4 possible rule changes to speeden the game

[Stern]

I don't really have a major problem with the refs using replay as a crutch. These guys aren't
pros. Yes, they do camps and receive training and such, but this is still a part time job for them. But why does the ref have to look in the 'viewfinder' for every replay? Can't there be a guy/girl up in the press box with a couple of screens watching the broadcast that 1) signals down for a stoppage to double check a disputed play and 2) actually review the play? It seems to me that there is a lot of wasted time with the way the review process is actually done.

Since most kickoffs are touchbacks...can't they run a screen-in-screen commercial during the kickoff? IMO that would take a good 5 minutes off of the game time. Also, how much time would the running clock after a first down really shave off? They are pretty good at spotting the ball that the clock is stopped for only about 10 seconds. I understand that this adds up but I would be surprised if it amounts to 2 minutes...

NFL refs aren't pros and its a part time job for them too. Replay is the problem. They (the refs) can't just stop the game and review a call at any time, it drags the games out. What is the worst thing that can happen? A bad call...life will move on. Plus, if the call is that bad, well each coach has 2 challenges so they can uses one.

If they are serious about shaving time off the games that must be Priority #1

 

[Hoo's That]

My suggestions on our board.

Come up with a regular pattern of when TV timeouts are called, like basketball does every 4 minutes.

They seem to go to commercial whenever a player is injured and the trainers have to go onto the field. Fine. But now they lose the next change-of-possession/scoring play/end of 1st or 3rd quarter slot when they would have had a commercial break. If they stay with the game and talk, they keep the slot.

Most of the breaks seem to be 2:45 based on the countdown clock the TV sideline rep has for the refs to see.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

My suggestions on our board.

Come up with a regular pattern of when TV timeouts are called, like basketball does every 4 minutes.

They seem to go to commercial whenever a player is injured and the trainers have to go onto the field. Fine. But now they lose the next change-of-possession/scoring play/end of 1st or 3rd quarter slot when they would have had a commercial break. If they stay with the game and talk, they keep the slot.

Most of the breaks seem to be 2:45 based on the countdown clock the TV sideline rep has for the refs to see.

The last few years the countdown clock was 3:10

 

[Admiral Koga]

NFL refs aren't pros and its a part time job for them too. Replay is the problem. They (the refs) can't just stop the game and review a call at any time, it drags the games out. What is the worst thing that can happen? A bad call...life will move on. Plus, if the call is that bad, well each coach has 2 challenges so they can uses one.

If they are serious about shaving time off the games that must be Priority #1

I guess that by pros I mean that they are reviewed and trained by the league to a much greater extent than the college officials. And, maybe it just seems this way sometimes, the NFL takes its officiating much more seriously than the colleges do.

I agree about replay. It just seems to me that if someone from the booth can signal down for the refs to review the play...that someone has seen something and is likely in a better position (in the booth) to look closely at it. Instead of having the refs walk over to the sideline and look into the viewfinder. I think that two challenges would not be enough. I think that there are about 5 to 10 bad calls in a college game.

 

[All4SU]

I guess that by pros I mean that they are reviewed and trained by the league to a much greater extent than the college officials. And, maybe it just seems this way sometimes, the NFL takes its officiating much more seriously than the colleges do.

I agree about replay. It just seems to me that if someone from the booth can signal down for the refs to review the play...that someone has seen something and is likely in a better position (in the booth) to look closely at it. Instead of having the refs walk over to the sideline and look into the viewfinder. I think that two challenges would not be enough. I think that there are about 5 to 10 bad calls in a college game.

I suspect it’s human nature for fans to need to see the face of the person actually making the decision on a call. If that’s done in a booth someplace, it undermines the authority of the referee on the field. He has to be seen as the guy in charge.

 

[upperdeck]

I guess that by pros I mean that they are reviewed and trained by the league to a much greater extent than the college officials. And, maybe it just seems this way sometimes, the NFL takes its officiating much more seriously than the colleges do.

I agree about replay. It just seems to me that if someone from the booth can signal down for the refs to review the play...that someone has seen something and is likely in a better position (in the booth) to look closely at it. Instead of having the refs walk over to the sideline and look into the viewfinder. I think that two challenges would not be enough. I think that there are about 5 to 10 bad calls in a college game.

i think the biggest issue is only training Z sets of officials in the pros vs training Z x 50 sets in college.

 

[Stern]

I think that two challenges would not be enough. I think that there are about 5 to 10 bad calls in a college game.

You are never going to have a perfect game by the refs, so if there are a couple of bad calls, life will move on. It's not the end of the world. Giving each team 2 challenges will mitigate enough bad calls to where it's not a huge deal if the refs miss a couple.

Plus, not all calls are created equal; if it's 1st and 10 and a guy runs for 9, but the replay shows he should have gotten 10 yards and a first down, are you really going to review a 2nd and 1 if you're a coach? Is it worth the ref stopping the game on his own for 5 minutes to review? Or can you let that slide and just keep the game moving? This is just one example but there are plays similar to this in scope that are reviewed, and it's like, why? Or if a team is down 30-7 with 5 min to go in the game, in reality, the game is over, are we really going to review if a guy got 1 foot down or not? Today we do silly stuff like this and it makes no sense. Just live with the call on the field and keep the game moving its a blowout!

That's where the issue is; it's meaningless plays that don't matter are being reviewed when they don't need to be, and it has no impact on the big picture or outcome of the game. The coaches are going to be smart enough to save their challenges for the big plays that impact the game that they need to review. Plus, you have all scoring and turnovers reviewed automatically...after that, gotta just live with the human element of this stuff.