National Football League

Mike Pereira's Oct. 12 mailbag

Published Oct. 12, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Hi everyone, here are a few more Mailbag questions this week and I’m happy to answer them. (Read the latest chat recap here).

Paul G. from Hudson, N.H., wrote:

"Mike, great story about getting back to officiating at the 'lower levels'!! Having coached at the Pop Warner level for years, the efforts of folks like yourself often go unnoticed. My sons are now playing college and high school ball and much of my time is involved following them but I recently entered the apprentice officiating program here in NH. Hopefully next year I will get to do some Frosh and JV games. Very much looking to 'giving back' to a great sport!!!"

That is tremendous, Paul. There really is nothing better than working with young kids on the football field. You will find the entire experience very rewarding. Let me give you a little advice, however.
Make sure you stretch before you go on the field. Eight minutes into my second game, I pulled a hamstring and have not been back on the field yet. I used to insist that the NFL officials be in shape and that probably made some of them mad. I'm sure they are chuckling upon hearing I am on the injured list.

George W. from Rochester, N.Y., wrote:

"Hi Mike. I'm pretty savvy on the rules of football and have been a long-time fan. The one thing I've never been able to figure out is on a penalty, what determines the spot "halfway to the goal?" This, of course, is taking in the obvious that if the assessed penalty is greater than the distance back to the goal line. Thanks!"

Hi George. Glad to hear that you are so savvy on the rules. Football rules on all levels are very confusing. I never really have thought much about the "half-the-distance" enforcement. The rule book basically states that a penalty may not exceed half the distance to the goal line.

There are exceptions like defensive pass interference and intentional grounding, which are spot fouls. Where it seems to me to be unfair is when the offense false starts at their own 1-yard line.

They are penalized a half of a yard. The very next play, the defense might be called for being offside. They get penalized the full five yards. Doesn't seem equitable.

Ryan M. from Bismarck, N.D., wrote:
"After the Peyton Manning preseason game against the Packers where he tested the speed of the umpires, I thought that the rule was going to slow down the game. But after Week 4's Broncos-Titans game, I am seeing where having the umpire in the offensive backfield is definitely an advantage to the defense. Several times during the game the Broncos were running traps and counters where offensive linemen would pull. However when they were pulling, the defensive line would hold them to prevent the pulling action. This is a penalty ... but with the umpire in position behind the offensive line it doesn't appear as holding. Was this addressed when moving the umpire?"

Yes, it was Ryan. We talked about how picking up defensive holding on running plays was going to be pretty near impossible. I just don't think it is realistic to think the umpire will be able to pick this up from the offensive side of the ball. The other advantage to the defense is that the offense is getting called for holding almost 30 percent more this season. Very few rule changes or mechanics seem to help the defense. This one certainly seems to.