Chains

[billyb]

Frank,
Not too many people think about the initial placement of the chains after a first down, when the chains are moved. They are placed where the official shows them, usually by putting his foot where he wants the tip of the chain.
Well, the front of the shoe is rounded, not pointed, so that may be and inch or so from where the ball actually is. And the official, when placing his foot, where he want the chains, may also be off by an inch or more.
So when a team comes up an inch short, or makes it by an inch, it may have been due to the fact of a poor initial chain placement. But we will have to live that fact, as it would just take the flow away from the game, to try and accurately get that initial chain spotted correctly. Because even if the chain was off by an inch, it is the same for every play for both teams, so long at the initial chain placement is accurate it would be fair.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by billyb

Frank,
Not too many people think about the initial placement of the chains after a first down, when the chains are moved. They are placed where the official shows them, usually by putting his foot where he wants the tip of the chain.
Well, the front of the shoe is rounded, not pointed, so that may be and inch or so from where the ball actually is. And the official, when placing his foot, where he want the chains, may also be off by an inch or more.
So when a team comes up an inch short, or makes it by an inch, it may have been due to the fact of a poor initial chain placement. But we will have to live that fact, as it would just take the flow away from the game, to try and accurately get that initial chain spotted correctly. Because even if the chain was off by an inch, it is the same for every play for both teams, so long at the initial chain placement is accurate it would be fair.

I hear you, but please elaborate on your so-called "flow of the game" as it pertains to a 3 minute booth review. The two hour game of fifty years ago had a lot of flow and far fewer commercials.

[Runscott]

Bill, I see it as all being part of the game - humans make the decisions. Also keep in mind that the play that is called, the effort exerted by the player with the ball, even the path he takes as he runs...all are based on where the ball is spotted before each play, not where the initial chain was placed. And then, once again, it's human judgement at the end of the play.

Let humans just make the decisions and make mistakes, as humans always have done.

[billyb]

Frank,
I agree with you, games lost their flow, compared to fifty years ago.
Perhaps, I should have stated, that it may interfere with what is left, of any flow to the game.

Bill

[billyb]

Scott,
I do agree with you about letting the officials handle the game. I am not really complaining about how the chains are handled. It is best just to keep the momentum going. So I can put up with an inch here or there. It all comes out pretty even.
To make everything exact, the game would take forever to play. This was just my 2 cents about the handling of the chains. A part of the game that will be handle the same way forever.

[clydepepper]

regardless of anything said in this thread so far...we keep watching...

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

regardless of anything said in this thread so far...we keep watching...

.......chained to the tube.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

.......chained to the tube.

...and it sure hurt yesterday