I've noticed a few things that have been bothering me this year and would like to know if you guys have an explanation or a comment or have noticed what i have. It hasn't been a "here and there" thing, it's been in every game i've watched. 1. Spotting the ball. I've seen the officials spot the ball forward of the foot they pot it with. I've always been under the assumption that the foot spots the nose of the ball and not the back of the ball. Am i wrong? Spotting is suspect as a whole this year but i know it's a tough job. That said, i've seen the back judge come from 40 yrds down the field to re-spot a ball a line judge or a side judge has already spotted. They're usually right there on the play so how does a guy nowhere near the ball come and re-spot it? At first these two things bothered me but now i notice it even more and its it's starting to piss me off. Really it is, it's ugly...the ball always goes forward and hardly ever backwards. In a game of inches why are the officials giving away free feet? Question #2 Again, something i've seen over the years that is rarely called but always done. Yesterday with the Niners/ Pats game it was done nearly 10 times and called only once. Having it called once means the officials knew it was going on so not calling it makes absolutely no sense. the problem: Blocking while the ball is in the air. Example: (and a perfect one to watch for) Wr screens (welker) with two wr's and OL blocking out in the flat while the ball is in the air. Are you allowed to engage in a block within the 5yrds of the LOS and outside of the "pocket" I'm guessing no bc Moss was called for it on one occasion. Indy has done it for years without a problem...The Pats do it all the time...watch them and you will see. Whats up?
