I for one this year have watched all the Packer games this year, but have definitely not watched other games as much just because of the officiating.
I’m sure you’re not alone. Someone wrote into the Inbox a couple weeks ago that they were at a sportsbook with a big wall bank of 8 large screen TVs with all the early games going on at once on a Sunday. In one moment, six of the TVs had a penalty being announced by the referee at the same time. I would think that’s something the league would not want.
As you pointed out, baseball has managed to add it pretty well so far.
Baseball improved its product by putting in the pitch clock rules, three-batter minimum for relievers, restrictions on mound visits and disengagements, etc. All those have sped up the game and make it tolerable if there’s a long replay review when they really need to make sure they’re getting a call correct.
I know the answer, but has anyone provided clarity on the grounding call? I didn’t think the LOS mattered if you can short hop it to a receiver. If that’s “the rule”, then every spike on a failed screen should be grounding.
That looked to me like a flat-out wrong interpretation of the rule. If there’s a receiver in the area, getting the ball to the LOS doesn’t matter. It’s called that way all the time, except by Alex Moore apparently.
Spoff did you see Orlovsky on X showing how Hutch was beating the snap & Bulaga/DBakh wondering if former ops were no longer used? Curious bc it used to be an advantage. Why change?
I did see that, but I don’t know what’s changed so it’s hard for me to comment.
How close are we that just having flag football when it comes to the QB?
Maybe not during my career, but it’s probably on the long-term horizon.
Watching the World Series has been a nice reprieve, don’t have to worry about a flag after each play.
And I don’t have to live chat the entire game, lol
The answer to the O-Line is “block better”. But what does that mean?
Usually it means fundamentals. Pad level, technique, etc. I’ve never played or coached tackle football so I’m not qualified to talk specifics, but blocking is all about fundamentals, and yours being better than the other guys’.
They ignored the fact he was in the process of being sacked as well. Just a horrible call.
Apparently Love can be clobbered with impunity, and the rest of the quarterbacks are playing touch.
That’s where I go back to making it too hard on the officials. It’s difficult to see in real time from only one angle if a QB absorbs contact to the head that should be a penalty. It’s happened to Love several times. It’s very easy to see on replay, and that’s why I continue to insist making safety rules reviewable would improve the officiating considerably. It’s a no-brainer in my book.
You’re correct, all the changes to baseball have been positive. Too bad there won’t be baseball next year, that’s why the Brewers have to do it this year!
Enlighting – Packers RTP penalties from 2021-2025 are 10 total over 90 games for .11 RTP per game. in 2026 they have 8 RTP penalties over 7 games for 1.14 per game. The most last year was the Bears and they had 9 for the seasoned.
It’s not so much the 8 compared to other years as the 8-0 ledger when looking at GB vs. opponents. That’s the head scratcher.
Thoughts on MLF going for it on 4th even when a FG is an option. Seems like every time we don’t get it the momentum swings and the other team ends up scoring a TD and the whole tenor of the game shifts.
I say often, particularly in the live blog during games, I always see the temptation to go for it on fourth-and-1. But when the fourth down requires longer than a yard and the defense knows you’re going to pass and doesn’t have to defend the run, that makes life a lot harder.
I hope the Brewers not winning a winnable game doesn’t set a trend.
Three of the four games in the Series have been tightly contested all the way. Those can always go to either side. The Brewers have played in those types of games all season. You don’t win them all, but they aren’t afraid of those contests.
Has this been the worst start to the season in the Love tenure in terms of our dropped passes?
I don’t have any stats in front of me to compare, but it hasn’t been good, that’s for sure. Love has put a number of good throws on the money and those opportunities have gotten away.
I say enough of the fourth down calls unless it’s less than a yard until we can run the ball efficiently on any down.
But the kicker needs to be reliable, too. It’s a tough spot for any coach, honestly.
Mike, do you think Smack is the kicker for the remainder of the season, regardless of performance?
I would never say “regardless,” but they’re definitely sticking with him for now.
It’s a shame. Love might have a QBR of at least 100 without all those drops.
Stats aside, I feel like the Lions game was the only one that the drops contributed greatly to a loss.
I just wish LaFleur had a consistent game management strategy. You take the three when it’s the first points on the board. You go for the tie, especially when you can trust the ground game.
A lot of coaches, not just LaFleur, make those fourth-down calls based on how good they feel about a play they’re about to call. Right or wrong, the decisions can come down to that.
I saw Gronk and Edelman on a show afterwards. Gronk said the GB/Det officials should never get close to a playoff game. They get in the way of the game. The officials seem to swallow their whistles during the playoffs outside of the obvious calls. And Goff is a great actor. He took a dive on one RTP. I know the officials get a grade. Who disciplines the officials during the season and what’s the punishment? Slap on the wrist?
I don’t know what punishments exist in season for officials, but if anyone from Alex Moore’s crew gets a playoff assignment, I’ll be shocked. That game in Detroit was thoroughly disqualifying.