New Rule could equal more points

[Blackman]

This article is about the Eagles -- but the theory obviously applies across the board. If the refs are going to be strict with this we might see more big plays this year.

Rule Change Should Add Points



August 2, 2004
By CHRIS McPHERSON

One of the biggest rule changes to the NFL this season will help improve the connection between QB Donovan McNabb and WR Terrell Owens.
League referees were at Monday's morning practice to help instruct the Eagles on this new rule change - cornerbacks are no longer allowed to have contact with the receiver after five yards.


QB Donovan McNabb
Cornerbacks have used tactics like pulling the jersey or holding the back of it to get a receiver off route. Just causing a misstep in the receiver's stride can ruin a play. If the quarterback is looking at the receiver as a top option, and the wide out has been knocked off kilter then the quarterback will have to go through the progression meaning more time in the pocket.

For Owens, it means that cornerbacks will have more problems holding down already one of the most prolific receivers in the game. For McNabb, he said that now things will be on even ground.

"As an offensive player, you want to at least make it fair," McNabb said. "With the holding the back of the jersey to pulling shirts off of the shoulder pads, you want to make it fair for the passing game. It will throw your timing off."

It's not like the Eagles have had problems putting the ball in the end zone. The Eagles were fourth in the NFL in 2002 (25.9 points per game) and sixth in the NFC last season (23.4). However, McNabb said that now that referees are aware of the contact, it could make a huge difference with a big game on the line  say the NFC Championship or the Super Bowl.

"With this rule in, they will pay a lot of attention to it," McNabb said. "It will kind of be their first priority to look at as far as receivers and DBs are concerned. And more importantly, linebackers and tight ends. It's going to be exciting to see how long it lasts."

McNabb does know this will impact the Eagles' young starting cornerbacks Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown. Especially since the Eagles defense has created 63 turnovers in the last two seasons.

"It's always good to see big defensive plays. And our defense has made a lot big defensive plays the last couple of years," McNabb said.

 

[jmizeus]

problem with that is you will see alot more pemalties called on the defense.sometimes they have to just let them play the damn game.

 

[ELVIS]

this should be true, but i am sure the patriots will get away with murder again against the colts in the nfl's 1st game. :cursin:

 

[lostinamerica]

ESPN.com
By Len Pasquarelli (3/27/04)


The last five minutes of the 2003 AFC championship game apparently made a lasting impression on the NFL competition committee.

Peyton Manning's futile attempt get the ball to receivers while being suffocated by New England defenders caused Indianapolis coaches to scream that the coverage was illegal. And, it seems, the league listened.

So much so that the influential committee, which sets the tone for on-field rules changes in the league, has decided to do something about all the excessive grabbing and holding that goes on in the secondary on pass plays.

As the annual league meetings convened in Palm Beach, Fla., on Monday, competition committee co-chairman Rich McKay and Jeff Fisher apprised owners and coaches that the illegal contact rule will become a so-called "point of emphasis" for the 2004 season.

Translation: Look for a lot more five-yard penalties in the secondary, and longer games, early in the campaign as officials keep defensive backs from mauling receivers.

"It just seems like (the illegal contact penalty) was called differently the last few years," said St. Louis coach Mike Martz, a member of the coaches subcommittee which works with the competition committee. "Somehow things got a little redefined, whether it was subconscious or not, and we have to get back to calling the rule as it's written."

There have been complaints the last couple seasons that the illegal contact rule had been a bit loosened. But the AFC championship game, in which the Patriots were often draped over Colts receivers and weren't flagged a single time, probably forced more focus to the issue. Colts coach Tony Dungy is also a member of the subcommittee.

Another element in the competition committee's decision to revisit the rule is that passing yards per game were dramatically reduced in 2003. The per-team average for net passing yards in a game dropped to 200.4 yards, a 5.6 percent falloff from 2002, and the lowest level since the 1992 season, when teams averaged 187.6 yards.

The rule stipulates that a defender can have only incidental contact with a receiver once the receiver is more than five yards downfield. The feeling among some coaches is that game officials have, in recent seasons, permitted defensive players more leeway. One head coach noted Sunday that while he embraces "a kind of 'let 'em play' attitude, there seems to have been a swing toward the defense lately."

By making the rule a point of emphasis, the competition committee essentially is saying that it expects illegal contact to be called much closer in 2004. There are no changes to the rule but, instead, it will be enforced as written. Game officials will likely review the rule with coaches and players when they visit training camps this summer.

Unlike a rules change, the emphasis on illegal contact requires no vote of owners, and can be unilaterally implemented by the competition committee.

While competition committee members won't so say publicly, part of their rationale is that, if game officials administer the rule tighter early in the 2004 season, defenders will become accustomed to the new emphasis and adjust to the manner in which it is called.

***************************************


Kansas City Star (6/04/04)


For some who follow the NFL, there is one lasting image from last season's playoffs. It was this: Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning standing, arms spread, mouth agape, waiting for a referee's call that would never come in the late stages of the Colts' AFC championship-game loss to New England.

Depending on your point of view, Ty Law and the New England secondary either did a superb job of knocking Manning's receivers off their pass patterns or they mugged Marvin Harrison and his fellow Colt wide receivers with impunity.

Either way, the NFL has decided that during the 2004 season, an illegal-contact rule will be a ?point of emphasis.? The rule stipulates that defenders can have only incidental contact on receivers once the receiver is past 5 yards, but many believe referees haven't been enforcing that rule in recent seasons.

?It's going to help the offense, no question about that,? said Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil, whose team takes the field today for the start of a three-day minicamp. ?It's going to help us. But it balances out. If it helps your offense it hurts your defense. But I think you'll see more aggressive play within the 5-yard chuck area. They say they're going to call any kind of grab automatically. I think it'll free up the receivers.?

The Chiefs, Rams and Colts have passing games that rely heavily on timing routes, so the rule should help those teams.

On the flip side, new defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham likes to employ press coverage with his corners, so there may be feeling-out process early in the season as the Chiefs figure how far referees will go in enforcing the rules.

Assuming that the rule's emphasis extends to linebackers and safeties as well as cornerbacks, the Chief who will benefit most is tight end Tony Gonzalez. Vermeil has complained for three seasons that Gonzalez is constantly grabbed and shoved after he gets past 5 yards.

Wide receiver Dante Hall, who often lines up in the slot and thus ends up working his way through linebackers and safeties, is also a big fan of the changes.

?I'm all for it,? Hall said. ?It seems like a lot of (defensive players) start grabbing and shoving as soon as they figure out they can't run with you, and since our offense is all about getting off the ball quick and getting into your route, that extra contact is sometimes enough to mess up a whole play. I think you'll see a lot of things called this year that were let go last year.?

Freeing up receivers and producing more points seems to be what the NFL is looking for. Teams averaged 200.4 net passing yards per game in 2003, the lowest amount since 1992.

The 5-yard chuck rule originally was created in 1978 and quarterbacks completed an all-time high 54.1 percent of their passes that fall. Nobody expects the new rule's emphasis to have a similar dramatic affect on the passing game, but it will make life more difficult for defensive backs.

?It's always been a league about offense, and it always will be a league about offense,? said Chiefs assistant defensive-backs coach Vernon Dean, who played cornerback for three Super Bowls teams with Washington during the 1980s. ?People want to see big plays and they want points so our approach is: We're teaching our guys to play aggressive but smart. You don't want to make them tentative, but you do want them to be aware of the rules and how they are being enforced. We have to emphasize those first 5 yards, disrupt their timing. If we do our job there, it shouldn't matter what happens after that because the quarterback should be on his back.?

The practical application of what Dean talked about could be found on the practice field last week when second-year cornerback Julian Battle lined up in press coverage against speedy veteran Eddie Kennison.

At the snap of the ball, Battle got his hands on Kennison's chest and slowed Kennison's release into his pass route. However, Battle still had a hand on Kennison's shoulder as Kennison made his cut a few yards downfield.

Such contact probably would not have been called last season but might draw a 5-yard penalty this season which is why Dean quickly stepped in.

?Julian,? Dean shouted. ?Watch your hands downfield! You have perfect coverage, so you don't have to touch him anymore.?

Veteran cornerback Dexter McCleon said he's already preparing to take a new approach next season.

?In the last couple of years, the book on defending teams like us, the Rams and the Colts has been: get on the receivers, grab them, hold them, do whatever you can to disrupt their timing,? McCleon said. ?Now, you're going to have to do what you can in those first 5 yards and rely on technique after that. All I want to know is: are they going to call it the other way, too? Receivers shouldn't be able to push off on us either. As long as it's called both ways, I'm fine with it.?

 

[ceciol]

Just to clarify: this is not a new rule. They simply want to pay closer attention to calling it. It remains to be seen come playoff time if they swallow their whistles (like the NHL). I do say though in New England's defense that the penalties (if there were any) were not being called, so you keep doing whatever you can (even if it borders on a penalty) if they let you play that way.

 

[djv]

Rules have come and gone but scoring does not change a great deal do to them. The teams that are just more open still will score higher. Those that play the tight D and run /run will keep it lower. At one time when everyone was thinking pass a few years ago scoring was up some. But books adjust fast and you still need to capp each game for it's own look. What we may see in preseason is a little more scoring as some of these adjustment are fine tuned. GL

 

[GM]

Team Throws Flag on NFL's 5-yard 'Chuck' Rule

Full Article:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/...ug06,1,7785261.story?coll=bal-sports-football

Clipped from: Brent Jones, Baltimore Sun

There were plenty of moans and groans coming from Ravens players and
coaches yesterday about a rule that has not changed. The NFL is not
modifying its 5-yard "chuck" rule that prohibits defenders from making
contact with eligible receivers beyond 5 yards from the line of scrimmage,
but there will be heavy emphasis on its enforcement this year. Cornerback
Gary Baxter called this rededication by officials something that "doesn't
make any sense." Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Nolan predicted flags
are going to be flying everywhere if referees call the game the way they
are being instructed to by the NFL. Even coach Brian Billick, thought to
be more offensive-minded, said he was concerned about how this will affect
his team.

At least one player, though, thinks some good can come out of it. Not
surprisingly, he is part of the group that stands to benefit the most. "As
a receiver, we love it," Kevin Johnson said. "We're happy about it. It's
an offensive game in the NFL, so we are going to try and make the most of
it."

Four NFL game officials addressed the Ravens last night on the importance
of not making contact with receivers after 5 yards, and also went over a
number of minor rule changes to be implemented this year. The discussion
left many players and coaches concerned that the Ravens' physical play on
defense will be harmed if the league enforces the "chuck" rule closely.
The NFL's competition committee, of which Ravens general manager Ozzie
Newsome is a member, made the recommendation with hopes that receivers
will have less resistance running down the field, and in turn, get more
scoring chances.

"They want to put the emphasis back on the receiver to run his routes
unrestricted," said Undrey Wash, a fifth-year umpire. That means cracking
down on bigger cornerbacks and linebackers holding, pushing and jabbing
receivers in the chest to impede deeper routes.