NCAA considering penalizing offenses for snapping ball in less than 10 seconds

[Hasselbeck]

The NCAA football rules committee has proposed two fairly significant rules changes, one of which would flag teams with a delay of game penalty when they play too quickly.

One proposal, to mandate a 10-second window to allow defensive substitution before offenses can snap the ball, is likely to be controversial and appeared to take several high-profile coaches by surprise Wednesday. Offenses would not be able to snap the ball before the 40-second play clock hit 29 seconds.

Currently, defenses may substitute only when offenses do. The proposal would allow offenses to snap the ball within the first 10 seconds only during the final two minutes of each half. If an offense snapped the ball too early, it would be penalized 5 yards for delay of game.

In a move that had been widely anticipated, the rules committee proposed eliminating the 15-yard penalty on targeting calls that have been overturned by replay review.

Instituted last year, the targeting rule stipulated mandatory ejection for the offending player. Though the player could be reinstated if a replay review determined targeting was the incorrect call, the 15-yard penalty was still marked off.

Both proposals must be approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which is scheduled to consider them March 6. If approved, they could take effect for the 2014 season.

In a statement, the rules committee suggested the proposal to allow time for defensive substitutions wouldn't really slow down offenses, because "research indicated that teams with fast-paced, no-huddle offense rarely snap the ball with 30 seconds or more on the play clock." But several coaches told USA TODAY Sports the threat that hurry-up offenses could snap the football was an important part of strategy.

"If the food tastes good, don't change the recipe," said Baylor coach Art Briles, who has built a program that has traditionally struggled into a winner with perhaps the nation's fastest-paced offense. "We've got a good game. Let's let the fans enjoy it. I just don't see the sense behind it."

Air Force coach Troy Calhoun, chair of the rules committee, said in a statement the proposal was designed to protect players from risk of injury: "As the average number of plays per game has increased, this issue has been discussed with greater frequency by the committee in recent years, and we felt like it was time to act in the interests of protecting our student-athletes."

But several coaches asked for evidence of increased risk to players.

"Is there any hard data, or just somebody saying that?" Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez said. "If there was big concern with that, wouldn't the teams that practice fast be concerned with it? We don't have any more injuries because we practice fast."

In the proposed change to the targeting rule, the committee also made allowances for games without access to instant replay. In those cases, on-field officials would be allowed to review targeting calls during halftime and to potentially reverse the ejection.

 

[ram29jackson]

its the Madden Cheese rule

 

[Maynard]

is the ncaa ran by retards? make a shitload of rules so the defense cant play defense, so now you get a fast break football game.... so to tone it down you make a rule to slow things down.

here is a concept...why take away the resctrictive rules and just let the offense play the defense

 

[Glenbino]

Bullshit rule.

Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Tapatalk

 

[PP]

Football just isn't football anymore..

 

[buckeye]

More important rule to be added: bowl games should all be outdoors... even up north.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

 

[ralaw]

It's funny that Saban and Bielema among other coaches that run traditional offenses are in favor of this. They're trying to disguise it as being concerned about the safety of players.

OH NOES!! MOR OFFENSE = MORE HEAD INJURIES....CHANG THE RULEZ WITH NO DATA.

 

[seaplus]

If an offense snapped the ball too early, it would be penalized 5 yards for delay of game.

:joker:

 

[NAHSTE]

Shocked that a proposed NCAA rule change makes no sense and is counter intuitive. Also shocked Nick Saban would push for a self-serving rule change.

:dd:

 

[NAHSTE]

Leach's suggestion, win moar games.

 

[ram29jackson]

Leach's suggestion, win moar games.

yeah, but the guy that came up with the rule or backed it or what ever is the one with National championships. Leach gets points but never really wins much of anything

 

[ram29jackson]

Air Force coach Troy Calhoun, chair of the rules committee, said in a statement the proposal was designed to protect players from risk of injury: "As the average number of plays per game has increased, this issue has been discussed with greater frequency by the committee in recent years, and we felt like it was time to act in the interests of protecting our student-athletes."

not proven but it still makes sense

 

[Hasselbeck]

not proven but it still makes sense

No. No it doesn't.

You know what else could help the health of defensive players?

Getting the offense off the field. Hard to injure yourself on the sideline.

 

[ram29jackson]

No. No it doesn't.

You know what else could help the health of defensive players?

Getting the offense off the field. Hard to injure yourself on the sideline.

fatigue still does lead to slower decision making and injury, it simply does. I already said its not proven to be a major factor in a hurry up offense but its still a truth.

 

[Hasselbeck]

fatigue still does lead to slower decision making and injury, it simply does. I already said its not proven to be a major factor in a hurry up offense but its still a truth.

If they don't like the pace of the game... simple solution... stop it.

:kanye:

This isn't about player safety though.. so lets just stop that right now. Nick Saban and Bret Bielema are strong advocates of this rule change.. I wonder why? Couldn't be because Gus Malzahn just won the SEC and narrowly missed winning a National Championship with an up-tempo offense right? Nah it's all because they're worried about "player safety"

 

[ram29jackson]

yeah, but the guy that came up with the rule or backed it or what ever is the one with National championships. Leach gets points but never really wins much of anything

hasselbeck- make up your mind and learn some comprehension. The comment I made was not anti-hurry up offense, it was anti Leach..he said you need to coach harder. You cant coach any harder than winning a national championship and Saban did it twice with no hurry up while leach has won much of nothing but the occasional conference. I'm not making fun of offensive styles, I'm making fun of Leach. Stop being a serial groaner like gaynerd just because your favorite team won a SB.

I've made both pro and con and you are groaning both, make up your damn mind

 

[Bomberooski]

Classic east coast bias.

 

[Glenbino]

If they don't like the pace of the game... simple solution... stop it.

:kanye:

This isn't about player safety though.. so lets just stop that right now. Nick Saban and Bret Bielema are strong advocates of this rule change.. I wonder why? Couldn't be because Gus Malzahn just won the SEC and narrowly missed winning a National Championship with an up-tempo offense right? Nah it's all because they're worried about "player safety"

This 100 times.

Saban has lost to Texas A&M and Auburn in successive years and feels his grip on the SEC slipping.

Bielema was an awful hire and a terrible fit for the SEC so his solution is to make rules so it's just as slow and plodding as the B1G.

Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Tapatalk

 

[ram29jackson]

If they don't like the pace of the game... simple solution... stop it.

:kanye:

This isn't about player safety though.. so lets just stop that right now. Nick Saban and Bret Bielema are strong advocates of this rule change.. I wonder why? Couldn't be because Gus Malzahn just won the SEC and narrowly missed winning a National Championship with an up-tempo offense right? Nah it's all because they're worried about "player safety"

their supporting it or not wont make or break this dumb committees decision. Besides they are only talking about a 10 second differential. its not some tragedy

blame the Air Force coach before you blame Saban..is Saban on the committee ?

 

[Hasselbeck]

hasselbeck- make up your mind and learn some comprehension. The comment I made was not anti-hurry up offense, it was anti Leach..he said you need to coach harder. You cant coach any harder than winning a national championship and Saban did it twice with no hurry up while leach has won much of nothing but the occasional conference. I'm not making fun of offensive styles, I'm making fun of Leach. Stop being a serial groaner like gaynerd just because your favorite team won a SB.

I've made both pro and con and you are groaning both, make up your damn mind

And like Glen said... Saban has also lost to two (three if you count OU) up-tempo offenses in recent years. And his strength has always been defense.. so I wonder why a defensive coach would be so in favor of trying to slow down an Auburn or Texas A&M.

:dd:

blame the Air Force coach before you blame Saban..is Saban on the committee ?

If you think Air Force coach Troy Calhoun holds more influence in college football than Nick Saban.. I have no idea what to tell you.