Football Zebras

5 observations from the divisional playoffs, 2019 post-season

by Mark Schultz - January 13, 2020 6

Before we turn our attention to the conference championship games, here are five things I noticed from the officials this past weekend. Once-in-a-career calls in the Ravens-Titans game The divisional playoff game in Baltimore featured some weird plays, hence some weird calls were necessary and Bill Vinovich's crew nailed each one. We

4 Wild Card observations, 2019 post-season

by Mark Schultz - January 6, 2020January 6, 2020 5

It was another memorable Wild Card weekend with two games going to overtime and several officiating observations. Here are four that stuck out to me. Alternates do more than spectate Give a gold star to Mark Steinkerchner for saving the crew on that crazy kickoff situation in Texas. Tony Corrente needed some

Hit on Kalif Raymond was legal, despite media outrage

by Mark Schultz - December 23, 2019December 23, 2019 3

The media screamed about a "blatant" (aren't they always?) missed hit on the Titans Kalif Raymond. After Raymond completed his catch, defender C.J. Gardner-Johnson delivered a hard hit on Raymond, forcing a fumble and New Orleans Saints recovery and long return (video). https://twitter.com/FTBeard11/status/1208856020597915649 Yes, it was a hard hit. Yes,, Raymond was

When teams are determined to fight, officials go into survival mode

by Mark Schultz - November 21, 2019 2

NFL officials have several tools to try and maintain order and prevent the game from degenerating into a fight. The biggest tool, short of throwing a flag, is preventative officiating. Officials don't want to throw flags and throw people out a ball games, so they use their people skills to

Newer piece of equipment helps officials keep track of downs

Follow-up

by Mark Schultz - October 24, 2019 1

Rookie NFL umpire Terry Killens, easily won the "most photographed official" award last week, but one of those photos gave us a glimpse of a newer way some officials keep track of the downs. NFL officials traditionally use a simple piece of equipment to keep track of downs. They use an

Ravens razzle on drop kick didn’t dazzle the league office

by Ben Austro - October 6, 2019 0

As the Ravens prepare for their Week 5 game against the Steelers, they have to modify their playbook for an onside kick that occurred in Week 3. Ravens kicker Justin Tucker was attempting an onside kick by a drop kick, which is legal to do on a kickoff. Tucker faked placing

Too many ejections in Week 1

by Mark Schultz - September 9, 2019September 9, 2019 0

The NFL officials had to issue too many ejections in Week 1. Of the three, two were for unsportsmanlike conduct and one was due to a flagrant helmet foul. One of the first games of the day features a disqualification The yellow laundry starting flying early in Jacksonville. Jaguars linebacker Myles Jack

Pac-12 audit concludes no big changes are needed in officiating department

by Mark Schultz - July 25, 2019July 25, 2019 0

Nine months after a report that a Pac-12 senior vice president (who had no officiating experience) countermanded an instant replay decision, and four months after three retired Pac-12 officials sent an open letter barbecuing Pac-12 leadership, the conference released the results of its officiating audit. According to the Pac-12, the independent

Saints owner calls for changes in officiating

by Mark Schultz - January 21, 2019January 21, 2019 13

In a statement released after the most devastating loss in New Orleans Saints history, owner Gayle Benson said she will "aggressively pursue changes in NFL policies to ensure no team and fan base is ever put in a similar position again." Benson is speaking about the pass interference no-call at the

5 observations from championship weekend

by Mark Schultz - January 21, 2019January 21, 2019 9

http://gty.im/1097101968 For the first time ever, both the NFC and AFC Championship games went to overtime in the same season. There is plenty to write about from the officiating perspective this weekend. Here are just a few of the things that stuck out to me. Crucial missed calls In the NFC Championship Game,