Post by exhockeyref on Jan 12, 2020 15:43:24 GMT -5
Don't want to step on any toes, FredFan, but have to chime in with a shout out to Shawn Hochuli in this game...
Two scrums around quarterbacks, one on a sack of Mahomes followed a couple of minutes later (after a muffed punt) with a run by Watson. Both were hotly contested and could have blown up, but he got in there and got things sorted out.
As an "exhockeyref" I'm loving the preventative officiating. Hopefully the rest of the officiating is good too.
R 83 Shawn Hochuli U 121 Paul King DJ 134 Ed Camp LJ 101 Carl Johnson FJ 72 Michael Banks SJ 125 Chad Hill BJ 88 Brad Freeman ALT 99 Tony Corrente ALT 49 Rich Hall ALT 113 Danny Short ALT 73 Joe Larrew
Watch the ball carrier. He uses the ball to taunt the defender. The defender flings the ball away. Initially I thought the foul was on the defense. But, they caught the instigator. Good call.
Watch the ball carrier. He uses the ball to taunt the defender. The defender flings the ball away. Initially I thought the foul was on the defense. But, they caught the instigator. Good call.
After his touchdown run, Chiefs' Damien Williams was flagged for dropping the football in the face of a Houston opponent. While the defender threw the ball back at Williams in retaliation, the foul will typically go against the instigating party. This is the first foul leading to potential disqualification for Williams, as this is one of two unsportsmanlike penalties in the category under the "2 and DQ" rule.
Back judge Brad Freeman, referee Shawn Hochuli, and umpire Paul King all threw flags on this play.
Houston had the option to assess this penalty on the kickoff or try under this year's new penalty enforcement on a touchdown rule, but they chose to assess the penalty on the kickoff.
Wider is better. Carl Johnson almost backed up to the wall on this pylon play. If he stayed at the pylon the play would have blown up in his face making it hard to judge, plus he'd have ended up under the pile.
Of course we would have a wild first half end like this! Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw his fourth touchdown pass of the quarter, but was his pass legal?
At the point that Mahomes releases the pass, he must have a part of his body on or behind the plane of the line of scrimmage, in this case the 5-yard line. On review, there is no angle that shows that Mahomes is definitively beyond the 5, so the touchdown stands.
An interesting gap in officiating mechanics occurs here, but it is a tradeoff deemed to be acceptable. When the ball is snapped at the 5, the down judge and line judge are to immediately break to cover the goal line, which is obviously the more critical line here. (The side judge and field judge will have the back corner of the end zone.) When the NFL had the umpire in the defensive backfield, there can be an assist on the line of scrimmage call, but with the umpire behind the offensive line, this vantage point is lost.
Additionally, Chiefs lineman Eric Fisher (#72) appears to be more than 1 yard downfield. On a pass, a lineman can go no more than 1 yard downfield, except if he is engaged in a block. In this case, Fisher disengages his block a little beyond the 1-yard zone, and he is allowed to legally maintain that downfield distance. For good measure, he somewhat reflexively jumps back.
IMO - with lots of close calls and superb preventive officiating, I would call this AN ALL STAR CREW. I will let Fred or someone else do the grading. Great game with excellent officiating
Last Edit: Jan 12, 2020 18:43:59 GMT -5 by wjl: incomplete
Hochuli: 3.9 - Fantastic pacing, excellent mic work and good job catching the first offender on the unsportsmanlike conduct. King: 3.8 - Kept things moving and showed good mechanics. Camp: 3.8 - Excellent work. Good spots and controlled his sideline Johnson: 3.95 - Most of the close plays came up his sideline or landed in his lap Banks: 3.95 - See Johnson Hill: 3.9 - What a memorable first playoff assignment! Keep it up and he'll be a good one. Laird Hayes must be smiling that 125 went to such a good official. Freeman: 3.95 - Nailed the pass interference, and showed excelleent mechanics.
Crew: 3.89 - While not all are eligible for the Super Bowl, this whole crew is Super Bowl worthy.
