The NFL has asked officials to focus more on illegal contact fouls in the 2022 season following a significant drop in such calls in 2021. The league has also changed its guidelines concerning “roughing the passer” penalties, clarifying that the contact should be forceful in cases where flags are necessary.
The Call For More Calls
When a defender commits an illegal contact penalty, it must occur while the quarterback has the ball in the pocket. It’s a five-yard penalty that results in an automatic first down, and, officials called it 36 times last season despite calling it 97 times per season on average between 2002 and 2020.
Over the years, the NFL has made two similar attempts to remind officials about illegal contact, and on both occasions, calls for the penalty rose significantly the following season. The league’s rules about roughing the passer, however, are relatively new and are still evolving.
Reform For Roughing-The-Passer Flags
Over the last few seasons, many have criticized roughing-the-passer penalties as an over-correction in the effort to promote safety in football. Many penalties have been called against teams for minimal contact on the quarterback, and the loss of 15 yards has the power to significantly alter games.
In 2018, linebacker Clay Matthews was penalized for what seemed to be a standard hit on quarterback Kirk Cousins, who threw an interception on the play late in the fourth quarter. Instead of losing possession, the Vikings advanced 15 yards and went on to win the game.
At the time, Matthews was frustrated by the call, and his sentiments have been echoed by many other defenders in subsequent years.
“I mean, I don’t even know where to start to be completely honest with you. There are so many emotions running through (me) as far as what a terrible call it was, but at the same time, I don’t know what else to do,” Matthews said in a statement. “Did I put pressure on him? Because I thought I hit him within the waist to chest (area). I got my head across, put my hands down and to call it at that point in the game is unbelievable.”
In an effort to avoid similar situations in the future, the league has clarified its position on roughing-the-passer penalties, claiming that “forcible” contact to the head or below the knee is necessary to warrant a flag. The preseason is an opportunity for the league and officials to come to terms on such changes and inform teams ahead of the upcoming season.
