Football Zebras

Truncated offseason means less time to consider, vote on rule changes

by Mark Schultz - March 31, 2020April 1, 2020 1

Embed from Getty Images Updated 4/1/20 to reflect owners approving expanded playoffs As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to run it's dangerous course, it appears that there will be less, if any, traditional offseason time. Already, the in-person league meetings have been canceled. The owners could meet met via teleconference sometime this week, to

6 officiating observations of Super Bowl LIV

by Mark Schultz - February 3, 2020February 3, 2020 9

The centennial NFL season is in the books. Wasn't the Hall of Fame game like a month ago? As we bring the curtain down on Super Bowl LIV, here are six officiating observations. 1. Bill Vinovich ran a good coin toss What is it this year with captains and coin tosses? San

4 officiating observations from Conference Championship Weekend

by Mark Schultz - January 20, 2020January 20, 2020 0

The crowds were excited and loud, but it was a pretty quiet weekend on the officiating front for Conference Championship weekend, thankfully. But there are always things to observe and learn from the officials. Here are a few things I saw. Even though the game is decided, it isn't over John Hussey's crew

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