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Something is wrong with players or coaches
By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal sports columnist
Published on Tuesday, Oct 07, 2008
I happened to flip by the Pittsburgh Steelers-Jacksonville Jaguars game Sunday night and somebody on the Jaguars had just been penalized.
John Madden was apoplectic, which is never a pretty sight.
Al Michaels was worse.
The defensive back had been flagged for bending over a Steelers receiver after an incompletion and yelling something at him. He properly was penalized 15 yards for taunting.
Terry Pluto, my friend and colleague who now works for another newspaper, always would look at me during Browns games and marvel at the penalties. The fourth illegal procedure inevitably would prompt him to say that he didn't see that at Mount Union games.
It happened so often that it got irritating, so I banned him from bringing up Mount Union.
This was a classic case of shooting the messenger. Clearly, the problem was caused by the play of the professionals.
Let's consider one fact: The Browns were penalized four times against the Bengals in Cincinnati for lining up offside on defense.
I went to the University of Akron-Kent State game Saturday. No one lined up offside.
There were 157 plays, and not once did a guy on defense line up on the wrong side of the line of scrimmage.
If a kid in college can do it right, why can't the pros?
Every team makes mistakes. Every one of us makes mistakes. But the great majority of penalties at Kent were effort mistakes — holding and the like.
Ohio State ran 59 plays against Wisconsin and had five penalties. One was a false start — and the Buckeyes have a freshman quarterback.
The pros just keep getting penalized more and more, for more and more inexplicable things.
A few years back, the Browns repeatedly were penalized when a guard moved before the snap. Then-quarterback Jeff Garcia was asked about that, and he said there's no excuse for a guard to move because he's right next to the ball.
Yet this season, the Browns thrice have seen guards flagged for false starts. Two of them happened on the same possession.
Yes, the Browns punted. And on the punt, they were penalized 15 yards for a personal foul.
The Browns actually have quite a laundry list of penalties. They include:
• A delay of game when they tried to line up for a final-play kneel-down against the Bengals.
• An illegal formation on a punt.
• An illegal formation on a kickoff.
• An illegal formation trying to block an extra point. Shaun Rogers lined up over the center, which is not allowed.
• A block in the back and a late hit on a block by receiver Braylon Edwards.
The Browns' defensive line has been consistent: That unit has been penalized eight times for lining up in the neutral zone.
All told, the Browns have been penalized 37 times in four games, tied for third highest in the league. But the two teams ahead of the Browns have played five games; the Browns have played four.
Browns fans will wail that it's all coaching and that coach Romeo Crennel ought to go work at a muffler shop. Please. What coach in his right mind teaches or accepts guys making the same mistakes over and over?
Since 1999, penalties have been a tradition for the Browns, no matter the coach, general manager or players.
The Browns have averaged 6.3 penalties per game in the ''new Browns'' era, and in six of their nine seasons, have committed more penalties than their opposition. Only once in those years did they have fewer than 92 penalties.
Either something is very wrong with the way NFL players play the game, or something is wrong with the way games are officiated.
''I am not sure I have an answer,'' said one NFL insider, a coaching type. ''Clearly, the college game lets the players play a little more. There is such scrutiny on every play, we may be guilty of over-officiating a little. That certainly doesn't account for all of it.
''Players may have more on their minds at this level.''
More on their minds?
Maybe about their next game of Madden.
''It's a different game than college,'' said another league insider. ''It's faster. Guys jump offside because the guy across from them is better and they're trying to gain an advantage they may or may not have.
''Then there's the crowd, the noise. Try to write what you're writing with 60,000 people yelling and screaming at you.''
But what about lining up four times in the neutral zone?
''A good official will warn a guy and tell him to move back,'' he said.
Here's the thing: NFL players do nothing else but play and work at football. Their entire day is structured around studying the game and the opponent and their play. Every step they take at practice is scrutinized, for crying out loud.
Football is all they do.
''Damnedest thing in the world,'' said another insider. ''They're there all day in meetings, studying and all that, and these things still happen.''
Is it really too much to ask for a better quality of play?
Patrick McManamon can be reached at pmcmanamon@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/.
I happened to flip by the Pittsburgh Steelers-Jacksonville Jaguars game Sunday night and somebody on the Jaguars had just been penalized.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 08:54 AM, 10/07/2008
Patrick...neutral zone penalties could have a number of reasons. I believe the Pros line-up on the man across from them more so than the actual position of the ball at the LOS. You stated one of the reasons above... a talented player across the neutral zone. Many times the O Line is lined up very deep & illegally... back off the ball & LOS...sometimes the officials call it...and sometimes they don't. It seems like a game within a game... of creeping back as far as possible away from the ball/LOS to match up better with defenders who are quicker by nature than the O linemen.
I also think Pro players have their heads full of stunts and strategy and lil nuances they are trying to exploit based on the opponents tendencies via the infamous film study & day long coaching.
A clear head always performs quicker and faster in athletics and displays itself as "confidence & swagger". As maddening as these silly penalties are...I think it shows a Team is still learning and growing as opposed to having arrived as a successful program.
Winning Teams are statistically ahead in most every category measured, including having less penalties. So when the penalties go way down we will know that the Browns have finally arrived.
Port Saint Lucie, Fl
Posted 09:05 AM, 10/07/2008
The NFL should stop over officiating as mentioned in your article.Let the players play and only call penalties when they are blatant.If someone commits an infraction(away from the play) and it does not affect the play ,give him a warning.One more thing,pass interference should be a major 15yd.penalty,not a spot foul. kp
Galt, CA
Posted 10:39 AM, 10/07/2008
My guess is that there is so much trash talking and show-boating going on during these games that these guys are thinking more about what they are going to say to the opponent(s)and how creatively celebrate so they can get their jersey or faces on Sportscenter than they are with anything else.
If they would just shut up and concentrate on their role in the scheme and on the team job and play the game, a lot of mistakes could be eliminated.
pat, you forgot the other great piece of wisdom from your collegue--don't let the millionaires ruin your day.
Posted 12:07 PM, 10/07/2008
I just think it's lack of heart. Some, not all, players in this generation don't play with a lot of heart. A lot of them could care less what happens because they're getting paid anyway.
I support that statement by referring to the infamous "contract year" situations that tend to show up from time to time. Play lights out last year, signed a $50 million contract, now his pinky finger hurts so he'll beout this game.
Posted 11:27 PM, 10/08/2008
lots of penalties for the browns ain't nuttin new, michael dean perry lined up offside more than they are today.
