OT: extra time out for Detroit Lions yesterday...

Submitted by Wolverine Incognito on

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000060546/article/jeff-fisher-clock-operators-mistake-changed-ramslions-game

 

Apparently, at 2:38 in the 4th quarter the play clock started to run, but the game clock did not for a few seconds.  Those few seconds resulted in an extra stop of the clock for Detroit.  After rewatching the play, the official must have thought that Bradford had gone out of bounds.  It definitely looked like he did.  But the officials on the field said to run the clock.  

Interesting.  This will give the refs more ammo in negotiating, although I do not think the REAL refs are any better than the replacement refs...

BlockM

September 10th, 2012 at 10:09 PM ^

Every fan is going to think refs are terrible half the time, because in theory half the calls will go against their team.

The current NFL refs look terrible almost all the time. It takes some talent to make calls opposing fans will agree are awful on a regular basis.

EDIT: To the Toussaint point, we've concluded here that they made the correct call. We should always hope that they get the call correct. Can't bitch about the refs doing their jobs and coming up with the right call.

OmarDontScare

September 10th, 2012 at 10:27 PM ^

I actually don't think there's much of a difference between the replacement and regular refs. People seem to forget all of the missed calls the "real" refs usually make. It seems every poor call this past weekend was blamed on the fact that these are replacements when, in reality, the regular guys miss the same calls all the time. At least with replacements you don't have to deal with the monster egos of the normal guys.

Tacopants

September 11th, 2012 at 10:49 AM ^

Are you one of the people who supported the owners during the lockout?

You might think all refs are terrible, but there's usually a reason why some officals can work in the NFL and BCS level and others work Arena, D-III, and so on.  The regular refs will on occasion blow a call or miss a flag.  They usually don't botch timeout situations, 2 minute warnings, clock operations, and a whole smorgasboard of other issues that the replacement refs seem to.

And not to get too into the topic, but what the real refs are asking for makes virtually no financial impact to the NFL or its ownership.

WolverineNick

September 10th, 2012 at 10:10 PM ^

I have a big time problem with this. Sure that extra time helps Detroit, but it was 3rd and 5 or something like that and you decided not to run and threw an incomplete pass. If his so called plans for the end of the game were to run and make Detroit use their timeouts i fail to see why the clock stopping for a few seconds changed his mind. Sounds like those couple of extra seconds actually made him draw up a pass with the extra time, something he thought would work.

The credit goes to Matt Stafford and his balls of steel, for Fisher its just sour grapes.

rb4kb8

September 10th, 2012 at 10:24 PM ^

Look, Stafford deserves credit sure... But The clock should have went to the two minute warning. By forcing the Rams to run third down before the warning, it saves the Lions their final timeout for offense. Without it, the Lions don't get to use the middle of the field on offense as easily. It changes the defense. And if there's a longer play in the middle.. It takes five seconds for the line to get back set up and a snap.

Nevermind the offensive lineman that was illegally downfield on the final play. Dunbar's coverage was awful...

I'm not saying the Lions didn't play their butts off and have a great 4th quarter.. But it was aided by two blown calls and aided significantly.

Naked Bootlegger

September 11th, 2012 at 8:51 AM ^

I was wondering where the LOS exactly was on this play, too.   Apparently it was OK upon further review.   I had a momentary panic, though, watching this play live and screaming at Dom for (a) possibly going over the LOS and (b) not blocking anybody!  Maybe (b) was by design as a strategic ploy to freeze a LB?  I just don't know.

Michigan4Life

September 11th, 2012 at 6:54 PM ^

he can go 3 yards past LOS as long as he doesn't engage defender.  He moved a bit but it's a result of Kevin Smith pushing him a bit.  What Dom did was a very smart play because he knew the rule and played by the rule.  People complaining about it are just pissed that the Rams lost.

TheTeamx3

September 10th, 2012 at 11:44 PM ^

There was a play around 4 minutes left in the 4th where St. Louis ran out of bounds for a first down but the clock kept running for about 30 seconds til the next snap. So that was kind of an anti-timeout, canceling this timeout out

rb4kb8

September 11th, 2012 at 10:03 AM ^

Not going to start an internet arguement.. but if you are telling me is isn't over the 9 yard line.. you might want to get your vison checked.

Even Detroit Lions Film Study says he's illegally downfield.

But you guys posting the Calvin picture are right... that one takes the cake

All these things should even out somehow by season's end.. it's just tough for other teams especially the Rams, who need something positive, to get hosed a few times down the stretch against a great team.

Not everything needs to be looked at through Lions glasses. 

But where Dunbar was .. way back in the endzone is SOOO bad he deserves more punishment than anyone.

 

the fume

September 11th, 2012 at 12:14 PM ^

I believe lineman can go 2-3 yards down field. The fact that he is go exactly that far and no further. That was an interesting play, I didn't understand why the faked the hand-off, but maybe StL thought the same thing and forgot him as a receiver.

rb4kb8

September 11th, 2012 at 1:37 PM ^

 Lineman are not allowed to cross the line of scrimmage before a pass is thrown across the line of scrimmage.. UNLESS they are being contacted by a defender...

Unless a Rams defender is wearing Turf Green and is in front of a weather map.. that's the exact definition of Illegal man downfield.

Former Ref Jerry Markbreit responding to Chicago Tribune readers:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/cs-060208askjerrymarkbreit,0,4523567.story

On the illegal man down field penalty, how far down the field is a lineman allowed to go while the quarterback is behind the line of scrimmage? Is there anything else affecting this call? --Max Salk, Northbrook, Ill.

Under NFL rules, it is a foul when an ineligible offensive player, including a T-formation quarterback, prior to a legal forward pass advances beyond the line of scrimmage after losing contact with an opponent at the line of scrimmage. The guidline for officials to use is the offending player must be more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage prior to the pass.

Clearly he is past the LOS and clearly he is past the 9.  Refs blew it.

HAIL-YEA

September 11th, 2012 at 5:09 PM ^

the LOS is not the 9 its the 5..youre telling others to get their vision checked? Yes he was past the line but it was only 1 yard and most refs arent calling that in that situation.  And that clock issue is moot because the Lions did gett hosed of about 30 seconds when Bradford slid out of bounds and the clock kept running.  I honestly barely notice any difference with these replacement refs. Im sick of looking at the regular old dudes who care more about putting layers of makup on then getting calls right

the fume

September 11th, 2012 at 12:17 PM ^

the time out before that was a pet peeve of mine. As a defense you don't call a time out with 2:40-2:47 or so left. The time that it takes to run the next play means the clock *should* then start at 2:38 or so, meaning you've made the 2-minute warning useless and wasted a time-out. Schwartz did it against he Jets(?) a couple of years ago as well.