For a few years it seemed the most controversial call in football was Pass Interference, probably because it is so conspicuous and can have such a huge impact on a game. We couldn't ever tell what was PI and what wasn't due to how inconsistently the penalty was called. It seems to be being called more consistently these days, and much less controversial than in the past.
But now, it seems Holding is the penalty that is causing confusion. I've heard fans say "the new way to block is to hold," suggesting people watching the games see holding happening all the time, but rarely see it called. At the same time, we see it called and think "how is that holding... that wasn't even as bad as that other one that wasn't called." IOW, there is more confusion over what is and isn't Holding than I can remember. It seems to me that ever since Chip Kelly started influencing the game, more holds happen on outside runs. Sometimes its called, and others not. I'd love to re-watch Oregon games with refs and ask them how many more holds they should have called in their games.
In any case, what do you guys think? Do you feel you know what Holding is and isn't, and do you think its being called more inconsistently now than in the past?
But now, it seems Holding is the penalty that is causing confusion. I've heard fans say "the new way to block is to hold," suggesting people watching the games see holding happening all the time, but rarely see it called. At the same time, we see it called and think "how is that holding... that wasn't even as bad as that other one that wasn't called." IOW, there is more confusion over what is and isn't Holding than I can remember. It seems to me that ever since Chip Kelly started influencing the game, more holds happen on outside runs. Sometimes its called, and others not. I'd love to re-watch Oregon games with refs and ask them how many more holds they should have called in their games.
In any case, what do you guys think? Do you feel you know what Holding is and isn't, and do you think its being called more inconsistently now than in the past?
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