Quote:
Originally Posted by Cyphon25
I am a Steelers fan so call me bias if you want but I would say this for any team and truth is I don't even blame the game on that call. I blame it more on Sean Davis. With that being said, lets talk about why this should be a catch even with the rule.
Jesse James catches the ball and pulls it into his chest (secured) as his knee goes down. Realizing he wasn't in he then reaches for the goal line (a football move) to score. So he was already 'down' and had completed the catch and then proceeds to reach in to score.
So I am confused on what part of the rule would deem that not a catch? I understand the controlling it through the ground part but he demonstrated that. He pulled it in to his chest as his knee hit and then reached out to score.
|
The part of the rule that deems it not a catch is he was going to the ground from the time that he caught the ball. Now here is my interpretation of why the rule is in place. The rule is there so that it takes the guess work out of it for the most part by the officials. It sets a very clear guideline. The way I look at it is its similar to the pushout rule that they took out of the game, where if a defender pushed a player out of bounds a ref could still rule it a catch even if both feet were not down. With the 2 feet down rule no matter what now in place it again takes the guesswork out of what is a catch and what isn't a catch.
Also to play devil's advocate, what about those plays in which a receive catches the ball, has 2 feet down, but a defender hits them and pops the ball loose? That is ruled not a catch even though both feet are down. I think it is necessary to have a rule like this that you must complete the process of the catch, no matter if you are going to the ground or if you get popped by a defender. Now maybe they can tweak the rule so that you can be going to the ground but if you still establish you have control and make a football move, such as stretching for the goal line such as in this play or the Dez play, that it can be a catch. However in that case again you are now putting more on the officials to make a judgement call as to what is a catch but I think it would be more fair to avoid cases like this from happening.