Week 13 Monday Afternoon TPS Report
Dec 3rd 2007ericjhoroTPS Report & NFL
One NFL Rule Change That Must Be Made
The key moment in the Cowboys’ victory over the Packers was the questionable 42-yard pass interference penalty on Tramon Williams. It was play involving minimal contact, a tangle of feet, and an offensive player falling to the ground. Basically, it was the kind of play where a defensive player should not be penalized 40 yards. Unfortunately, there is no middle ground for officials. On that play the back judge was forced to make an all or nothing call, and the call he made was “all.”
The solution is to let officials call illegal contact even after the ball is in the air. The league thinks it’s making it easier for officials with distinct illegal contact and pass interference rules, but in reality that just takes away an official’s ability to use his judgment. If a defensive back’s actions are not severe or intentional, let the officials penalize him accordingly with a 5 or 10 yard automatic first down penalty. Game changing 50-yard pass interference calls are the bane of NFL offciating, and Roger Goodell and Mike Pereira need to do something about them.
Now let’s move on to the rest of the week 13 deliciousness…
Don’t Miss…
…Jason Taylor not thinking too highly of the Jets. Said a sarcastically bitter Taylor, “They stink, too. They beat us, and they’ll go home happy and their fans will be happy. They’ve got three wins this year. Good for them.”
…Albert Haynesworth’s thoughts on the Texans’ quarterbacks. It’s safe to say he’s a Sage Rosenfels man who thinks Matt Schaub might be a little overpaid.
…The Redskins sticking by their coach despite his gaffe. Well, most of them anyway. The feelings of one anonymous veteran were “Come on man, this is the NFL. What coach don’t know the rules?”
…The Jaguars’ Paul Spicer expressing his displeasure with the officiating in the Colts-Jaguars game. The money quote: “We are in Indianapolis and Polian gave (the referees) a little extra in the check.”
…The big boo-boo Mike Holmgren made at the end of his team’s win. At least he didn’t pull a Gibbs.
…All the talk about Bobby Petrino’s fiery halftime speech. Apparently it was a real humdinger.
…The Panthers first quarter hook-and-ladder play (:45). Nice move from Jon Fox to use something like that early in a game.
…Jeff Fisher foretelling Rob Bironas’ future.
…Tarvaris Jackson getting a lot better.
Coaches Love Those Five Yard Penalties
NFL coaches will almost always blindly accept five yard penalties, even on incomplete passes or short running plays. Yeah, penalties on the offense sound good for a defense, but a lot of the time accepting them is an idiotic way to give the offense one more play. Declining these kinds of penalties might cost a defense a two or three yards, but it also means the offense has one less chance to get a first down, one less chance to get a big play, and even one less chance to score a touchdown. The key to not giving up points is to keep an offense off the field. Not giving them extra plays is a good way to do that.
Panthers coach Jon Fox gets the gold star this week for showing he knows how to decline a penalty. Early in the third quarter the 49ers were called for illegal motion on a 3-yard run by Frank Gore on 2nd and 10. Fox wisely chose to take the 3rd and 7 instead of the 2nd and 15. Sounds crazy, right? The idea putting a team in 3rd and long instead of giving them two plays to get a 1st down is foreign to most NFL coaches. Not to Fox, the new penalty declining master.
Why Bobby Petrino Did the Right Thing
In the aftermath of the Falcons loss Bobby Petrino has gotten a lot of criticism for deciding to go for two when the Falcons scored to make it 21-9 with 12 minutes left in the game. Those people are idiots. It was the right move.
Down 21-3, the Falcons knew they had to get to 21 points (with two touchdowns, a two pointer, and a field goal) to tie and win the game. Since Petrino knew he needed a two point conversion, why not go for it early. Far too often coaches who know they need a two-pointer wait until the last minute to go for it. Then when they miss the conversion with 20 seconds left in the game, there’s nothing they can do. The game is over. By going for it early Petrino left himself enough time to execute an alternate plan to get to 21 points (more downfield throws, agressive blizting, onside kicks) if the Falcons didn’t convert the two point attempt. It’s amazing that people will criticize Petrino, but when a coach lets the clock run down and leaves himself with an all-or-nothing two point conversion in the final 30 seconds, he’s never criticized for ignoring the consequences of missing the conversion.
That’s Why You Bring it Out
Aundrae Allison fielded a 2nd quarter kickoff three yards deep in his endzone. The fear of getting stopped at the 18-yard line would induce most players to just take a knee. Not Allison. He decided to take his chances and bring it out. Fifteen seconds later he was in the other endzone.
It’s inexplicable that any player (or coach) would give up the chance to make a big play by taking a touchback. Just bring it out. Getting stopped shy of the 20 is not the end of the world.
So Long David Akers
It’s always a little sad when a player who’s been a constant fixture in the NFL undergoes a rapid decline that quickly leaves him jobless. The next man to fit this description could be David Akers. In his first five years as the Eagles starter Akers made 86% of his kicks. Over the last three seasons he has made just 76%, and the 48-yarder Akers missed on Sunday was the 5th straight he’s missed from over 40 yards. So before Akers disappears from fantasy football rosters around the world, take a moment and remember the things that made him one of the seven most memorable kickers of the decade.
Stat O’ the Week
22. Consecutive games in which the Bills did not commit a defensive pass interference penalty until they got flagged for one against the Redskins.
European Football Goal O’ the Week
Maxi Pereira of Benfica vs AC Milan
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