Month: September 2016

Typical 1st week.  Our first real look at the starting lineups.  We didn’t really know what to look for.  Now we have an idea what to expect next week.  Don’t forget a couple of the losses this week were due to coaching errors.  Some due to offensive and defensive miscues, which one might expect in the first game.  There will always be these mistakes.  But those mistakes should lessen as time goes on. NOTES:  THIS WEEK THERE WERE 3 GAMES DECIDED BY 1 MERE POINT.  2 GAMES BY 2 POINTS.  1 OVERTIME GAME. Here is a list of the rule changes, as I understand them.   Extra Points Permanently Moved Back. Last year was a 1-year trial run for extra points being moved from the 2- to the 15-yard line. This year, the vote was to make the change permanent, Press Box Coach-to-Player Communication. In the past, coaches in the press box could not talk to  players with the communication system directly. The coach in the press box had to radio down to the sideline; then the coach on the sideline could relay it to the player. Now, teams have the option of the “box coach” talking directly to the players.  The hope here is to have  fewer delay of game issues? Chop Blocks Are Eliminated. Chop blocks are now illegal, However,  you can still go low if a defensive player engages you first. (This may change some teams’ playbooks on offense, but shouldn’t have a major impact. (Defenders, might feel safer about their lower legs.) Ejection for Certain Unsportsmanlike Penalties. This was passed for a one-year trial run. (Shouldn’t this be at the Official’s descretion). Hopefully this will not come up more than 2-3 times during the season.  I look for it to be tossed next season.  I do not know what the Certain Unsportsmanlike actions will be.  But to call for EJECTION, they must be pretty severe. Touchbacks Now Come Out to the 25. I see this as an attempt to eliminate run backs.  After it is rare when someone ran it back for 25 yards.  I didn’t even like it coming out to the 20.  It is like a free play. NOW that fictionalplay will get you down 25% of the field.  Let’s just make the field 75 yards long?  The challenge will now be for the KICKER to kick HIGH and SHORT  . This proposal passed for a one-year trial run as well. I think the fans will not take to this rule. ( I think moving the kickoff to the ten yard line would be more acceptable). Horse Collar Expanded. The horse collar penalties have been expanded to a little below the neck area of the jersey; grabbing anywhere near the name area and yanking the player down will be an infraction moving forward.    I don’t see the reasoning behind this.  I suppose it is to give the officials a little leeway.  One way to interpret this rule, (I suppose), would be….PLAYERS MAY USE THE HORSE COLLAR TO   S..L..O..W   THE RUNNER;  THEN SLIDE DOWN AND MAKE THE TACKLE  JUST DON’T PUT HIM TO GROUND WHILE IN THE HIGH AREA.  (Heck, next year it may be illegal to touch a player above the waist). Five Yard Penalty for Excess Timeout. If a team tries to call a timeout when they don’t have one, there will be a delay of game penalty called on them. This could work either way.  Penalty OR benefit,  (Example in a two minute drill?  just saying)  I think if they are going to hae this rule it should be at last a TEN yard penalty.  (Or, just for the heck of it let’s make it a 7 1/2 yard penalty.  Add a little twist to the game. Illegal Touching Penalty. Previously, if a player went out of bounds and then caught a pass, it’s not a legal catch. The offending team would be penalized five yards, but would repeat the down. Now, with the new rule, the offending team will not be penalized in yardage, but they will lose the down.   Thus ruled as an incomplete pass. Double Foul Issue: A. If there is a double foul during a down in which there is a change of possession, THE team last gaining position may keep the ball UNLESS, its’ foul was committed prior to the change of possesion. B. If a double foul occurs after a change of possession, The DEFENSIVE team retains the ball at the spot of its’  foul or dead ball spot. C.  If one of the double foul involves disqualification, that player must be removed, fut no penalty yardage is to be assessed. D. If the kickers foul during a kickoff, punt, safety kick, or field goal attempt before possession changes, the receivers will have the option of replaing the down at the previous spot (offsetting fouls), or keeping the ball after enforcement for its foul.                                                                        (Please feel free to do your own interpretation of this rule.  I figure the officials will have to huddle to decipher this one.  BUT  how often do you see a double foul called)? Re-Signing Player With Injury Settlement. Teams can reach injury settlements with players to waive them. Basically, if a team meant to sign a player for one week but they suffer an ankle injury, for roster flexibility, they can reach an injury settlement for four weeks of pay if that is how long they feel it would’ve taken the player to heal. PER the old rule said that if you wanted to re-sign that player, you had to wait six weeks after the end of the injury settlement time. Now, that period is shortened to three weeks. Short-Term IR Change. In the past, teams could designate one player to return from injured reserve. Teams were often in a predicament with regard to which player they should give the designation to,… Continue reading NFL CONFIDENCE PICKS Week 2 09-15-18-19-2016