NFL First Down Technology
Last night was the Hall of Fame pre-season game which acts as the unofficial start to the new NFL season. I did not sit down and watch the game, choosing to consume it after its been processed and filtered through the social media machine. Truth be told, it's the only reason I still have social media (that and keeping tabs on my Aunts' and Uncles' political proclivities). I enjoy getting on Twitter Bluesky, following only NFL types and watch the takes flow in as the game progresses.
Now, preseason games (particularly the HoF game) need to be taken with a grain of salt. It's backups playing against backups of backups. That said, there are occasionally tidbits to be gleaned from them and, in my opinion, last night's game had a particularly juicy one.
Trey Lance should be a starting quarterback.
Nah, just kidding. Though... if I'm being honest, he did look good last night and it did make me wonder why he hasn't been given more chances to start. Well, the answer is pretty simple. He was too injured for the 49ers then he went on to backup Dak Prescott and Justin Herbert... two very solid (if not elite) quarterbacks.
I digress. The real interesting thing from last night is the NFL unveiling their new first down technology to measure first downs more accurately. My first thought when I saw this was "Yes! Finally!" but then I looked more into it. First of all it's a network of six 8k cameras utilizing Sony's Hawk-Eye technology placed around each stadium. The system creates a virtual representation of the measurement, which will be displayed on stadium scoreboards and TV broadcasts. This all sounds great until you learn that this is only replacing the chain gang, not the spotters: Initial ball placement will still remain in the hands of on-field referees.
I repeat, initial ball placement will still remain in the hands of on-field referees. This is where they lost me. I have never watched the chain game strut out onto the field with their little chain and blamed them for screwing up a spot. The chain gang is cool. I like seeing if the ball makes it or not, it's like a fun little mini-game. It's the spotting of the ball that is an issue, and apparently will remain one. You have 11 gargantuan humans slamming into 11 other gargantuan humans at the speed of a mild car crash, one of them holding a ball, and some part-time semi retired old man is peering at this quagmire from ten yards away and says..."I think the ball landed.... here!"
Are we kidding with this? You're telling me with the billions of dollars and cutting edge technology at the NFL's disposal we can't be a little more accurate. Maybe a chip in the ball that tells sensors it's furthest forward progress... I don't know. The Athletic article about this does make a point of saying: "However, once the ball is spotted, replay assist will confirm the accuracy of the spot." but that still seems sus to me.
The NPR Article about this had a very interesting paragraph: "Calls for technology assistance in placing the football grew louder after January's AFC Championship Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills, in which referees ruled Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen short on a late-game 4th down quarterback sneak that some Bills coaches and players later said they believed had been good for a first down. Replay reviews conducted during the game were not conclusive enough to overturn the referees' original call, officials said, because camera views of the ball were partially or entirely obstructed by players' bodies."
First of all, OF COURSE calls for this grew louder after the Bills lost to the Chiefs in the playoffs. Just like calls for changing overtime rules grew louder after (everyone say it with me now) the Bills lost to the Chiefs in the playoffs. Here's an innovative idea for the Buffalo Bills: Just stop losing to the fucking Chiefs in the playoffs! I mean, the Chiefs themselves just got embarrassed in the Superbowl by the Eagles and did people start crying for a rule chan - you know what? Nevermind
Aside from the Bills being crybabies (ohhhhh the sun is hot in Miami, boo hoo), that paragraph above illustrates how this new tech does kind of miss the point. It was the initial spot that was the problem, not the chain measurement. This new tech doesn't address that issue. The core problem still remains: the ever flawed and malleable human judgement. Microchips are the answer. I mean, if they can put one in every single covid vaccine, why can't they put some in a few footballs?
Oh well, I guess any progress is good progress. As Obama said "Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good." and this new tech is a step in the right direction. I'll be interested to see how it works out this season. Prediction: it will be integral in the Chief's victory over the Bills in the playoffs and will subsequently be revisited next offseason.