You’re going to think I’m nuts. You’re going to think I’m advocating football blasphemy but it’s time to keep the clock running on incomplete passes. Oh, not completely keep the clock running, but start the clock once the ball has been spotted in place for the next down. Exactly the way we do the clock for setting the chains. Hear me out, my friend.
We have to think logically. Think back to the games origins (imagine) and try to figure out WHY the clock was stopped on an incomplete pass. They had to have a reason. The only logical answer is they stopped the clock to chase down the ball. The thinking must have been, “Let’s not run the clock while we’re retrieving the ball”. They probably didn’t have as many refs as we do now nor as many footballs and ball boys. It may have been time consuming to chase the ball down. Now, why the rules makers didn’t restart the clock when the ball was ready for play from the very beginning, I don’t know. Help me on that if you can. At any rate, there is no reason why the clock can’t be started when the ball is ready for play.
Why do we need this rule change? Because with passing attempts going up at all levels it’s starting to take too doggone long to play a game. Particularly at the pro and college level once you add in TV timeouts and the like. A team that throws three incomplete passes in a row might burn ten seconds and that in turn extends the game too much. I propose stopping the clock on an incomplete pass and then restarting it once it’s ready. Will that change some strategy? Sure, but so what? A good coach can still manage the clock with timeouts and utilizing the sideline. Remember, the clock can be stopped by going out of bounds although I can’t think of the reason for that. Another story some day. And what about spiking the ball? That will make that strategy useless you say. Good. I think it’s dumb anyway. Spiking the ball looks like a fumble to me. My proposal would speed up the game and still allow for strategy in stopping the clock.
Well, there it is. What do you think? Let me know by replying here or get on the forum on Chiefpigskin.com and give your opinion there. I’d like to hear from you. But you can’t say, “That’s the way it’s always been.” Give me a logical reason to keep the clock stopped until it’s snapped for the next play. Food for thought, huh?
I have to agree with you, Coach. Spiking the ball has always seemed like a poor misuse of the rules of the game. I go to less college football games in person now because the game simply drags on forever. It's not so bad when you're at home, sitting on the couch, and channel surfing, but when you're there... it's a long game.
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts, Coach.