FanPost

Bad Penalties

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There are more than 70 penalties that can be called on an NFL Team, but only around 25 are actually called on the Broncos each year. Those are the only ones included in this report.

Credit http://www.nflpenalties.com/ for putting together such a nice site (with interactive tables) that allows for many comparisons, and in their "Blog" this article brings up some issues worth noting.

...you can make a good argument that the optimum number of penalties (per game) is not zero. For example:

If a team had zero defensive PI calls well into a season it might be a sign of a defense that 'offers little resistance', rather than one with "better discipline".

However, that said, an approach of playing super aggressive defense with a "come what may" attitude toward the penalties it should draw aught to be a gamble. Putting the flags away is unfair to the team playing more within the rules we've supposedly agreed upon.

Worse yet, it assumes everything is equal to begin with. Even if it's true that by sheer counting both sides got away with 3 holds, that doesn't mean they were of the same egregiousness, or had the same impact on the play, or that their timing was even.

Getting away with a hold at minute 12 of the 2nd quarter on 1st and 10 run of 6 isn't the same thing as getting away with a more obvious hold, right at the point of attack, on a 4th and 2, with the game on the line.

- See more at: http://www.nflpenalties.com/

Offense - From bad to worst:

Delay Of Game – 5 yards

When the QB is frequently at fault it is usually due to inexperience.

False Start – 5 yards.

It's third and one, and a Bronco jumps before the snap. Now it's third & 6 & Peyton audibles to a run that Ball takes 10 yards for a first down. No biggie, right? Here are the Broncos biggest offenders during the past 5 years:

2013 - Z.Beadles 4, O.Franklin 2, K.Moreno 1, E.Decker 1, A.Caldwell 1, L.Vasquez 1, J.Thomas 1, R.Clady 1, J.Dreessen 1, W.Welker 1, W.Justice 1,

2012 - R.Clady 2, M.Ramirez 1, Z.Beadles 1, J.Walton 1, M.Willis 1, D.Thomas 1,

2011 - Z.Beadles 3, D.Rosario 2, O.Franklin 1, C.Kuper 1, E.Decker 1,

2010 - R.Clady 2, R.Harris 2, J.Walton 1, K.Orton 1, C.Kuper 1, D.Graham 1, J.Gaffney 1, Z.Beadles 1, D.Gronkowski 1,

2009 - D.Graham 4, C.Wiegmann 3, R.Harris 3, R.Clady 2, C.Kuper 2, R.Hochstein 2, B.Marshall 1, B.Hamilton 1, A.Smith 1, D.Bruton 1,

Illegal Formation – 5 yards – This penalty is rarely called on Denver.

Illegal Motion – 5 yards – This penalty only gets called on Denver once or twice a year.

Ineligible Downfield Pass – 5 yards – This penalty is rarely called on Denver.

Ineligible Downfield Kick – 5 yards – This penalty only gets called on Denver once or twice a year.

Illegal Shift – 5 yards – This penalty only gets called on Denver once or twice a year.

Offensive Holding – 10 yards.

It's third and one, and a 40 yard pass is completed, but is called back for Offensive Holding! Now it's third & 11 & that can suck! Here are the Broncos biggest offenders during the past 5 years:

2013 - O.Franklin & C.Clark tied at 7 each.

2012 - R.Clady & C.Kuper tied at 4 each. O.Franklin & M.Ramirez tied at 3 each.

2011 - R.Clady 11, O.Franklin 5

2010 - R.Clady 5, J.Walton 4

2009 - D.Graham 5, B.Hamilton 4, R.Clady & C.Kuper with 3 each.

Another quote from nflpenalties.com;

Perhaps the fairest way to officiate holding is just to allow the offensive (and defensive) lines to hold each other. However, the penalties exist today.

Not enforcing them will, in my opinion, always create a bigger "mockery" of the game in the long run. For the most part I am of the mindset that if you do something that should be penalized, it should be penalized. Every time.

If a team's offensive line holds on every play it should be called every play. If that ruins the game then we should change the rules.

Offensive Pass Interference – 10 yards

It's third and one, and a WR, TE or RB is called for Offensive pass interference! Now it's third & 11 & that can suck! But, if it is the only way for a receiver to stop an interception, I'll take the 10 yards to keep the possession every time.

The guy (Decker) that seemed to complain the most about being interfered with was the one on our team that interfered the most on offense. Here are the Broncos biggest offenders during the past 5 years:

2013 E.Decker 3, K.Moreno 2, D.Thomas 1

2012 E.Decker 2

2011 E.Decker 1, M.Willis 1

2010 D.Graham 1, E.Royal 1, D.Thomas 1

2009 T.Scheffler 2, E.Royal 1

Defense:

Defensive Offside – 5 yards

It's 3rd down and 6 yards to go for our opponent. Von Miller miss-times his jump and gives the bad guys a free play, but fortunately our DB's smother the receivers and the pass is incomplete.

Now instead of receiving a punt, it's 3rd & one. Bummer! But on the very next play, Ward gets a tackle for a loss and they have to punt anyway!

Here are the Broncos biggest offenders during the past 5 years:

2013 - D.Wolfe 2, S.Phillips 2, V.Miller 1,

2012 - E.Dumervil 6, V.Miller 4, R.Ayers 1

2011 - V.Miller 2+ E2, R.McBean E3, E.Dumervil 2,

2010 - M.Haggan 1, M.Thomas E1, J.Hunter 1, K.Vickerson E1, R.Ayers 1

2009 - E.Dumervil 2, R.Fields 1, A.Smith 1, D.Williams 1, R.Hill 1

Neutral Zone Infraction – 5 yards.

JDR has one of his many NEW blitz packages called, and Ryan Shazier (That's right, Elway reads MHR) gets antsy and jumps into the neutral zone, drawing the TE off sides. No problem though since Von sacked the QB on the previous play and it was 3rd & 15.

Illegal Contact – 5 yards, automatic first down!

It's third & 15 and as Webster goes up for the INT he pushes off of the receiver to make the catch. Instead of the change of possession it's 1st down for the bad guys.

Here are the Broncos biggest offenders during the past 5 years:

2013 - C.Harris 1, D.Ihenacho 1, K.Webster 1,

2012 - C.Bailey 1,

2011 - C.Bailey 1, A.Goodman 1,W.Woodyard 1,

2010 - M.Haggan 1,

2009 - A.Goodman 1, W.Woodyard 1, A.Davis 1

Defensive Holding – 5 yards and an automatic first down!

It's third down and 22 yards to go and your D-Back gets called for this one on an incomplete pass! The automatic first down is the killer here, especially when it cost you the change in possession and gave your opponent new life.

Here are the Broncos biggest offenders during the past 5 years:

2013 - C.Harris 4, D.Ihenacho 3, T.Carter 2

2012 - C.Bailey 4, D.Trevathan 1, M.Adams 1

2011 - C.Harris 2, Q.Carter 1,

2010 - R.Fields 1, Ja.Williams 1

2009 - M.Haggan 2, W.Woodyard 1, B.Dawkins 1

Roughing the Passer – 15 yards and an automatic first down!

This is a penalty that I think is a good one under the right circumstances. If it's the result of a player (Von Miller, Ware etc.) who is "Bringing the Wood", "Fired Up", or "Making a Statement" then I say bring it on! I'd like to see a few of these against the NFC & AFC West this year for sure!

Here are the Broncos biggest offenders during the past 5 years:

2013 - K.Vickerson 1, V.Miller 1

2012 - V.Miller 3, R.Ayers 1

2011 - R.Ayers 1,

2010 - M.Thomas 1, R.Fields 1, J.Hunter 1

2009 - R.Fields 1, E.Dumervil 1, V.Holliday 1

Defensive Pass InterferenceSpot of the foul.

By far the most costly penalty in the game!

2013 - D.R-C 4, T.Carter 4, Q.Jammer 2, D.Ihenacho 1,

2012 -T.Carter 3, C.Bailey 1, J.Mays 1, M.Adams 1, C.Harris 1,

2011 - D.Williams 2, A.Goodman 1, Q.Carter 1, C.Vaughn 1, J.Wilhite 1

2010 - P.Cox 3, C.Bailey 2, C.Vaughn 1, J.Mays 1, B.Dawkins 1, R.Hill 1

2009 - A.Goodman 3, C.Bailey 1, T.Carter 1, T.Law 1

Special Teams:

Illegal Block Above the Waist – 10 yards. This is a penalty that apparently only takes one time and they learn from it. The ST Coaches must teach this one well.

2013 - K.Webster 1, O.Bolden 1, S.Johnson 1, J.Tamme 1,

2012 - A.Caldwell 1,

2011 - D.Rosario 2, D.Fells 1, M.Haggan 1, R.Bush 1, K.McCarthy 1,

2010 - P.Cox 1, J.Moss 1, R.Quinn 1, S.Thompson 1, D.Bruton 1, K.Alexander 1,

2009 - J.Moss 1, P.Hillis 1,

Illegal Blindside Block15 yards

This penalty was called against Denver just once in the past five years.

Combined Units Penalties

Illegal Use of Hands – 10 yards if committed by offense; 5 yards and automatic first down if committed by the defense. Untill Vickerson got three last year no player had multiples of this penalty in the past 5 years.

2013 - K.Vickerson 3, C.Clark 1, C.Harris 1, K.Webster 1,

2012 - V.Miller 1,

2011 - R.Clady 1,O.Franklin 1, Z.Beadles 1, A.Goodman 1, B.Bunkley 1, R.Ayers 1,

2010 - P.Cox 1, R.Harris 1, A.Goodman 1,

2009 - D.Reid 1, W.Woodyard 1,

Tripping – 10 yards, automatic first down if committed by defense.

This penalty is rarely called on Denver, but it's O-linemen that get called on it the most.

Unnecessary Roughness - 15 yards; automatic first down if committed by defense. (There are times when I like a few of these during the year!)

Here are the Broncos biggest offenders during the past 5 years:

2013 - K.Vickerson 2, O.Franklin 1, D.R-C 1, K.Moreno 1, M.Jackson 1, R.Moore 1, M.Adams 1

2012 - J.Mays 1, M.Adams 1, W.Woodyard 1, R.Moore 1

2011 - Z.Beadles 1, V.Miller 1, D.Williams 1, C.Harris 1, E.Dumervil 1, R.Ayers 1, B.Colquitt 1, R.Moore 1, Q.Carter 1, L.Ball 1, B.Bunkley 1,

2010 - J.Walton 1, M.Haggan 1, K.Vickerson 1, E.Decker 1, J.Mays 1, W.Woodyard 1, D.Williams 1, N.Jones 1, S.Thompson 1

2009 - R.Ayers 1, D.Williams 1, E.Royal 1

Last quote from nflpenalties.com;

I'm all for cutting back on the penalties, if we do so in the rule book. The problem is people want to just ignore the rules the game has. That's just a recipe for inconsistency and punishing clean play.

Further reading:

http://mmqb.si.com/2014/01/06/greg-bedard-fewer-penalties-in-playoffs/

http://www.nflpenalties.com/blog/no-the-refs-should-not-swallow-the-whistles-when-it-matters

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR.