Steelers owner concerned with number of preseason penalties

[stillthere]

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2014/8/27/6073749/nfl-penalties-steelers-art-rooney-concerned

While the NFL preseason has never exactly been exciting, the increased penalties in this year's crop of games has made it almost unwatchable, prompting concern from Steelers co-owner and president Art Rooney II.

NFL fans haven't been pleased with the amount of penalties seen during this year's preseason games. With an added emphasis on calling illegal contact more than five yards from the line of scrimmage, referees have been throwing flags at an almost unwatchable rate.

And now you can count Pittsburgh Steelers co-owner and president Art Rooney II among those who harbor the same sentiment.

Rooney probably has a legitimate gripe; the Steelers were flagged six times for illegal contact or pass interference in last Thursday's 31-21 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. That added up to a total of 13 penalties against them in that particular game.

Rooney told ESPN.com that there's a concern around the league about the increase in penalties, but hopes to see a return to a normal amount when the games actually mean something.

"I don't think anybody's trying to increase the number of penalties or the number of stoppages in games. It will go up and down depending on a game, but on the whole I think we need to hopefully get back to something that's more like we had last year in terms of number of penalties per game."

The silver lining here is that, yes, this is the preseason, and the increase in penalties could simply be the officials' way of putting defenses -- and players in the secondary, specifically -- on notice. But there's no denying that this year's crop of preseason games have hardly resembled the version of football we know.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he was pleased with the way his defensive backs have adjusted to the increase of flags, but if the trend continues into the regular season, he might change his tune. And you can bet Rooney won't end up being the only owner speaking out on it.

[Fury]

The owners asked for it or supported it.

[Legacy User]

Meddling bastard...

[Nick79]

If he can't change it, he should instruct his coaches to create game plans and call plays to take full advantage of it.

[Legacy User]

If he can't change it, he should instruct his coaches to create game plans and call plays to take full advantage of it.

Pass on every down. Bound to get a call. I like it Nick.

[Nick79]

If he can't change it, he should instruct his coaches to create game plans and call plays to take full advantage of it.

Pass on every down. Bound to get a call. I like it Nick.

Not every down of course, I never said that. I am saying what makes sense, the league wants passing and scoring, the league is constantly tweaking the rules to favor that, so being pass 1st, is common sense and it equals taking fullest adavantage of the rules, I can't see a valid argument to go against the grain.

[Legacy User]

If he can't change it, he should instruct his coaches to create game plans and call plays to take full advantage of it.

Pass on every down. Bound to get a call. I like it Nick.

Not every down of course, I never said that. I am saying what makes sense, the league wants passing and scoring, the league is constantly tweaking the rules to favor that, so being pass 1st, is common sense and it equals taking fullest adavantage of the rules, I can't see a valid argument to go against the grain.

You are ok with an occasional handoff?

[bradshaw2ben]

Nick actually likes the run-- are you not familiar with his entire lexicon.

If it is what works best, then it doesn't matter run nor pass to Nick. He's just vehemently (some would say psychotically) opposed to forcing it to happen.

Organic offense.

[Nick79]

Nick actually likes the run-- are you not familiar with his entire lexicon.

If it is what works best, then it doesn't matter run nor pass to Nick. He's just vehemently (some would say psychotically) opposed to forcing it to happen.

Organic offense.

Exactly, if they switch back to 1974 rules, lets dust off the Franco and Rocky play book, sign a couple Mark Brueners and "Pawnd da Rock"... But with the rules they have now and will continue to move to, why buck them over an OBSESSION to run like it's 1974? Go with the flow. WHY NOT? Give a good reason why you wouldn't? Why is running so important to some? If the rules are made specifically to facilitate easier ball movement down the field if you are pass 1st, why would you even consider being run 1st?

[Legacy User]

Nick actually likes the run-- are you not familiar with his entire lexicon.

If it is what works best, then it doesn't matter run nor pass to Nick. He's just vehemently (some would say psychotically) opposed to forcing it to happen.

Organic offense.

Exactly, if they switch back to 1974 rules, lets dust off the Franco and Rocky play book, sign a couple Mark Brueners and "Pawnd da Rock"... But with the rules they have now and will continue to move to, why buck them over an O
BSESSION to run like it's 1974? Go with the flow. WHY NOT? Give a good reason why you wouldn't? Why is running so important to some? If the rules are made specifically to facilitate easier ball movement down the field if you are pass 1st, why would you even consider being run 1st?

Why even have roster spots occupied by running backs?

5 wide all day. Open this shit up.

Cut Bell, Blount and the garbage behind them and add some long snappers, punters and a kick off specialist.

I'm on board.

[Nick79]

Nick actually likes the run-- are you not familiar with his entire lexicon.

If it is what works best, then it doesn't matter run nor pass to Nick. He's just vehemently (some would say psychotically) opposed to forcing it to happen.

Organic offense.

Exactly, if they switch back to 1974 rules, lets dust off the Franco and Rocky play book, sign a couple Mark Brueners and "Pawnd da Rock"... But with the rules they have now and will continue to move to, why buck them over an O
BSESSION to run like it's 1974? Go with the flow. WHY NOT? Give a good reason why you wouldn't? Why is running so important to some? If the rules are made specifically to facilitate easier ball movement down the field if you are pass 1st, why would you even consider being run 1st?

Why even have roster spots occupied by running backs?

5 wide all day. Open this shit up.

Cut Bell, Blount and the garbage behind them and add some long snappers, punters and a kick off specialist.

I'm on board.

If it get's to that sure, as the rules stand now, there is still room for running the ball, you know, about as much as they passed it in the 1970s, as a change of pace, but not as a primary philosophy.

[Legacy User]

SS and SF led the NFL at about 55% run, 45% pass...and they look like the top 2 teams in the NFL again.

[bradshaw2ben]

SS and SF led the NFL at about 55% run, 45% pass...and they look like the top 2 teams in the NFL again.

both have running QBs, which greatly skews the numbers-- although I suspect Seattle is going to throw the ball much more this year

Seattle might have the best offense in the NFL right now.

Additionally, if you consider the efficacy vs. the talent level, I'd say their scheme and coaching is as good as anyone, including Philly and Denver.

[Legacy User]

Nick actually likes the run-- are you not familiar with his entire lexicon.

If it is what works best, then it doesn't matter run nor pass to Nick. He's just vehemently (some would say psychotically) opposed to forcing it to happen.

Organic offense.

Exactly, if they switch back to 1974 rules, lets dust off the Franco and Rocky play book, sign a couple Mark Brueners and "Pawnd da Rock"... But with the rules they have now and will continue to move to, why buck them over an O
BSESSION to run like it's 1974? Go with the flow. WHY NOT? Give a good reason why you wouldn't? Why is running so important to some? If the rules are made specifically to facilitate easier ball movement down the field if you are pass 1st, why would you even consider being run 1st?

Why even have roster spots occupied by running backs?

5 wide all day. Open this shit up.

Cut Bell, Blount and the garbage behind them and add some long snappers, punters and a kick off specialist.

I'm on board.

I like it. I ride, bitches!

[Nick79]

SS and SF led the NFL at about 55% run, 45% pass...and they look like the top 2 teams in the NFL again.

both have running QBs, which greatly skews the numbers-- although I suspect Seattle is going to throw the ball much more this year

Seattle might have the best offense in the NFL right now.

Additionally, if you consider the efficacy vs. the talent level, I'd say their scheme and coaching is as good as anyone, including Philly and Denver.

This^^^

How much of that 55% was a called pass play that their mobile QB decided to take off on?

How many QBs can keep that up long term in their careers?

[Legacy User]

SS and SF led the NFL at about 55% run, 45% pass...and they look like the top 2 teams in the NFL again.

both have running QBs, which greatly skews the numbers-- although I suspect Seattle is going to throw the ball much more this year

Seattle might have the best offense in the NFL right now.

Additionally, if you consider the efficacy vs. the talent level, I'd say their scheme and coaching is as good as anyone, including Philly and Denver.

This^^^

How much of that 55% was a called pass play that their mobile QB decided to take off on?

How many QBs can keep that up long term in their careers?

It doesn't skew anything. A rush is a rush...and at a glance I think both these QBs have a run/pass option on every roll out and every time either see's man coverage...not to mention designed runs and read option.

In any case Carolina and Philly were 5 and 6 at 50%...that's 4 out of 5 of the top NFL teams top 6 in percentage of rush attempts...so it's pretty obvious that the pocket QB isn't getting it done and the best teams are running it half the time or more.

I think the hags will be less then mediocre on offense...I don't think much of the Bears or Chargers, nothing vs Denver.

[Nick79]

It doesn't skew anything. A rush is a rush...and at a glance I think both these QBs have a run/pass option on every roll out and every time either see's man coverage...not to mention designed runs and read option.

In any case Carolina and Philly were 5 and 6 at 50%...that's 4 out of 5 of the top NFL teams top 6 in percentage of rush attempts...so it's pretty obvious that the pocket QB isn't getting it done and the best teams are running it half the time or more.

I think the hags will be less then mediocre on offense...I don't think much of the Bears or Chargers, nothing vs Denver.

So if that's true, the long term "franchise QB" pocket passers, like Peyton, Ben, Marino & Elway who last for 14-15 years may become obsolete and the thing will be to find a Kaepernick or Wilson that will get you a solid 5 years of run/pass option before they get too beat up to be effective. Even with this, it isn't lining up a tail back behind a big FB and pounding the rock.

[bradshaw2ben]

I think the hags will be less then mediocre on offense

I smell an avatar bet

if Wilson stays healthy, they're going to light teams up, just like they did in the Super Bowl. They are now operating like a machine and the development of Christine Michael is just the rich getting richer. They have a Top 5 QB, the best or nearly the best RB, and extremely underrated receivers.

[Legacy User]

I think the hags will be less then mediocre on offense

I smell an avatar bet

if Wilson stays healthy, they're going to light teams up, just like they did in the Super Bowl. They are now operating like a machine and the development of Christine Michael is just the rich getting richer. They have a Top 5 QB, the best or nearly the best RB, and extremely underrated receivers.

But we have a D you can run on all day long. And an offense with one proven NFL level WR. WE also have Jarvis Jones, a feared pass rusher. An overpaid center who can't anchor but he's fast and can pull like nobody's business. An aging QB who will still have to rely on his quick feet to stay alive at 32 yrs. old.

So take that, SEattle!

[Steelafan77]

The owners asked for it or supported it.

This^

Now is not the time to contradict yourself. You knew when extending goofwell the asshat-nificent what the plans to the NFL's future was. Cry me a river.