NFL might give headset to a defensive player, too

[RamWraith]

By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Sunday, Mar. 26 2006

Defensive football could go high-tech next season if a competition committee
proposal is approved at the NFL owners meetings this week in Orlando, Fla.

"We will propose this year that one defensive player be given the same
(headset) apparatus that the quarterback has, so there are signals that can be
given that way," Atlanta Falcons president-general manager Rich McKay said.

For years, coaches have sent in plays from the sidelines via a
headset-to-helmet communications system with the quarterback. Under the
competition committee proposal, a similar system would allow coaches to send in
plays to defensive players on the field.

"We think it helps the defense in the sense that - I don't want to accuse the
offenses of stealing signals," McKay said. "So let's just assume that they're
'borrowing' the signals. So we think it would be good for the game to give the
defense that ability."

That is McKay's way of saying that coaches have been using the
headset-to-helmet system for more than just sending in plays to the quarterback.

For example, if coaches decipher the hand signals that defensive coaches use to
signal in calls for the defense, that information can be relayed to the
quarterback as well. Giving the defense a headset-to-helmet system will level
the playing field in this regard.

On offense, only the quarterback has a helmet system to hear instructions from
the sideline. Who will be so designated on defense? And in an age of
specialization and frequent strategic substitutions, what if the designated
defender isn't in the game?

"The team can designate one player on defense, and that player cannot change
during the game," said McKay, who is co-chair of the competition committee.
"And if that player were to be injured, then that would be the end of that
communication for that game, for that team. The system will not be designed,
the way we propose it, to be put on more than one player."

While certainly the most exotic proposal, the helmet-to-headset idea won't be
the only topic of discussion by the competition committee this week in Orlando:

Player safety

There are several proposals in this area, among them:

-- Stricter enforcement of low hits on the quarterback.

The injury to Cincinnati's Carson Palmer in the Bengals' playoff loss to
Pittsburgh last season may have sparked the proposal.

"The quarterback sits in a defenseless position when his feet are on the ground
and he's throwing the football," McKay said. "We have to find ways to try to
protect him. We're going to put a little more onus on the defensive player.
When the defensive player has an opportunity to avoid (a low hit), he must take
that opportunity to avoid."

-- A proposal prohibiting the kicking team from overloading one side of the
field with more than seven players on onside kicks.

-- More protection for the long snapper on field-goal attempts.

-- A restriction on blocks in the back on punts.

-- A broadening of the rule against horse-collar tackles.

Instant replay

One proposal would make "down-by-contact" calls reviewable. Another would limit
the referee's review time from 90 to 60 seconds.

"We're just trying to save a little time in trying to move replay along at a
little faster pace," McKay said.

False starts

There were 850 false starts last year in the regular season - too many to suit
the competition committee. So on false starts involving wide receivers, a
proposed rule change would allow receivers who flinch to reset without penalty.

"So instead of killing the play when an eligible receiver flinches, the
eligible receiver will be given the opportunity to reset and the play would
continue; there'd be no stoppage," McKay said. "That wouldn't apply obviously
if the receiver took a step and actually took a complete false start. Then,
we'd have to shut the play down. ... It's not a free pass."

[Nick]

"We have to find ways to try to
protect him."

I believe we have a way. They're called offensive linemen.

Instant replay

One proposal would make "down-by-contact" calls reviewable. Another would limit
the referee's review time from 90 to 60 seconds.

"We're just trying to save a little time in trying to move replay along at a
little faster pace," McKay said.

Sounds good to me.

[ramsbruce]

Sometimes these changes are great but they don't implement them correctly. I think it's a great idea to give the defense a headset for the signals. BUT to only give it to one player is ridiculous. If said player is out for a play, then no headset. If said player gets hurt and leaves the game then no headset. On the flipside if the backup QB comes in he gets a headset.

All they need to do is pick the player on defense who gets the headset and give it to his backups also in case said player gets hurt or needs a rest, it's no different when the backup QB comes in. So why make it different for the defense. If the defensive guy gets hurt or needs a rest they get punished with no headset? It makes no sense. Either take it away from the backup QBs or give it to the backup D players at that position. It's common sense.

[tanus]

ramsbruce,

i think their logic for only one defensive player is as follows...

the QB position is a very specialized position, meaning that is the only position that player will play and there is only one on the field at a time. also, the backup QB usually only plays QB as well so the only time he would be on the field is if the normal starting QB got injured.

now, lets look at the defense. the defense doesn't have an equivalent position to the QB. as you mention, you could just use the designated defensive players backup. for example purposes, lets say its the MLB and the MLB's backup. what if the MLB's backup is also one of the OLB's backup and that OLB gets hurt? now you have a situation where you could have two guys on the field on defense that have the headsets. this would lead to a lot of confusion and all sorts of other crap.

in theory, your suggestion would work, but it becomes complicated because of guys backing up multiple positions on the defense. i think especially for the first time they try it out they want to keep it as simple as possible.

[ramsbruce]

ramsbruce,

i think their logic for only one defensive player is as follows...

the QB position is a very specialized position, meaning that is the only position that player will play and there is only one on the field at a time. also, the backup QB usually only plays QB as well so the only time he would be on the field is if the normal starting QB got injured.

now, lets look at the defense. the defense doesn't have an equivalent position to the QB. as you mention, you could just use the designated defensive players backup. for example purposes, lets say its the MLB and the MLB's backup. what if the MLB's backup is also one of the OLB's backup and that OLB gets hurt? now you have a situation where you could have two guys on the field on defense that have the headsets. this would lead to a lot of confusion and all sorts of other crap.

in theory, your suggestion would work, but it becomes complicated because of guys backing up multiple positions on the defense. i think especially for the first time they try it out they want to keep it as simple as possible.

So the defense would get screwed why, because it's complicated? Not a good reason. They are saying ok let's help the D but if you get tired or hurt then screw you, you're out of luck.

Ok so if the MLB has the headset, and the backup MLB has to come in and play OLB while the original MLB is in the game you just turn off the backup's headset, or tell him unless the starting MLB goes out the starter is making the calls so keep your yap shut LOL That isn't very complicated. I see your point but if they are going to try and make something better don't punish a team because a player gets tired or gets injured.

[Drew4EverRams]

sounds like a good idea and im sure all possibilities will be looked into before its passed!

kinda de-values the main reason we brought chavous on board tho!

but hey ho-im all for it!!!

[bigredman]

ramsbruce,

i think their logic for only one defensive player is as follows...

the QB position is a very specialized position, meaning that is the only position that player will play and there is only one on the field at a time. also, the backup QB usually only plays QB as well so the only time he would be on the field is if the normal starting QB got injured.

now, lets look at the defense. the defense doesn't have an equivalent position to the QB. as you mention, you could just use the designated defensive players backup. for example purposes, lets say its the MLB and the MLB's backup. what if the MLB's backup is also one of the OLB's backup and that OLB gets hurt? now you have a situation where you could have two guys on the field on defense that have the headsets. this would lead to a lot of confusion and all sorts of other crap.

in theory, your suggestion would work, but it becomes complicated because of guys backing up multiple positions on the defense. i think especially for the first time they try it out they want to keep it as simple as possible.

Dah....You simply remove or disable the receiver in one of the player's helmets, or the coach indicates to the players (and possibly the officials) who will make the calls on the field. Even if both get the calls through their earpiece, so what? I'm sure only one will have the responsibility to relay that information to the rest of the team.

[Varg6]

I think this whole thing can be either good for a team or bad, it really depends on who has the headset, who is the leader of that D. On the other hand, I don't think its a rule to make them wear it.