Roughing the Passer - One to watch?

[London Loves Luke]

We know there were a couple of borderline Roughing the Passer calls last week and in the Ravens game last night. Thomas DeCoud being one last Sunday and last night Courtney Upshaw another on 3rd down for the Ravens. Both times the Quarterback might have been judged as "in possession" in previous seasons (in Roethlisberger's case he was still holding the ball) and was met with an acceptable shoulder to the torso tackle. 

 

Worryingly, the Week 1 numbers prove that this season the Roughing the Passer call could be a game changing factor unless defenses start paying attention:

 

in 2013 there were 90 total RTP penalties throughout the season, and the Panthers only collected 2 on the way to a league leading 60 sacks. (http://www.nflpenalties.com/penalty/roughing-the-passer?&year=2013)

 

in 2014 there have been 11 in one week which extrapolated out could lead to 176 throughout the season. Carolina already has 1 in Week 1, and looking through the other teams that have collected one so far, there seems to be a clear correlation between teams with a strong pass rush and penalties collected: New England, Cincy, Houston, Carolina, St Louis: http://www.nflpenalties.com/penalty/roughing-the-passer?&year=2014.

 

So is this a week 1 coincidence? Or something that the strongest D-Line in the league needs to address?

 

I say we need to look it at soon as possible, or our critical 3rd and out defensive plays could be turning into 15 for the enemy. 

 

[ThPantherFan]

The league is trying to make the field a safer environment.  In some areas, yes, we need to address that issue.  However, is the face of football going to change where people lose interest?  Could be heading that way.  Any of you ever played Rugby?

[Panthers8969]

It's honestly bs. Coaches need to be able to challenge penalties. Totally clean hits get flagged if they just look like big hits. It's bs. Goodell needs to gtfo

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[CardiacCat]

It's honestly bs. Coaches need to be able to challenge penalties. Totally clean hits get flagged if they just look like big hits. It's bs. Goodell needs to gtfo

Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

This forum is getting more amusing by the minute .....

[London Loves Luke]

The league is trying to make the field a safer environment.  In some areas, yes, we need to address that issue.  However, is the face of football going to change where people lose interest?  Could be heading that way.  Any of you ever played Rugby?

 

I've played alot of rugby, and the tackling style in NFL has moved towards and now almost beyond the safe "rugby style" of tackling (shoulder first and wrapping arms around the legs/body). I cant remember who but one of the Ravens corners was penalised for a hard shoulder first contact on a Steelers reciever yesterday. Was a ludicrous decision and in my eyes is a step way too far.   

[B.BERSIN]

Penalties or not will always be the X-factor of the game. 

[OneBadCat]

This forum is getting more amusing by the minute .....

 

What's so amusing about that?  I take it you liked the officials cheating us out of the playoffs? 

[London Loves Luke]

It's honestly bs. Coaches need to be able to challenge penalties. Totally clean hits get flagged if they just look like big hits. It's bs. Goodell needs to gtfo

Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

 

I'd be all for challenge penalties, but it would take ages to get a consistent standard around contact to be enforceable by video. 

[Panthers_Rake]

RtP is totally awful! But helmet to helmet designed hit to concuss a wide receiver to cause a turn over that is replayed 50 times on national television... No penalty!

[Panthers_Rake]

It's honestly bs. Coaches need to be able to challenge penalties. Totally clean hits get flagged if they just look like big hits. It's bs. Goodell needs to gtfo

Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

Nah I don't think coaches should be able to challenge but I think anything from PI to face masks, to roughings to Unsportsmens should be booth reviewed. They got them in the mic system already just add in the after the fact eyes. 

 

Obviously not on things like false starts, offensive holdings, encroachments, offsides, etc that are easy to see for the refs. But anything major.

 

Instance: What look liked a durty hit on a QB by a DE flag thrown, refs discuss. while they discuss booth guy reviews says "from what I see looked clean full rap up, no way to stop his forward moment. no aggressive intent." Ref says cool, "No penalty!"

[Panthers8969]

This forum is getting more amusing by the minute .....

Lol