payton Manning. Certainly one of the best, but I saw Marino play. I saw Montana, Elway, Aikman, Young, and honestly, he certainly belongs in the conversation, but the people who make it seem like it's a no brainer that he's the greatest of all time just drive me nuts.

I think Payton is up there, top 5, maybe behind Montana and even with Brady (Brady deserves some credit for his rings at least), but to call it clear cut based on his stats... I don't buy that. Marino and Favre's numbers are far more impressive when in context of era.

Eddie Epstein did a book called "Dominance: The Best Seasons of Pro Football's Greatest Teams", which is an outstanding book, and he makes the argument that, based on the era they played in, Johnny Unitas is the greatest of all time, and he makes a good argument.

Johnny Unitas' 1959 season is amazing. 193/367 (52.5%), 2,899 yards (7.89 ypa), 32 touchdowns, 14 interceptions for a rating of 92.0.

92.0 Quarterback Rating is absolutely ridiculous for that time period. The League-Wide QBR for that year was 66.1.

From 1956-1965, Unitas' passer rating was more than 20% better than the league as well as more than a standard deviation above the league average.

For the record, in a 294 team-season study, passer rating correlated to winning more than any other QB statistic.

Correlation with Winner Percentage
Passer rating- .62
Yards per pass attempt- .56
Touchdown Percentage- .52
Completion Percentage- .47
Interception Percentage- -.36
Sack per pass attempt- -.36

All of this to say: The rules of the modern era skew our view of QBs and the numbers they put up. Manning's good, but I don't think you can look at his numbers and say "Greatest of All Time" when we're in an era that favors the pass so greatly.

 

[hoodyallen]

The worst rule for me is unnecessary roughness on the QB, more specifically, the fact that you can't drive a QB into the ground. That one always drives me crazy. Illegal contact is infuriating as well, it seems to either be called at random (no contact at all). Or if theres contact on the play it usually goes against the Defensive player.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Yeah, I didn't wanna make it seem like I don't appreciate Payton Manning. Certainly one of the best, but I saw Marino play. I saw Montana, Elway, Aikman, Young, and honestly, he certainly belongs in the conversation, but the people who make it seem like it's a no brainer that he's the greatest of all time just drive me nuts.

I think Payton is up there, top 5, maybe behind Montana and even with Brady (Brady deserves some credit for his rings at least), but to call it clear cut based on his stats... I don't buy that. Marino and Favre's numbers are far more impressive when in context of era.

Eddie Epstein did a book called "Dominance: The Best Seasons of Pro Football's Greatest Teams", which is an outstanding book, and he makes the argument that, based on the era they played in, Johnny Unitas is the greatest of all time, and he makes a good argument.

Johnny Unitas' 1959 season is amazing. 193/367 (52.5%), 2,899 yards (7.89 ypa), 32 touchdowns, 14 interceptions for a rating of 92.0.

92.0 Quarterback Rating is absolutely ridiculous for that time period. The League-Wide QBR for that year was 66.1.

From 1956-1965, Unitas' passer rating was more than 20% better than the league as well as more than a standard deviation above the league average.

For the record, in a 294 team-season study, passer rating correlated to winning more than any other QB statistic.

Correlation with Winner Percentage
Passer rating- .62
Yards per pass attempt- .56
Touchdown Percentage- .52
Completion Percentage- .47
Interception Percentage- -.36
Sack per pass attempt- -.36

All of this to say: The rules of the modern era skew our view of QBs and the numbers they put up. Manning's good, but I don't think you can look at his numbers and say "Greatest of All Time" when we're in an era that favors the pass so greatly.

I watched all of those guys too, plus i'm a geek who watches old games on youtube/dvd/vhs...and while I appreciate this post, there is no doubt in my mind that Peyton Manning would have dominated in any era. Forget the stats, the way he commands & cotrols the game is unrivaled and is something amazing to watch.

 

[adembroski]

I watched all of those guys too, plus i'm a geek who watches old games on youtube/dvd/vhs...and while I appreciate this post, there is no doubt in my mind that Peyton Manning would have dominated in any era. Forget the stats, the way he commands & cotrols the game is unrivaled and is something amazing to watch.

I agree, and his argument can be made, but you didn't make that argument based on numbers, and some do. He does play in an era where those numbers are easier to put up.

Plus I honestly believe, placed in the same circumstance, there were QBs of the past that could do what Manning has done. Unitas and Montana are excellent examples. Remember; Unitas was his own offensive coordinator. He had control on the field Manning has never dreamed of.

 

[Tengo Juego]

Spell check/proof reading FTL.

But more importantly, you're pretty much right. I feel like there has to be some sort of balance between the wide receiver and defensive back. Right now, the WR has a clear advantage...the refs.

 

[Senser81]

For the record, in a 294 team-season study, passer rating correlated to winning more than any other QB statistic.

Correlation with Winner Percentage
Passer rating- .62
Yards per pass attempt- .56
Touchdown Percentage- .52
Completion Percentage- .47
Interception Percentage- -.36
Sack per pass attempt- -.36

Passer rating isn't really a statistic, its a collection of different statistics which are manipulated into a 'rating' number. It uses YPA, TD%, INT%, and completion%. Its actually pretty interesting that the Passer Rating is only slightly more significant than Yards per pass attempt.

 

[Senser81]

Sven, I enjoyed the article and agree with almost everything you said.

The one point I'd like to discuss is your comments on "illegal contact".

First, it makes sense that "illegal contact" would be an automatic first down, because if a WR is pushed to the ground before the QB has a chance to throw him the ball, you can't really say what would have happened on the play...you kinda have to give an automatic first down, because who knows how many yards the play would have gained.

Second, I really don't mind the "illegal contact" calls. If anything, I think they probably could be called more often, because so many times a CB will shove the WR for the first 10 yards of his route ("by rule", its one shove allowed within 5 yards). IMO, its easier to make illegal contact calls because the rule is more black-and-white than interference. The refs seem to not allow the DBs a chance to make a play on the ball -- any aggressive action results in a pass interference call. Its ridiculous.

 

[Sven Draconian]

Sven, I enjoyed the article and agree with almost everything you said.

The one point I'd like to discuss is your comments on "illegal contact".

First, it makes sense that "illegal contact" would be an automatic first down, because if a WR is pushed to the ground before the QB has a chance to throw him the ball, you can't really say what would have happened on the play...you kinda have to give an automatic first down, because who knows how many yards the play would have gained.

Then shouldn't holdoing result in an automatic punt? The DE could easily strip the QB if he wasn't being held.

Second, I really don't mind the "illegal contact" calls. If anything, I think they probably could be called more often, because so many times a CB will shove the WR for the first 10 yards of his route ("by rule", its one shove allowed within 5 yards). IMO, its easier to make illegal contact calls because the rule is more black-and-white than interference. The refs seem to not allow the DBs a chance to make a play on the ball -- any aggressive action results in a pass interference call. Its ridiculous.

I do agree the rule is more black and white, but that doesn't mean it should exist. The question is, what issue does illegal contact, as a rule, correct?

 

[Senser81]

Then shouldn't holdoing result in an automatic punt? The DE could easily strip the QB if he wasn't being held.

I don't think so. Holding is enforced at the spot of the foul. On 2nd and 5 Ryan Grant runs for 30 yards, but Donald Driver is called for holding 20 yards downfield. So the holding is enforced, Grant's 30 yard run becomes a net of 10 yards, but thats still enough for the 1st down. Are you saying that now the Packers should be forced to punt? That makes no sense.

 

[dell71]

I don't think so. Holding is enforced at the spot of the foul. On 2nd and 5 Ryan Grant runs for 30 yards, but Donald Driver is called for holding 20 yards downfield. So the holding is enforced, Grant's 30 yard run becomes a net of 10 yards, but thats still enough for the 1st down. Are you saying that now the Packers should be forced to punt? That makes no sense.

I think he's saying that if illegal contact results in an automatic 1st down because "you don't know what would've happened", the same principle should be applied to holding. If player A had not been held he "might" have forced a turnover. I don't agree with that but I can see where he's coming from.

 

[MmmmBeeeeer]

I'd make a comment here, but I don't want to come off like I hate the Colts (because I don't).

I hate the Patriots, so I'll say my opinion. Blame the Patriots for causing this rule to go in effect...