NFL - Are You Ready For Some Football?!! - Post SuperBowl

[Ben Kenobi]

The Pats like that formation and used it at the beginning of the year, but then injuries to their TE kept them from going back to it for most of the season. They even faked it for a while, bringing in extra linemen as TE and running Evans and Eckel to end games. It was generally successful all year...I think the only big thing was how much more successful it was than passing in this particular game.

Thanks, that was my point. That hasn't happened before and it speaks volumes.

[Ben Kenobi]

Oh, as for the questionable spot in the third, check the replay on the pass at 3-11.

The Pats catch the ball about a yard and a half shy of the line.

The official immediately runs out and puts the ball right on the line. That's when I knew the game was over.

It was disappointing. Had that been short, we would have got the ball again with 7:30 left to go in the game.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi


Thanks, that was my point. That hasn't happened before and it speaks volumes.

Ok. Um. Interesting point.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
Oh, as for the questionable spot in the third, check the replay on the pass at 3-11.

The Pats catch the ball about a yard and a half shy of the line.

The official immediately runs out and puts the ball right on the line. That's when I knew the game was over.

Uh, he's not down until he's touched...

[-Jrabbit]

Thanks for posting that, Koy. I was in an airplane for most of the first game and was curious about this call. It's understandable that Charger-boy would be bummed, but doesn't look too controversial in this view. Didn't hear much comment on it elsewhere.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Um... correct me if I'm wrong, but on that still, it seems that the ball is at least half a yard from the yellow line. Or is that something else?

Or are the Patriots going from left to right there?

[-Jrabbit]

Looks like he has plenty of time to roll forward though.
Seems clear the Pats are going right-to-left.

[Ben Kenobi]

Thanks for posting that, Koy. I was in an airplane for most of the first game and was curious about this call.

Yes, I saw that too and I wondered if anyone else saw it.

When he first makes initial contact with the ground he's about a yard and a half behind the line.

It's understandable that Charger-boy would be bummed, but doesn't look too controversial in this view. Didn't hear much comment on it elsewhere.

Koy is showing after the roll, and not the initial contact. I thought if the ball touches the turf after the catch you are considered down.

[-Jrabbit]

Nope. If it's a completion, you get all forward progress at the point where the defense tackles you (or, if you're on the ground, touches you).

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Um... correct me if I'm wrong, but on that still, it seems that the ball is at least half a yard from the yellow line. Or is that something else?

Or are the Patriots going from left to right there?

Yeah, left to right. Faulk dives for the catch (which I'm surprised wasn't reviewed, though I suspect it would have held up on lack of evidence) and does indeed land well short of the 35. The guy who was trailing him in coverage never touches him, and the dive+roll takes him to where he's downed in that picture.

It's at about the 3:00 mark in this video: http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d8061e725

[-Jrabbit]

Nice link, Koy.

Upon further review, the play stands as called.

[Ming]

Nice video clip... it makes it quite clear that the spot was a good one. And actually, I think they lost a few feet

[Tuberski]

If I was a SD fan, I would have been more upset about the punt from the Pat's 39 w/ 9+ minutes left. It was 4th and 10, but these are the Pats, you want to beat you have to play like it.

Pat's ran the clock out.

Oh, Ben, when did you sign with the Chargers?

ACK!

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yeah, I hate the "we" comments as well.

[Ben Kenobi]

If I was a SD fan, I would have been more upset about the punt from the Pat's 39 w/ 9+ minutes left. It was 4th and 10, but these are the Pats, you want to beat you have to play like it.

Yep, I was not happy with that playcall. Not one bit. The idea was that Scifres was supposed to pin them, which didn't happen (they got the ball back at the 12). I would have liked to see them go for it, because if they got it, they could have kicked another FG and got within a TD.

Oh, Ben, when did you sign with the Chargers?

They are my team.

Anyways I wasn't sure about that rule if they were considered down until someone touched them because they did catch the ball and the ball touched the ground. I thought if you caught the ball and the ball touched the ground that you were down and couldn't get back up.

As for the video, that's also the favourable angle. When they showed the replay it was the side camera, and you can see the catch and him on the ground rolling over.

I still think they should have reviewed it, the play was huge for the Pats.