Pass Interference - emphasis on the interference

Varsity Game

The varsity game was personally noteworthy for me since my first crew chief was in town and worked the Varsity game with me. And as I was the White Hat this made the game even more meaningful for me. We had a good time catching-up and working together again. Too bad the game was not a good time.

First, and this is trivial, but I was asked to wear a microphone like the big boys on TV. The PA guy says, "when you want to speak, hold down this button". "Ok, but how am I supposed to signal the fouls if I'm holding down a button?" I retort. Puzzled look from PA guy. "Ok, I'll control the volume from the press box." Swell. It was awkward, but thankfully it did not work most of the time which was just fine by me.

And my knee was still pretty painful which limited my mobility. But this was nothing compared to the pain caused by the game itself. This was 'one of those games'.

Sometimes games just don't flow well. Coaches are upset all game, some of officials are off their routines, the chain crew sucks, the clock sucks. It's never a single thing that makes a sucky game, but all these little 'things' add up. All you want to do is get the damn thing over with.

For example, on one play a flag is thrown for defensive pass interference (DPI). The pass was complete and then the flag came late. I was thinking this had to be facemask or some dead-ball personal foul. When it was reported as a DPI I was a little annoyed. I must have asked him three times, "DPI... Really?" Why throw a flag for a foul that has no impact on the play?

Here's the deal -- the pass was completed for a 25-yard gain. The penalty for DPI is 15 yards from the previous spot and an automatic first down. This is a big penalty. But, unless it had been 4th and 26 yards (meaning they were short of the first down and would have to turn the ball over), why would they accept a DPI foul and lose 10 yards? Of course, they would not.

So, again, why throw a late flag for this? Now, some officials would argue it is better to waive off a flag, or give the offended team an option, than to miss a foul. I've even heard this should be thrown just in case there are offsetting fouls, which would result in the down being repeated.

Ok, but here is the actual wording from the rule book: It is forward-pass interference if: any player [offense or defense] who is beyond the neutral zone interferes with an eligible opponent's opportunity to move toward, catch, or bat the pass.

Hmmm. So, if the receiver completes the pass was his opportunity to catch the ball interfered with? I'm interpreting the rule to mean the defender's act must affect the opponent's opportunity to complete the catch. Why would I reward offense (or further hurt the defense since the pass was completed) because of the defender use a crappy 'interference' technique? The pass was completed. Your interference technique sucked. Move the chains and let's go.

But, it's never this easy. Now, I step in and screw this up even more. I'm so annoyed with the calling official I'm not really paying attention to whay I'm doing. I still have it on my mind this has to be a dead-ball foul... which is enforced from the end of the run. So, I instruct the umpire to mark this off from the end of the run. WRONG.

Good thing my old crew chief was there. He stopped us before I could start the next play. We marched it back to the end of the run and I quickly announced the foul was -- declined.

Good thing the microphone was not working.

The Offensive Coach Unhappy with a DPI Call?

I worked college scrimmages, albeit inter-squad, last Thursday and Saturday.

Thursday's scrimmage only lasted about an hour. Okay, I guess, but not a lot of work for an hour drive. Our sixth official (a female) never arrived, so we did five-man mechanics. I don't think the coaches even noticed.

But the head coach was smart enough to ask an interesting question following a DPI call. Here is the scenario:

It was 2nd and 8 and a DPI was called 11 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. The pass was caught, they made the line to gain, and earned a first down. In these cases the DPI would be declined because DPI fouls within 15 yards are 'spot fouls'. There is no yardage penalty, but there is an automatic first-down at the spot of the foul. In a sense, DPI within 15 yards of the LOS, is an awarded catch. But since they made the line-to-gain there is no need for the automatic first-down. Just decline the penalty and let's get out of here.

But this cleaver coach asks - can I decline the spot foul (ignore the completed catch) and take the penalty from the previous spot? (DPI fouls beyond 15 yards are enforced from the previous spot). In other words, forgo the automatic first, but take 15 yards from the previous spot and gain 15 yards instead of 11. A net +4. He wasn't upset his man was fouled, but rather he was fouled too early. Interesting.

At certain times during the game yards are more important than and 'benefit' of an awarded catch. Its late in the game and they need yards to get close to field goal. It may be advantageous for the defense to foul if the passes are short. Better to give them the awarded catch than the chance of catching the ball and gaining even more yards.

The college rules have a bias towards punishing the defense, but in the case of DPI on short passes, the benefit may be in the favor of the defense.

Let me know what you think.

Friday night will be my first High School games for the season. I'm the White Hat for the JV game and then move to Line Judge for Varsity. I'm working with the leader of our association during the Varsity game.

As you may recall, I recently asked if I could be considered for the next available Varsity White Hat position. I think I'm being watched during the JV game... like a test. I'll let you know.