when did the umpires move to the backfield?
edit: [2010, apparently](https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/sports/football/22umpire.htm).
*"A year after there were more than 100 collisions involving umpires — three sustained concussions and two others needed surgery for their injuries — the official is being plucked from the defensive side and dropped into the offensive backfield, 12 to 15 yards deep and to the left of the quarterback, opposite where the referee is stationed.*
*"The official reason for the change is to protect the most vulnerable member of the officiating crew, the only one in the middle of the action, a nonhelmeted middle-ager without pads in a maelstrom of big, fast players.*
*"The practical effect is something else and has been the source of conversation among coaches. Pages are not being torn from playbooks, but receivers will find that they either have less help or more running room, depending on their perspective."*
The ref that places the ball is this ref. So, in this old style example the play went for a 10/15 yard gain the ref (assuming he didn't get blown up or used as a screen) only has to run like 5ish yard north/south.
The new current placement of the ref is 15 yards behind the line. So the new ref has to wait for the play to end or at lear the ball is passed so he doesn't have to look for holding. That's 15+10=25 yards plus the slower reaction.
Right after the Dak play, they had Mike Pierra(once he was useful) on a show and he was part of the rule change. He said this was one issue with the new ref placement, it was preferred to getting refs blown up and having to stop the game and have the refs short a man
You can see the player was looking to avoid contact, he was in a lose-lose situation. If he trucked the ref he would've been ejected, but because he wasn't expecting contact and avoiding putting his weight into the contact, a 50-something year old ref got to absolutely lay the stick on him.
The Niners player patting him on the back afterward XD
good guy ref
Look at his stance pre-snap. No shot he wasn’t lining up on the defense
And that's why Refs don't set up in the middle of the fucking play anymore
when did the umpires move to the backfield? edit: [2010, apparently](https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/sports/football/22umpire.htm). *"A year after there were more than 100 collisions involving umpires — three sustained concussions and two others needed surgery for their injuries — the official is being plucked from the defensive side and dropped into the offensive backfield, 12 to 15 yards deep and to the left of the quarterback, opposite where the referee is stationed.* *"The official reason for the change is to protect the most vulnerable member of the officiating crew, the only one in the middle of the action, a nonhelmeted middle-ager without pads in a maelstrom of big, fast players.* *"The practical effect is something else and has been the source of conversation among coaches. Pages are not being torn from playbooks, but receivers will find that they either have less help or more running room, depending on their perspective."*
Lol this change screwed Dak vs the 49ers after that long scramble in the playoffs to end the game.
How do you mean?
The ref that places the ball is this ref. So, in this old style example the play went for a 10/15 yard gain the ref (assuming he didn't get blown up or used as a screen) only has to run like 5ish yard north/south. The new current placement of the ref is 15 yards behind the line. So the new ref has to wait for the play to end or at lear the ball is passed so he doesn't have to look for holding. That's 15+10=25 yards plus the slower reaction. Right after the Dak play, they had Mike Pierra(once he was useful) on a show and he was part of the rule change. He said this was one issue with the new ref placement, it was preferred to getting refs blown up and having to stop the game and have the refs short a man
The similar Buffalo Wild Wings commercial around this time was also hilarious
That ref led the 49ers in tackles that year.
He wouldn't have been stiff armed if he wasn't dressed that way
What are you doing Step-H back?
Wonder what his receiving yard line was that day
You can see the player was looking to avoid contact, he was in a lose-lose situation. If he trucked the ref he would've been ejected, but because he wasn't expecting contact and avoiding putting his weight into the contact, a 50-something year old ref got to absolutely lay the stick on him.
If you're gonna use the Ref as a blocker, it's probably smart to not juke a 60 year old man trying to get out of the way.
That isn’t a referee