The NCAA’s Football Rules Committee made two proposals on Wednesday. The first seems to be universally applauded with a proposed amendment to the targeting rule that would eliminate a 15-yard penalty when an ejected player is ruled eligible to return to a game. The other proposal, focusing on defensive substitutions against up-tempo offenses, is not being received quite as well.
The proposal would allow for defenses to have 10 seconds to sub in players after each snap. The rule proposal is designed to have player safety in mind, not necessarily to slow down offenses. But that is just what it would help to do. Under the proposed rule, offenses would not be allowed to snap the football until the play clock hits 29 seconds. Any early snap would result in a five-yard delay of game penalty.
Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez does not seem too pleased with the proposal...So I hear the football rules committee wants to slow the game down and make you wait ten seconds to snap--and penalty is delay of game!#wow
— Rich Rodriguez (@CoachRodAZ) February 12, 2014
Fundamental advantage for defense- pre snap movement- maybe that should be reviewed? #WhoMakesTheseRules
— Rich Rodriguez (@CoachRodAZ) February 12, 2014
Arizona was seventh in the nation in plays per game last season, averaging 83.2 plays per game in 2013. The Wildcats had the same plays-per-game average in 2012 as well, Rodrigiez’s first season in Tucson. In 2011 there were seven teams averaging over 80 plays per game on offense. There were three in 2010. Last season there were 20 teams averaging 80 offensive snaps per game or more, and Texas Tech led the nation with 90.3 offensive plays per game. While player safety is a concern for defensive players that are tending to lag behind the tempo of the game, the NCAA has yet to reveal any medical or case studies suggesting players are more at risk because of the play style. Knowing this, offensive minded coaches like Rodruguez will certainly have some questions about the need for the proposed rule change. Rodriguez is not alone. Baylor head coach Art Briles is opposed to the proposal.
Add Washington State head coach Mike Leach to the mix.
Mike Leach on NCAA not allowing teams to snap before 29 seconds on play clock: “First off, doubt it will pass. Second, it’s ridiculous….
— ESPN Pac-12 (@ESPN_Pac12blog) February 12, 2014
Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze is also not in favor of the proposal.
Freeze: “I just don’t really understand what we gain from this other this rule other than a chance to create more chaos.”
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) February 12, 2014
Freeze has a point. An extra timing rule is bound to lead to confusion by the officials keeping track of the timing. Not only are they now to pay attention to the game clock and the play clock, enough of a hassle as it is at times, the refs must now look to enforce an extra 10-second rule to allow for substitutions.
This is just a small smaple size of course, and those opinions and reactions that have been reported all come from coaches who benefit and operate on a quick-tempo offensive style. The world awaits the opinion of a guy like Alabama head coach Nick Saban.