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Post by FredFan7 on Dec 30, 2023 0:11:18 GMT -5
If you haven't OD'd on college football, enjoy ODing on NFL football! Post officiating observations here.
Saturday, Dec. 30
Lions at Cowboys ESPN ESPN+ — Brad Allen
Sunday, Dec. 31
Cardinals at Eagles — Bill Vinovich Falcons at Bears — Adrian Hill Panthers at Jaguars — Carl Cheffers Raiders at Colts — Shawn Smith Rams at Giants — Tra Blake Dolphins at Ravens — Clete Blakeman Patriots at Bills — Alan Eck Saints at Buccaneers — Land Clark 49ers at Commanders — Ron Torbert Titans at Texans — Scott Novak Steelers at Seahawks — Shawn Hochuli Bengals at Chiefs — John Hussey Chargers at Broncos — Craig Wrolstad Packers at Vikings NBC Peacock — Clay Martin
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Post by FredFan7 on Dec 30, 2023 20:46:23 GMT -5
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Post by FredFan7 on Dec 31, 2023 0:06:53 GMT -5
Crazy end to Cowboys/Lions sequence.
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Post by timdaye on Dec 31, 2023 0:33:58 GMT -5
Ya know, we'll never know what exactly 68 said to Brad Allen. But it sure looked like he went to him before the play to say something.
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Post by FredFan7 on Dec 31, 2023 0:44:14 GMT -5
/photo/1
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Post by exhockeyref on Dec 31, 2023 1:13:33 GMT -5
Ya know, we'll never know what exactly 68 said to Brad Allen. But it sure looked like he went to him before the play to say something.
And why would 70 report as eligible when he's lined up normally as a guard? How is it possible to mess up something as simple as this? It's like losing track of what down it is. Inexcusable.
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Post by zebrablog on Dec 31, 2023 4:42:24 GMT -5
So it appears that the Lions strategy for this play was that 58 and 68 would go to Allen with 70 entering the field. I think he makes the sweeping gesture. I think that part of the "play" is to confuse the defense as to who is reporting.
But Allen points to 70 entering the field, which acknowledges his apparent signal. Or maybe he misunderstood the verbal communication, seeing as there are three lineman coming to him instead of the one who is reporting. Did Allen presume that 70, who had reported earlier in the game, was doing so again? Possibly and that may have been part of the ruse that they hoped to catch the Cowboys and not the officials.
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Post by wilburthegoose on Dec 31, 2023 8:36:54 GMT -5
It was obvious to me that 68 reported AND Allen made the "reporting" signal.
I've been thinking all year that Allen and his crew are the weakest in the NFL and this cements it.
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Post by exhockeyref on Dec 31, 2023 10:17:00 GMT -5
So it appears that the Lions strategy for this play was that 58 and 68 would go to Allen with 70 entering the field. I think he makes the sweeping gesture. I think that part of the "play" is to confuse the defense as to who is reporting. But Allen points to 70 entering the field, which acknowledges his apparent signal. Or maybe he misunderstood the verbal communication, seeing as there are three lineman coming to him instead of the one who is reporting. Did Allen presume that 70, who had reported earlier in the game, was doing so again? Possibly and that may have been part of the ruse that they hoped to catch the Cowboys and not the officials.
I totally get that, and believe the onus of making sure this is communicated is on the team, not the officials.
This situation is baffling, however, given a) the video evidence and b) the fact that Dan Campbell said he went through this play with the officials in a pregame meeting.
At some point it has to be on the officials to keep things straight. Otherwise, what's the point of pregame meetings?
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Post by timdaye on Dec 31, 2023 11:18:23 GMT -5
So it appears that the Lions strategy for this play was that 58 and 68 would go to Allen with 70 entering the field. I think he makes the sweeping gesture. I think that part of the "play" is to confuse the defense as to who is reporting. But Allen points to 70 entering the field, which acknowledges his apparent signal. Or maybe he misunderstood the verbal communication, seeing as there are three lineman coming to him instead of the one who is reporting. Did Allen presume that 70, who had reported earlier in the game, was doing so again? Possibly and that may have been part of the ruse that they hoped to catch the Cowboys and not the officials. I totally get that, and believe the onus of making sure this is communicated is on the team, not the officials. This situation is baffling, however, given a) the video evidence and b) the fact that Dan Campbell said he went through this play with the officials in a pregame meeting. At some point it has to be on the officials to keep things straight. Otherwise, what's the point of pregame meetings?
I think Brad Allen has gone into CYA mode as his crew’s bacon has already been in the fire once this season. Here’s the thing, Decker, number 68, was there chatting with Brad Allen prior to number 70 arriving. What the heck did Brad think 68 was chatting with him about? Where to go to eat after the game? No, he was saying I’m reporting as eligible. And, I think, because 70 had reported as eligible several times before during this game, Allen confused the numbers. This confusion directly resulted in a lions loss. This is an administrative error that should have never happened.
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Post by sullim4 on Dec 31, 2023 11:38:53 GMT -5
I think Brad Allen has gone into CYA mode as his crew’s bacon has already been in the fire once this season. Here’s the thing, Decker, number 68, was there chatting with Brad Allen prior to number 70 arriving. What the heck did Brad think 68 was chatting with him about? Where to go to eat after the game? No, he was saying I’m reporting as eligible. And, I think, because 70 had reported as eligible several times before during this game, Allen confused the numbers. This confusion directly resulted in a lions loss. This is an administrative error that should have never happened. This is my take as well. The preponderance of the evidence seems to point at Allen messing up the player reporting as eligible. We will never know exactly what happened. Schefter is reporting that 345 Park is likely to downgrade the crew as a result of the play: bleacherreport.com/articles/10103081-schefter-brad-allens-referee-crew-expected-to-get-downgraded-for-2024-nfl-playoffs
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Post by zebrablog on Dec 31, 2023 11:54:54 GMT -5
It was obvious to me that 68 reported AND Allen made the "reporting" signal. Serious question, not trying to be snarky: why is it obvious that 68 is reporting and not 58 who is standing next to him? I see three lineman approaching R122, which was apparently part of the play design. As for Campbell telling Allen in the pregame .... the question that's asked is if the coach has any trick plays to be aware of. Campbell likely said they have a tackle eligible play for a 2PC. Although it's possible, I doubt that he would specifically say that 68 would be the receiver. Also, did Campbell tell Allen that they were intending to use lineman as decoys hoping that some on the defense would be confused?
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Post by psu213 on Dec 31, 2023 12:41:04 GMT -5
What I find a bit strange about the clip...The 3 lineman approach Allen, but before all 3 are there Allen has his back turned to all 3, and he is running away from them. I think it's a possibility that someone reported when Allen's back was already turned. Just a guess here, but he may have assumed (gasp) it was the player who had already reported several times and not number 68; especially since Allen himself stated that 70 did not need to report given where he eventually lined up for the play. There was an old (c. 1990) SI article on Big 10 officials. One of the officials said "if the play is designed to fool someone, make sure you are not the fool."
I'm guessing the league will not comment on this since Allen has "doubled down" on his version of events.
This play also convinced me that John Parry is just a 'yes man' for officials, and not a particularly good rules analyst.
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Post by FredFan7 on Dec 31, 2023 13:19:23 GMT -5
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Post by FredFan7 on Dec 31, 2023 13:38:14 GMT -5
Jimmy Buchanan calling this touchdown in a snow globe at Soldier Field.
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