Rules Changes for 2024
PostPosted:3 months 3 weeks ago
Elvis wrote:A needed change but i think i'll miss the pageantry and absurdity of the chain gang:
One thing that occurred about 4-5 years ago that I think has gone really unnoticed. Referees have begun spotting the ball at exact yard markers rather than at fractional yards.
Believe this was intentional to reduce the stoppages for chain measurements (which I would bet, sight unseen, are way down); also probably improved quality of life for those writing up the game books, to have less ambiguity on whether to call 1/2 a yard a full yard, etc.
To wit, I think this thought process actually played a major part in the end of the Steeler game ... definitely did not gain it, but the refs said meh, they want us to spot it on the yard marker, so, fine .. first down. We'll let the Rams challenge it .. oh wait, oops.
I think the refs are given discretion when to try to be precise but are asked not to most of the time; but sometimes they just don't use their heads it seems, like in the Steeler game. Good job, you just handed the Steelers the win.