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ATLANTA -- The NFL umpire has moved out from behind the defense where he was getting trampled and is now positioned behind the offense.
Many people think that is going to result in more calls for offensive holding in the NFL this season. The cop is on the other side of the tracks.
There might be more offensive holding calls, but that's not the real issue for Falcons center Todd McClure.
The real issue is the center getting mugged and kept off the linebackers. There is no one there to call defensive holding.
McClure said it was not a particular problem Thursday night against the Patriots, but the previous week against the Chiefs he was held up, sometimes by two linemen, and a linebacker was free to run right into the ball carrier.
McClure turned to an umpire and said, "They're holding."
The umpire said, "If I can't see it, I'm not calling it."
Asked if the defense will start scheming to hold more if they can get away with it, McClure said, "You bet."
Here is the other issue: that umpire better have a good 40 time ... backpedaling.
Inside two minutes, when teams are expected to be in a two-minute offense, the umpire gets back behind the defense. But the Falcons got into a no huddle offense. The ball had to be spotted.
It was a problem just one time for the Falcons because the offense was not hurry up, it was just no huddle. The defense is still allowed to get a sub on the field before the ball is released to the center. Still, if the Falcons do want to get a quick play, the umpire has to get out of their way.
Matt Ryan, the Falcons quarterback, said the rule change, so far, has not affected the rhythm of the offense when it does not huddle. That's a good thing because the Falcons' no huddle looks like their best offense.
Ryan is up there, making a call, and spreading the ball around. I do not like the plays from the sideline. There is no variety. I'm getting tired of passes to the tight end. Throw the thing downfield, for goodness sakes.
Here is a new wrinkle to the Falcons offense: Michael Turner catching passes out of the backfield.
Here's why it works. On first and second down there is some depth to the defense's pass coverage, usually. If the receivers are running defenders up the field, Turner is coming out of the backfield. The difference this year, as opposed to last year, is he is lighter and getting out there quicker. Turner is making himself available to catch the pass and he's not dropping it.
Offenses Wary of Defenses Exploiting New Position of Umpires
Aug 20, 2010 – 12:16 PM
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