Pass interference calls make pro and college football practically unwatchable.
Pass interference calls
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Whatever the rules are, on every play they seem to be subject to the unique interpretation of the individual official. It varies from incidental, inadvertent touching being called at times, while mugging are ignored on others. The only fairly constant appears to be if you don’t turn your head you’ll draw a flag.
Three yards and a cloud of dust. Ban the forward pass.
What I hate is the under thrown pass where the receiver stops so the defender runs into him. I don’t think that should be interference. There is literally no way the DB can avoid contact
agree with that 100%, and also believe we need tougher enforcement of DBs contact on WRs coming off the line and up the field. too many hands.
Is pass interference reviewable by the refs? If not, then it holds by the discretion of the ref who called it!
In the NFL the penalty is a spot foul so it can be at times a 40 or 50 yard penalty. I often wonder if the NFL should be like college and make defensive pass interference a 15 yard penalty.
Interesting question. Probably good arguments on both sides. I agree that a 40 to 50 yard penalty is problematic especially on ticky tack calls. On the end, given the skill level in the NFL, is making it only a 15 yard penalty an invitation for DBs to simply interfere with receivers when they know they are beat?
As the rule is written, PI is agnostic to whether either player is offense or defense. However, infractions seem to have an inherent bias toward being called on defenders.
I think too often that "inherent bias" also depends on whether the helmet worn by the WR/DB is a generic white one or not.
I don't get the "turn your head". I thought in college it is OK to block the recievers vision (while this is not OK in the NFL). Therefore not turning your head should be no considered in pass interference. And I support danvillenit comment about an underthrown pass.
Agree with the four of you (and likely others), who all seem to express the same sentiment, albeit in different ways: the most significant issue is that the pass interference penalty enforcement is INCONSISTENT.I think too often that "inherent bias" also depends on whether the helmet worn by the WR/DB is a generic white one or not.
Nohow has a good point also...offensive holding is often just as inconsistent (and arbitrary).
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It appears that having a scouting report on ref crews tendencies would be a smart move, if it isn't already occurring. Understanding the way a crews calls certain situations would be helpful for in game strategy, imo. One thing that is certain, odd calls seem to be negative on PSU players over the years. Merry Christmas to all.
The PI that put me over the edge to start the thread was in the Bills-Bucs game. It was in OT and the ball was under-thrown.
It seems like with every pass that is thrown, we hold our breath on whether a flag will be thrown. The judgment aspect of the call is maddening. I'm not sure how it can be addressed, but it is inconsistently applied. I would like the NFL to adopt the college rule of limiting the damage to be a 15-yd penalty (or maybe take the spot of the foul and divide by 2).
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