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NFL Finally Replacing Antiquated Chain Gang To Measure First Downs

Rusty Shackelford

Rusty Shackelford

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nypost.com

NFL finally replacing antiquated chain gang to measure first downs

The league would use the tech as their primary way to determine if the ball had crossed the first-down line.
nypost.com nypost.com

I don't understand why it took this long, other than the chain gang was a tradition that the league wanted to hold on to, which isn't a bad argument for keeping it, but it's time to get into the 21st century.

The NFL said that an average of 12 weekly measurements took place in 2024.
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What?! I can't remember the last time I saw one. In college games either.

The technology can help more accurately measure the line to gain, but it might not help prevent a similar situation from occurring like the one that happened to Josh Allen in this season’s AFC title game.
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The article doesn't explain why it might not prevent that situation from occurring again.😕

The electronic system still requires the officials on the field to manually place the ball following a play.
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No **** Dick Tracy! It is funny though that everybody's worried about getting the spot exactly right but nobody ever generally complains about refs eyeballing the spot. They only complain after controversial plays.

They could have a laser beam going across the field to help the refs to exactly spot the ball. Is that what's gonna happen?
 
I'm not clear on how they'll do this. Visually via cameras is often hidden from view. Using a sensor in the ball (no jokes...you know who you are) would be nice, but then there are the endless debates about when they really stepped out of bounds relative to ball motion.

Or is it just a judge in NYC looking at the video feeds?

In any case, I'm guessing lots of controversial calls once again.
 
Setting up the chains always has been and always will be a guessing game. The ref places the ball, the chain gang sets the line of scrimmage stick by eyeballing it against the ball on the field. It is definitely not an exact science.
 
Bumpus said:
Means nothing. They’re not putting chips in the ball. It’s still being spotted by the refs after every play. This is just replacing the chain gang. (They weren’t the problem)
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From the article - "The technology can help more accurately measure the line to gain, but it might not help prevent a similar situation from occurring like the one that happened to Josh Allen in this season’s AFC title game."

Your correct. This is really not much of a change.
 
Rusty Shackelford said:
nypost.com

NFL finally replacing antiquated chain gang to measure first downs

The league would use the tech as their primary way to determine if the ball had crossed the first-down line.
nypost.com nypost.com

I don't understand why it took this long, other than the chain gang was a tradition that the league wanted to hold on to, which isn't a bad argument for keeping it, but it's time to get into the 21st century.


What?! I can't remember the last time I saw one. In college games either.


The article doesn't explain why it might not prevent that situation from occurring again.😕


No **** Dick Tracy! It is funny though that everybody's worried about getting the spot exactly right but nobody ever generally complains about refs eyeballing the spot. They only complain after controversial plays.

They could have a laser beam going across the field to help the refs to exactly spot the ball. Is that what's gonna happen?
Click to expand...

Can't get the article. I would think there would be an overlap, at least in PS. Chain gang AND technology.
 
Bumpus said:
Means nothing. They’re not putting chips in the ball. It’s still being spotted by the refs after every play. This is just replacing the chain gang. (They weren’t the problem)
Click to expand...

Exactly, this won't fix what occurred in the KC Buffalo game.
 
Rick Cartman said:
Exactly, this won't fix what occurred in the KC Buffalo game.
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No, it won't, because that basic situation occurs in pretty much every NFL game, wherein two officials with differing visual angles don't precisely agree on spotting the football.

The typical whining from western New York, that simply needs to be ignored.
 
The Captain said:
No, it won't, because that basic situation occurs in pretty much every NFL game, wherein two officials with differing visual angles don't precisely agree on spotting the football.

The typical whining from western New York, that simply needs to be ignored.
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I fully understand Buffalo's gripe
I couldn't imagine having a bogus spot go against my team in an AFC title game
I am also a Dolphins fan so that may be why too
 
Rick Cartman said:
I fully understand Buffalo's gripe
I couldn't imagine having a bogus spot go against my team in an AFC title game
I am also a Dolphins fan so that may be why too
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When did that happen to the Dolphins?

Wasn't their last AFC championship game appearance way back during the 1992 postseason, in a one-sided loss to the Bills? Did a questionable 'spot' deny them a Super Bowl berth at some point in the past?
 
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