Passing game once again gets major boost from NFL

[ThomasTomasz]

The NFL breaks its own passing records every year. In 2013 the league set records for combined pass attempts per game (70.8), combined passing yards per game (471.2), total passing touchdowns (804) and average passer rating (86.0).

More prolific, more efficient -- that's the way the NFL wants it. This season the spike will be especially dramatic, assuming the league follows through on its preseason initiative. The NFL told refs to strictly enforce illegal contact and defensive holding, and the result was an avalanche of coverage flags in Week 1 of the preseason.

In the first 17 preseason games, officials called 27 illegal contact penalties. That's 11 fewer than all of last season. They called 53 defensive holding penalties, compared to 171 all of last year.

League officials believe the crackdown will show defensive players what will and won't be tolerated. They predict this will result in less contact beyond 5 yards, and less clutching and grabbing. But this is no minor adjustment, according to Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith.

"Having these referees out here, you start to really realize how ticky-tack all these fouls are going to be called," he said. "The referees say the same -- it's not going to be easy this year. Every game, you're going to have to be on your P's and Q's after five yards as far as touching people."

Whether the refs keep up this absurd pace in the regular season remains to be seen. But the trend is inexorable, and it's one to keep in mind when choosing between a committee running back and a No. 3 receiver.

Take defensive pass interference. Those flags have been rising annually, from 0.712 per game in 2009 to 0.996 last year, per NFLPenalties.com.

Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio was asked, given the way the game is being officiated, how cornerbacks will be able to defend guys like Calvin Johnson, A.J. Green and Brandon Marshall. "You mean, how do you defend players who already are impossible to defend? That's a great question."

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/fantas...passing-game-gets-massive-boost-it-didnt-need

Looks like the best way to defend the pass is soon going to become an all-out blitz. It is crazy how offense continues to go up, and the NFL continues to crack down on the defensive players, resulting in more offense.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

Its disgusting. Competition Commitee is just fuckin retarded. How long will the artificially pump stats for some increased revenue ?

 

[KNUBB]

Its disgusting. Competition Commitee is just fuckin retarded. How long will the artificially pump stats for some increased revenue ?

This reinforcement of the rules is a direct strike at the Seahawks who were notorious in how much contact they were allowed to have last season. Pretty much daring the ref to throw the flag cuz they were gonna continue to do it anyway

 

[BigBucs]

Can't have a face of the league looking as shitty as he did in the worlds biggest game. Shit is pathetic man.

 

[buckeye]

In today's NFL guys like Sharpe, Rice, Largest would have 130 catches 2000 yards and 25 TD's

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[ThomasTomasz]

Its disgusting. Competition Commitee is just fuckin retarded. How long will the artificially pump stats for some increased revenue ?

What's worse is that, if those penalty trends continue into the regular season, we are looking at games getting longer again. We've already seen the early 1 pm games running into the 4:15 games many times last season, and it will only get more frequent.

 

[jeffx]

Can't have a face of the league looking as shitty as he did in the worlds biggest game. Shit is pathetic man.

It's the second time too. Remember when the Colts(when Peyton was QB) complained about the tactics used by New England?

As long as the NFL has a license to print money, they can get away with shit like this. But will there ever be a point when hardcore fans like us say, 'no mas'?


Pete Rozell must be turning over in his grave over what's going on.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

It's the second time too. Remember when the Colts(when Peyton was QB) complained about the tactics used by New England?

As long as the NFL has a license to print money, they can get away with shit like this. But will there ever be a point when hardcore fans like us say, 'no mas'?


Pete Rozell must be turning over in his grave over what's going on.

I think some hardcore fans are getting to that point, but the NFL keeps adding and retaining mouth-breathers to the equation, mostly via Fantasy Football at this point. The increase in offense only makes FF leagues that much more fun and exciting for them.

 

[MrBill]

It's the second time too. Remember when the Colts(when Peyton was QB) complained about the tactics used by New England?

As long as the NFL has a license to print money, they can get away with shit like this. But will there ever be a point when hardcore fans like us say, 'no mas'?


Pete Rozell must be turning over in his grave over what's going on.

We were talking about this very comparison over lunch this afternoon. The Seahawks were so dominant that the league had to react just like they did when the Patriots defense was that dominant. Coincidence that Peyton Manning was on the receiving end of both of those defensive teams in the playoffs?

 

[Senser81]

It's the second time too. Remember when the Colts(when Peyton was QB) complained about the tactics used by New England?

As long as the NFL has a license to print money, they can get away with shit like this. But will there ever be a point when hardcore fans like us say, 'no mas'?


Pete Rozell must be turning over in his grave over what's going on.

The complaints against New England were legit. It was like watching John Salley and Rick Mahorn in pass coverage. So much grabbing and holding.

 

[Tailback U]

They always crack down during preseason and lighten up as the season goes on.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

The complaints against New England were legit. It was like watching John Salley and Rick Mahorn in pass coverage. So much grabbing and holding.

I dunno , I think it was 1995 GB vs SF where GB employed the same tactic. They basically knew they couldnt compete down field and they just mauled the 49ers at the LOS ruining the short passing game. It was considered a masterful gameplan. One Belly mimicked for that Colt game. Today its grounds for rule changes ?
It's so damn transparent that they have to keep changing rules and enforcement for a singular purpose. Like oh shit defenses are beginning to adjust to unbalanced ?? Cant let that happen new rules CB must be 2 yards away until the ball is in the air. That'll get more fans for Wednesday night !

 

[Glenbino]

They always crack down during preseason and lighten up as the season goes on.

This.

I remember when they first instituted illegal contact and were jamming it down teams' throats that first preseason. I also remember these same complaints about how football had phased out defense for good and whatnot back then.

This is what the preseason is for. These games can last forever with thousands of delays because the majority of them are being broadcast by local affiliates and bring in next to nothing for the league in terms of ad revenue. The affiliates are more than happy to accommodate it gives them something other than a Simpsons re-run to air.

I'd be shocked if we were seeing teams regularly racking up 10-15 penalties a games like they are right now once every game is basically a national broadcast.

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[Steel Mamba]

This is why I don't watch football anymore, game gets more and more pussified every year.

This.
I remember when they first instituted illegal contact and were jamming it down teams' throats that first preseason. I also remember these same complaints about how football had phased out defense for good and whatnot back then.

They don't necessarily lighten up, teams adjusts because they have to. You can't tell me the way defense is played today hasn't significantly changed over the past several years. It's far less physical now.

 

[buckeye]

I would say the majority of the flags we are seeing in preseason won't be thrown in the regular season. More of a "we can throw it so you better think twice"

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[KINGOFOOTBALL]

This.

I remember when they first instituted illegal contact and were jamming it down teams' throats that first preseason. I also remember these same complaints about how football had phased out defense for good and whatnot back then.

This is what the preseason is for. These games can last forever with thousands of delays because the majority of them are being broadcast by local affiliates and bring in next to nothing for the league in terms of ad revenue. The affiliates are more than happy to accommodate it gives them something other than a Simpsons re-run to air.

I'd be shocked if we were seeing teams regularly racking up 10-15 penalties a games like they are right now once every game is basically a national broadcast.

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The numbers say otherwise. In a comparison PI was called every 105 passes in 2008 and every 80 passes in 2011. Theres also been a steady increase in holding calls. Those two calls are some of the worst you can get in terms of game continuity , extending the clock and momentum. Huge chunks of yards are being given or taken away because teams feel its best to just sit back and heave it to 4-5 WRs every play. The game has changed dramatically in a bad way few talk about because its so beneficial to there Fantasy Football.
How do you draft , coach , and scheme DBs in this league ? Its damn near impossible.