Originally Posted by
rip-bait
I don't officiate football but I do ref basketball and some baseball. Regardless, the mindset is all the same. The biggest issue with NFL officiating is that the league has made it a point of emphasis to protect players (most notably the quarterback). Because this position has been taken the players and refs are having to adapt. You have players who have played a certain way all their lives who are now forced to change techniques. Then you have the refs who are being asked to make extremely hard judgement calls while being consistent with what everyone else is calling. Not that you don't this already but these refs are obviously the best of the best. So to call them terrible or whatever is just a poor way of looking at it because this is who they have to officiate. The biggest issue with officiating so far this year, besides the missed calls which are going to happen always, has been the consistency. One game the refs will call illegal contact by the defense very strictly and in another game if you so much as breathe on the offensive player it is a flag. Players are going to adapt. It may take time. But one thing is for certain and that is the refs need to be more consistent so the players can understand what they can and cannot do. I have played and reffed sports. Therefore I have seen both sides and the most frustrating thing as player to come across is whenever you feel there is alack of consistency.
As to the Niners. They are going to be fine. It may take a while but they have too much talent on offense to not succeed eventually. To what level their success goes to is unknown at this point. I will say this though. The niners defense needs to find a way to get more pressure on the quarterback. I don't care if you are Tom Brady or Drew Stanton, if you have all day in the pocket then you are going to be successful. Niner fans just sit back and relax. Things will get better.