Upon Further Review
Over the past week, NFL coaches and executives have gathered at the posh Biltmore resort in Phoenix to discuss a number of wide-ranging topics, including improving the in-stadium experience on game day, PR strategy, and moving a team or two to Los Angeles. Between their rounds of golf, the NFL’s competition committee has made a few decisions about some rule changes that will take effect this coming season.
The committee was faced with a number of proposals to change the instant replay format, including allowing coaches to challenge any play or penalty except scoring plays. According to BaltimoreRavens.com, since the dawn of the John Harbaugh era, the Ravens have challenged more plays, and had more plays overturned on replay, than any other team in the NFL. So allowing coaches additional leeway to throw the red flag would do nothing but help the purple and black.
However, with the exception of considering a few additional camera angles and allowing coaches to use replay to challenge the game or play clock near the end of each half, these proposals have suffered the fate of the Jacksonville Jaguars in recent years.
But there is one rule change in which Ravens fans will rejoice (or fret that it came 3 months too late) – the NFL has banned players from wearing the number of an eligible receiver to report as ineligible and line up outside the tackle box. Anyone whose local bar celebrates Purple Friday will remember that the New England Patriots used this exact bit of (legal…at the time) trickery to confuse the Ravens defense in this year’s divisional playoff game, leading to a late touchdown and an eventual come-from-behind win.
For those who need a refresher, a good breakdown of the series in question can be found HERE. In 2015, any offense attempt the same stunt will be awarded with a five yard illegal substitution penalty.
John Harbaugh rightly described the Patriots’ offensive scheme as “clearly deception,” to which Tom Brady replied, “Maybe [the Ravens] gotta study the rule book and figure it out.”
Before they step foot on the field for the 2015 season, Brady and the Patriots are now the ones who have a little homework to do.
