What rule changes would you like to see in 07?

[firstdown]

I understand why they have roughing the passer rules but its like the refs. use the rule with no common sense. It drives me crazy when a D line man is locked up with a Oline man and while trying to tackle the QB happens to hit his helmet and then gets a 15 yard pen is just stuiped.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Originally Posted by firstdown

I understand why they have roughing the passer rules but its like the refs. use the rule with no common sense. It drives me crazy when a D line man is locked up with a Oline man and while trying to tackle the QB happens to hit his helmet and then gets a 15 yard pen is just stuiped.

I agree that many of the QB roughing calls are weak. However -- and I'm not sure about this -- the league wants the refs to be objective. So, a hit in the head is just that -- a hit in the head. I think they have to call the penalty, whether they want to or not. After all, the ref's performance is reviewed and criticized, and they want to do their jobs correctly.

Come to think of it, it seems all the rules are moving away from subjectivity and towards objectivity. Maybe that's why the officiating is getting worse.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by GhettoDogAllStars

I agree that many of the QB roughing calls are weak. However -- and I'm not sure about this -- the league wants the refs to be objective. So, a hit in the head is just that -- a hit in the head. I think they have to call the penalty, whether they want to or not. After all, the ref's performance is reviewed and criticized, and they want to do their jobs correctly.

Come to think of it, it seems all the rules are moving away from subjectivity and towards objectivity. Maybe that's why the officiating is getting worse.

But they have to use a dash of common sense when making these ridiculous calls. After all, that is why they have helmets on the first place.

I believe it was Vince Lombardi that said, dancing is a contact sport, football is a collision sport.

[munny]

I would rather they just ensure each team gets a minimum of one offense series. If that series ends with a fumbled kickoff, so be it. But each team gets a shot.

[munny]

I would suggest that we already have plenty of rules to protect the QB, the rest is just plain football. This business with hitting below the knee, and a helmet slap, falling on him "too hard ", or hitting with the crown -- this should apply to everyone or no one.

I understand how you feel about the quarterback being a "sitting duck" when they are staring down field. The thing is, these rules don't make it any safer. They don't stop a guy from teeing off when the QB is looking downfield, the same hit that is legal from the blindside is legal from any side, and vica-versa(sp?). These flags get thrown regardless of what the QB is doing - whether he is scrambling, in the pocket, - whatever. Almost all of the below the knee shots can be seen coming by the QB. If he wants to stand there and deliver the ball, even though he knows he is gonna get creamed, that is a QB decision. We now have a game where defenders let guys go because they are afraid of a penalty. That is pathetic. If you even hit a qb a yard before he goes out of bounds you will get the late hit call.

If there is helmet to helmet contact, call it that - just like for every other player. If there is a facemask call it that. But a headslap is not a facemask. If you want to say that you can't hit below the knee from behind I wouldn't even mind that. But the QB is basically out of play now, there are still lots of injuries, and there always will be. It is just a violent game. You can't baby them forever.