Alarming Officiating Trends
I was just watching the Michigan Podcast and came across some alarming statistics. We all know we have felt like we are getting a raw deal this year with penalties. Here is some data from the podcast. UM is dead last in the Big Ten in the number of penalties called against them this year. That means they get more penalties called against them than any other team in the B1G. Their opponents are ranked 13 out of 14 teams in penalties against them. That means that UM is getting the most penalties called against them while their opponents are getting the second fewest number of penalties called against them. In 2016 UM was second to last in penalties called against them and their opponents had the fewest of any team in the B1G in penalties called against them. Also, Rashan Gary, who is widely recognized as one of the best pass rushers in the country, has only had one holding call go against his offensive line counterparts. This is really alarming.
I know this blog as been vocal in the past and made a difference in getting people to pay attention to problems with Michigan sports ala Dave Brandon and Brady Hoke’s handling of Shane Morris’ concussion. Is there anything we can do as a community to bring some of this information to light? Here’s a link to the episode of the Michigan Podcast discussing it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_Hklwgd_EQ
November 10th, 2017 at 9:47 AM ^
November 9th, 2017 at 8:58 PM ^
November 10th, 2017 at 7:56 AM ^
November 10th, 2017 at 9:50 AM ^
November 10th, 2017 at 1:35 PM ^
November 9th, 2017 at 8:59 PM ^
November 9th, 2017 at 8:59 PM ^
November 9th, 2017 at 9:00 PM ^
Or maybe a teacher at school
November 9th, 2017 at 9:01 PM ^
November 9th, 2017 at 9:17 PM ^
November 9th, 2017 at 9:41 PM ^
They went over the calls that were actually made during the game, not the non-calls. The problem we - as Michigan fans (and presumably coaches) - have is with the non-calls. Pretty much all of which went against Michigan (ie: would have been called on OSU). If we could get the B1G, or any national outlet, to look at that mix tape, we might get some traction. Unfortunately, we lost, so it's just sour grapes in the mids of the non-UM world.
BTW, the spot was just something that happens 10 times in a game - every time the chains come out. A few inches of arbitrary ball-spotting either way causes a first down, or a change of possession.
November 9th, 2017 at 9:49 PM ^
November 9th, 2017 at 9:57 PM ^
On plays where the ball is placed at a specific yard line that runs the width of the field, such as touchbacks and OT possessions, there is no need to bring the chains out to measure for a first down. The nose of the ball was placed at the edge of the 25 yard line to start the OT possession, so if any part of the ball touches the 15 yard line on the placement, then it's a first down.
November 9th, 2017 at 10:54 PM ^
November 10th, 2017 at 9:47 AM ^
November 9th, 2017 at 9:58 PM ^
I have no problem with The Spot (which makes me rare on this here board). I can't say with any conviction that Barrett didn't get the yardage needed.
What I have a problem with is Darboh getting wrestled to the ground with no call; Perry getting his arm yanked down...no call; Mike Weber getting away with the most obvious late-hit personal foul I've ever seen...no call; Jourdan Lewis getting held, then blocked in the back on Samuel's "great" run on 3 and long to set up the 4th and 1 play...no call(s), etc. etc.
I rarely complain about officiating but UM got completely fucked over in The Game in Columbus last year. I will always consider that a UM win which was stolen by corrupt officials/OSU fans.
November 10th, 2017 at 6:15 AM ^
when I saw the play live I thought he didn't make it but they were going to spot him close enough where it wouldn't get overturned. But it was really hard to see live how he bounced off of the other player and I understood why it didn't get overturned.
But the rest of the game.....
November 9th, 2017 at 9:02 PM ^
yes, i think this is true.
and I think coach H decided his sideline demeanor wasn't helping. so this year, he's turned it way down.
we will eventually reap the benefit of the new Zen harbs, it will just take a few years.
be patient.
November 10th, 2017 at 8:40 AM ^
November 9th, 2017 at 9:03 PM ^
We are one of the youngest team in the country. Our offense constantly makes penalty-worthy mistakes. I thought we had a bad call or two against the defense for PSU but other than that I don't remember too many unfair calls against us.
November 9th, 2017 at 9:06 PM ^
November 9th, 2017 at 9:51 PM ^
November 9th, 2017 at 9:07 PM ^
I can see that as an argument for this year's penalities against on the offensive side of the ball. But, this stat covers both sides of the ball. Further, last year when we were a veteran team on both sides of the ball we were also next to last in penalities agasint. Finally, our opponents both in '16 and '17 had the fewest and second fewest penalities called against them. How does our young offense this year affect last year's team or our opponents for the last two years?
November 9th, 2017 at 9:07 PM ^
That was actually Michigan Podcast's point. Last year we we're one of the oldest teams and still got penalized at ridicuous levels.
Unless this is just a Harbaugh thing in which his teams are just undisciplined, Idk how else you explain this stuff.
November 9th, 2017 at 10:01 PM ^
It would be interesting to see how his other teams (Stanford and San Francisco) have fared re: penalties. Is this a recent trend which has only happened at UM or have all of his teams been highly penalized during his coaching tenure?
I'm sure there is someone obsessive enough (WD?) to do this research. Alas, I am not that person.
November 10th, 2017 at 12:44 PM ^
This helpful site lists the total # of flags for NFL teams:
http://www.nflpenalties.com/index.php?&year=2014
49ers finish in total # of flags against them in Harbaugh's 4 years in S.F.:
2011 - 5th
2012 - 3rd
2013 - 5th
2014 - 14th
For Stanford years:
2007 - 100th
2008 - 22nd
2009 - 80th
2010 - 103rd
So, the data is a bit mixed. His Stanford teams were among the least penalized in the country, but his 49ers teams consistently were one of the most penalized teams in the NFL.
November 9th, 2017 at 9:26 PM ^
The penalty on Kugler. There is no such penalty. Metellus being ejected for nothing except getting assaulted. No holding calls on an o-line after we were spending all day in there back field. With our pass rush alone it mrits at least three to eight holding calls a game. Wake the fuck up it cost us the osu game and a trip to the playoffs. I guess your all good with that. osu had one fuckin penalty and you got the refs high fivin and smaking players on the ass. Its blatant and I feel they need some correction. The crew who just reffed the game were the ones from the osu game last year. Just terrible.
November 10th, 2017 at 3:52 PM ^
The penalty on Kugler. There is no such penalty.
Umm, yes there is.
He hit him:
1) Below the waist
2) Outside the 10-2 area
November 10th, 2017 at 3:31 AM ^
Then please explain last year's numbers which, according to the OP are roughly the same as this year's. You can't hand wave away last year's because of age.
November 10th, 2017 at 6:55 AM ^
November 9th, 2017 at 9:08 PM ^
November 9th, 2017 at 10:29 PM ^
teams are coached to hold Gary.
If acting is called for, Gary can step up his acting game to make it obvious to the refs what they are not seeing or refuse to see.
Why the heck not.
November 9th, 2017 at 9:08 PM ^
There are at least two types of penalties. Offsides, illegal formation, illegal procedure, facemask, etc. are standard calls. Pass interference, holding (offense and defense), block in the back, etc. are subjective and can majorly change the outcome of a game.
The numbers should be redone to eliminate the standard calls and then using just subjective calls see where we land.. If we are still last or next to last in the the BIG then we may have a beef.
November 9th, 2017 at 9:18 PM ^
November 9th, 2017 at 9:27 PM ^
Nobody can...
Delany has it out for us. He needs to be the focus.
November 9th, 2017 at 9:30 PM ^
November 10th, 2017 at 12:09 AM ^
November 10th, 2017 at 9:46 AM ^
November 9th, 2017 at 9:42 PM ^
November 9th, 2017 at 10:20 PM ^
Make them available to the media after a game to explain specific plays. Publish their grade for each game. Everyone else involved in a game is held accountable in a public forum, why not officials?
November 10th, 2017 at 9:53 AM ^
November 9th, 2017 at 9:52 PM ^
November 9th, 2017 at 10:52 PM ^
Holy shit, a talking vacuum!
November 10th, 2017 at 9:43 AM ^
November 9th, 2017 at 9:59 PM ^
Also, Rashan Gary, who is widely recognized as one of the best pass rushers in the country,
Is he? Rashan's talent is obvious but it seems to me like he still hasn't quite put it all together yet and reached his potential.
I do think he gets held a lot though.
November 9th, 2017 at 10:11 PM ^
November 9th, 2017 at 11:16 PM ^
November 10th, 2017 at 1:47 PM ^
Is the podcast analyzing only the penalties in conference games? The link you provided compiles results from all games of the entire season.
(Best scoring defense, best pass defense, best rush defense, AND best scoring offense last season--that was rather good. Even if affected by outliers like the Rutgers game.)