Impressively IMO, the Big Ten has 8 teams in the S&P+ Top 25 for defense. The Wildcats are one of them. Between that and Michigan's habit of having its offense travel unwell, this will be a good test.how much of that is the B1G not playing anybody yet and the offenses in the B1G being bad.
Michigan is favored by 14 with Northwestern coming off a bye week and having lost starting RB Larkin to a medical retirement. I think Northwestern's defense will test Michigan more than Nebraska but can the Wildcats score any points?doesn't matter. Harbaugh will make sure this one is closer than it needs to be. I doubt highly that the OL will be able to replicate the success they had at home against a reeling Nebraska squad. Harbaugh will force the run and put Michigan in 3rd and longs all game long. He won't open things up and let Patterson throw the ball 40 times a game and put his athletes in space and use tempo to get the Northwestern D on their heels. If he went 4 wide and played Ambry Thomas on offense the entire game and put Chris Evans in space and threw him the ball- forget about it. They'd shred Northwestern in half.
I was really disappointed how Ambry dropped that deep touchdown McCaffery threw. It was in stride and on his hands. Hopefully that's the only example of bad hands we see from him.It was a really bad underthrow by McCaffrey and to the wrong shoulder. Thomas had to stop running and adjust to the ball, which let the safety and CB catch up and put a lick on him. Thomas had both of them smoked. Like flat out smoked. He blazed right by the coverage. McCaffrey doesn't have the strongest arm and I think that might've been an example of one of his weaknesses right there. That ball is thrown out in front of Thomas that's a TD. Thomas can F-L-Y.
how much of that is the B1G not playing anybody yet and the offenses in the B1G being bad.I could be wrong, but I think that at least in theory that should not be an issue. Doesn't SP+ use a metric where it compares each offense to how other offenses did against that defense? I think they do and if so, that should mostly take care of both of the questions that you raised.
They also have a RB who is probably the biggest RB mismatch in space in the passing game in the league in Chris Evans. They also have a freakish 6'7+ TE with great speed for the position in Gentry.Whoa there, slugger. Evans is great. Hopefully he heals up (hamstrings are THE WORST, very slow healing, recurrence rates are high). But JK Dobbins would like to have a word with you.
They also have a freakish 6'7+ TE with great speed for the position in Gentry. They also have a QB who has flawless mechanics, a lightning quick release, can run and throw on the run, and can make pretty much any throw on the football field in Shea Patterson. Unfortunately they don't have the offensive coaching staff to utilize these weapons. Really sad. And it really pisses me off they are basically wasting elite talent on offense. Better offensive staffs would actually use those weapons. Instead this guy and his band of rejects basically throw the ball 20 times a game or less on average through 4 games, don't get the outside WR's involved as much as they should, play Thomas on defense when it looks clear as day that he's a guy that needs the ball in his hands bc he's so god damn explosive, and they try to turn Chris Evans into a between the tackles runner instead of the hybrid space player that he clearly is. Give an elite offensive mind that collection of skill talent he'd build a ridiculous offense. Harbaugh doesn't have a clue what to do with these guys.Would you have passed more versus Nebraska? Why?
I could be wrong, but I think that at least in theory that should not be an issue. Doesn't SP+ use a metric where it compares each offense to how other offenses did against that defense? I think they do and if so, that should mostly take care of both of the questions that you raised.Another good point. Yes.
It was a really bad underthrow by McCaffrey and to the wrong shoulder. Thomas had to stop running and adjust to the ball, which let the safety and CB catch up and put a lick on him. Thomas had both of them smoked. Like flat out smoked. He blazed right by the coverage. McCaffrey doesn't have the strongest arm and I think that might've been an example of one of his weaknesses right there. That ball is thrown out in front of Thomas that's a TD. Thomas can F-L-Y.I guess I'll have to rewatch. I remember the throw differently. Even if underthrown, though, once you're there, many WRs make finishing that pay look routine.
I guess I'll have to rewatch. I remember the throw differently. Even if underthrown, though, once you're there, many WRs make finishing that pay look routine.go re-watch it. It was a bad throw. Thomas had to stop running completely, adjust to a ball that hit his shoulder pad, and then he got popped almost immediately. An accurate throw out in front of him, in-stride- that's a TD. He smoked that CB and that safety.
Whoa there, slugger. Evans is great. Hopefully he heals up (hamstrings are THE WORST, very slow healing, recurrence rates are high). But JK Dobbins would like to have a word with you.Would you have passed more versus Nebraska? Why?I'm not talking about them running the football in space. I definitely think Dobbins is superior to Evans there and all-around really. I was merely talking about Evans' ability as a receiver out of the backfield. His ability to run pass routes and catch the ball is as good as any RB that I've ever seen. He is just eceptional. His hands are great. He is excellent at that really. Just really pisses me off that they don't feature him that way. He should be getting 5-10 balls come his way in the passing game every single game without fail. Think: Curtis Samuel. What does Harbaugh do with him? Try to make him a a ground and pound back. Makes no sense. Literally no sense.
I think the passing game is too soon to judge. I'm not talking about the actual players and what they can execute. I agree it looks good. Here I mean the coaches and what they will call when it matters. ND was a cluster for other reasons. It was a terrrible week one game for this offense; would/could (probably?) be entirely different now. If it's true that the OL is turning a corner with Warriner now, then I think we have to wait until Wisconsin/MSU/PSU to see what the coaches actually want to do with the passing game.
#14 Michigan Wolverines (1-0, 3-1) at Northwestern Wildcats (1-0, 1-2) |
4:30 - Evanston, IL - FOX |
Well, I said last week that Nebraska would serve as a good litmus test between Notre Dame's elite defense, and the lousy Western Michigan and SMU defenses. In a weird way, if Michigan had simply looked good, I'd have an easier time drawing a conclusion than what just happened. Michigan so thoroughly dominated both sides of the ball, that it makes me question whether Nebraska is just a lousy team in a traditional helmet. I suspect they are worse than we thought, but there's no denying Michigan's performance. For some reason, Karan Higdon never seems fully appreciated, but it's clear that when he's in there, this offense just looks better. Is he a Day 1 NFL pick? No, but he's an every down back, with big play capability, who is 2nd in conference in yards per carry, at 7.9. They put up 56 points, and honestly the quarterbacks didn't have an overly impressive game. The most promising thing may have been that unlike the Notre Dame game, the coaching staff allowed Patterson to have his way with the short passes. Move the ball around, take what the defense gives you. The 18 receptions were spread out among 10 targets. The only "maybe" downside is that a week after his coming out party, I'd like to see Peoples-Jones remain an alpha in the passing game, and while he still made his impact in special teams, 1 catch for 10 yards isn't the follow up I was looking for. The way the defense looked, you wonder if Northwestern will be able to move the ball at all, particularly now that their starting running back was forced to retire due to a medical condition. Right off the bat, Nebraska's offensive line looked overmatched in a way you rarely see in a Big Ten game where Rutgers isn't involved. Northwestern returned 4 starters from an offensive line that played well together down the stretch last year, a major reason for the pivot in their season, after being a swinging gate early. So have they rolled that over into 2018? Well sort of. Their adjusted sack rate of 3.82% is 30th in the nation, #2 in the Big Ten. But even with a talent like Larkin, their 3.2 ypc on rush attempts was worst in the conference. So you have a projected first round NFL pick at quarterback with a line that has been the second best pass blocking unit, caveat for style of play getting the ball out quick, and you have the worst yards per carry in the conference, plus you just lost your starting tailback. Clayton Thorson may break the NCAA record for pass attempts in a game. He threw it 52 times in their loss to Akron, and may have to do something similar. That's their only chance to stay in it, but if they start going three and out, that's also a recipe for it getting out of hand in a hurry too. I think the Cats play closer to the team that I expected them to be when I picked this as a Northwestern win in the preseason, and hang around for a while, but I don't see any way they can keep up against this defense with a totally one dimensional offense. |
MICHIGAN 33, NORTHWESTERN 21 |
It was a really bad underthrow by McCaffrey and to the wrong shoulder. Thomas had to stop running and adjust to the ball, which let the safety and CB catch up and put a lick on him. Thomas had both of them smoked. Like flat out smoked. He blazed right by the coverage. McCaffrey doesn't have the strongest arm and I think that might've been an example of one of his weaknesses right there. That ball is thrown out in front of Thomas that's a TD. Thomas can F-L-Y.Here it is for context:
Here it is for context:you just said it was underthrown. therefore it was a bad throw. an underthrow = a bad throw. it was a bad throw. period. watch the slow mo replay. Thomas had to break stride, stop running and turn his body around. The ball didn't hit him in the chest. It hit his shoulder pad. He got his hands on it after it bounced off his shoulder pad and he got hit almost immediately. The only reason he got hit was because the ball was poorly thrown and Ambry had to stop and adjust which let the defender who had been smoked gain ground. Would've been a very difficult catch for an experienced receiver. Basically impossible catch for a CB who gets maybe a couple reps all week in practice at receiver moonlights a few snaps a game at receiver.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PyNhifI5ds
I wouldn't call anything about it a bad throw. Not perfect. And, you're right, underthrown. But Ambry still had space and hands on it. Well hands second, first it hits him in the chest - also on him. If Ambry wants to be a great offensive player, that's a catch he's going to need to make.
Bah. No. Saying that a throw, if ever underthrown, is bad is the same as saying any throw that isn't perfect is bad.It was a bad throw. We're just going to have to agree to disagree on this. Bad and mediocre QB's underthrow deep. Why? Because they are bad or mediocre.
For example, in other situations QBs often underthrow deep, wide open WRs on purpose to avoid an uncatchable overthrow. The QBs job is to deliver a catchable ball. Any catchable deep ball is good enough to not be called bad.
This wasn't a perfect throw. But it hit Ambry in the chest. The throw was "good enough." The catch was not.
I'm sure Ambry will get better at this / hope so / look forward to t.
(https://gifer.com/i/JQX8.gif)I miss his unbounded Wildcat fandom and optimism.
I rewatched it. It hit him in the numbers. Even if that weren't true, since he had his eye on it the whole time, the ball hitting Ambry's shoulder and hands doesn't let him off either. The ball got to the space where he could make a play. He didn't.I think McCaffrey is a better athlete right now than he is thrower of the football. Not sure that's something I want to see in a young QB. He's only a RS frosh so he's got plenty of time. Still really not sold yet. I don't see anything in his game that really wows me. His arm strength is definitely a little on the weak side. He's rail thin still. He needs to add more weight and he can improve that arm strength a little bit by building up his lower body and adding some mass. He'll probably have to be the guy after Shea leaves because Peters is most likely transferring after this year and I have doubts about Joe Milton ever being able to play at this level. Lot of similarities between Milton and Shane Morris.
We disagree. It's fine. Both players are playing for the future and could be great.
It was a bad throw. We're just going to have to agree to disagree on this. Bad and mediocre QB's underthrow deep. Why? Because they are bad or mediocre.So the argument here is not-perfect deep throws are by nature bad? This is kind of a common thing. We see ball placement that doesn't have that perfect lead and say, the throw could've been better.
Good and great QB's? They hit the receiver in stride on a deep ball.
The throw hit his shoulder pad. Not his chest. It was a pretty bad throw. Not sure McCaffrey has the arm to make that throw.
Michigan USED to have QB's that hit deep balls accurately. Shea can do it. Why they don't try it more with him is beyond me. Henne had a great connection with Manningham on those sort of throws. Below are examples of good throws on a deep ball. You have to put the ball out in front of the receiver right in his bread basket in stride. Those are good deep throws.
https://youtu.be/bR2b2BI6sxg?t=5m47s
https://youtu.be/gpmczVHz4r8?t=3m52s
Michigan’s D pulled their rear out of the fire. Kuddos to Michigan’s play callers in the 2nd half. Calling a Higdon draw on 1st down 5 or 6 times in a row for a maximum gain of 1 yard was spectacular and quite memorable.I’m not a big twitter guy, but was sent this last night and thought it was spot on.
Coming back on the road from being down 17 is probably a good learning experience.
I miss his unbounded Wildcat fandom and optimism.Thought about him a lot this weekend. There are just people you come across that make you feel better about life.
Some quick thoughts: Chase Winovich is the best player on that defense. Joshua Uche needs to move to DE. Put about 15 lbs on him and that's a future draft NFL draft pick at DE. He is explosive. Ditto Kwitty Paye. Both of these guys need more reps. Aidan Hutchinson needs more playing time as well. Rashan Gary needs to move inside. They need to get those 3 young guys more reps at DE. All 3 have been getting more pressure on the QB than Gary. I know Gary is battling through an injury, so maybe it's time to sit him for a couple weeks and let him heal.I think that undervalues Gary's game and production. He reminds me of Will Ghoston. With the main goal of being elite at holding the edge versus the run.
When he's healed up...move him inside to DT. That's the weak spot of that DL right now. DE is the strength. They've got 4 DE's who are flashing at a high level right now in Winovich, Paye, Hutchinson, and Uche. Move him inside, let him wreck shit inside, shore up that middle and get the other DE's more reps.Depending on whether he can make that transition midseason (without an offseason of prep), I agree and would like to see this too. But not because Gary's been a disappointment to me. Just because the depth outside is really blossoming now, and the inside, though improving, could afford an extra bullet in the chamber. Not on every down. Just on passing downs.
Other defensive thoughts: Josh Ross needs to be starting at LB'er over Devin Gil.He already has a starter's snap numbers. The ratio has gone from 50-50 to 66-33 and is only further incrementing toward Ross.
David Long and LaVert Hill are having slumps. They were a lot better last year. If they were thinking of leaving early for NFL- they might want to think again.Painfully true. I'm not sure what's with them. The surrounding defense isn't putting more strain on them. They are suddenly less sticky than they were. Granted, near perfection is hard to follow up, but they've been consistently less than they were. To be clear, we're talking about two A++ guys become A- guys. But still.
Brandon Watson has been the best CB by far this year.Amazing, isn't it? All hail Zordich.
Oh and Josh Mettelus needs to be benched for Brad Hawkins. Immediately. Hawkins is just a better athlete and football player.You say this a lot. Hawkins has a bright future, but you're really underrating Metellus (as if calling a B+/A- guy a C). At safety, the concern isn't Metellus anyway. It's Kinnel. His tackling is the most inconsistent on the team.
Offense is just a mess. Don't even know where to begin. Shea Patterson saved the day. He is ridiculously good. This would be the same team as last year without him. Sean McKeon continues to be horrible. Nick Eubanks needs to play over him. Period. Zach Gentry is awesome. They need to get the WR's more involved. Where are the fades or jump balls to their big WR's like Nico Collins and DPJ? Offense just sucks period.Lots to improve but they have the time and film to do it. This week, I thought the issue was largely a matter of scheme. BAB may jump in and say that's a common fan bugaboo/fallacy, and I'm open to that, but the drive ending with Higdon's first TD hailed an entirely different offensive strategy and it worked immediately.
for as good as Brown's defenses have been statically- they've seemed to really lack turnovers. Doesn't make sense. As disruptive as his front 7's routinely are- should translate into way more turnovers.Very true. But, to some extent, turnovers are random. Even when a fumble is forced, it isn't a turnover unless it bounces the right way.
That's what Michigan fans used to say about Will Ghoston, too. But MSU fans knew that just because a guy isn't piling up counting stats, doesn't mean he isn't dominating his assignment. Gary's holding the edge enough that no one is testing him. They are testing Winovich again and again, instead. Even when he blows them up too, offenses keep running at Winovich.Will Gholston was never the unanimous #1 recruit in the entire nation wire to wire since basically his sophomore year like Gary. Gary was #1 on those way too early rankings and he stayed #1 all the way throughout. Gholston was never hyped as a Top 5 NFL draft pick either.
The Michigan fans unhappy with Gary aren't smarter than those coaches. Gary's ascension is just fine. Well, except for that shoulder. I'm worried about that shoulder.
No, he wasn't #1 overall, and I get how that's different. Still, Ghoston was a hype monster of his own.I'm not knocking him. He's a great player. He'll be a 1st round pick for sure.
I agree that Gary's pass rush isn't otherworldly. I'm just not sure I need to care. Because his run defense very well may be the ebst of any DE in the conference. And his pass rush is routinely a quarter-second behind the guy who actually gets the sack. So it's not nothing. It's just not all-world.
Michigan isn't suffering for pass rush. The defense isn't suffering at all. Gary is a big part of that. If he's never more, he's plenty awesome. Enjoy him while he's here.
And, whatever the answer is, it's certainly not that the penalties aren't called because Michigan's DL gets held less often than other DLs.So here's the real question to me, why are not good defenses drawing so many holds?
Elite DLs get held more, not the same or less.
So here's the real question to me, why are not good defenses drawing so many holds?look at the total holds per 100 plays defended.
Like if OSU/UW/PSU were at the top and Mich was the bottom, that's fishy. But OSU is bottom half, UW somewhat better, IU and Minnesota up high?
So here's the real question to me, why are not good defenses drawing so many holds?This was my first thought as well. I think(with no validity or facts behind my thought) the answer is keeping games competitive. Let's be honest, sports are about money now. Influencing games to have or keep more viewers generates more $. I watched the Browns have a game literally stolen from them yesterday and it reminded me there's no reason to be attached at a deep level because the outcome is influenced.
Like if OSU/UW/PSU were at the top and Mich was the bottom, that's fishy. But OSU is bottom half, UW somewhat better, IU and Minnesota up high?
A conspiracy theory against at worst the 2nd biggest money generator in the league fails to even get off the ground.I think you need to go back and look at the post. It distinguishes between accepted and total per 100 snaps and the numbers are pretty glaring.
That's also only accepted holding calls. I'd be far more interested in seeing total holding calls. First, it would make sense that an elite defense would have a lower percentage of called holdings accepted because there's a higher chance of a play being made elsewhere. Either one player getting held while another player got a sack, or still getting an incomplete pass on a 3rd down. Something like that. Second, an elite defensive line presumably would cause teams to scheme differently. Why is Indiana at the top of that list and Michigan at the bottom? Possibly because the gameplan against Michigan is that you better get that ball out quickly to try and negate that DL. Third, maybe there's some amount of coaching involved there. Just like you see more and more basketball player flail their heads back driving down the lane, you see more and more defensive linemen throw their hands up in the air, drawing fouls where (a) one may not exist or (b) one may exist, but would not have been seen but for the arms flailing. Or maybe it's just dumb luck.
I think you need to go back and look at the post. It distinguishes between accepted and total per 100 snaps and the numbers are pretty glaring.It’s significant once you cut it down to a rate like that. The difference between first and last is less than a hold every two games (something like .44 per game). So we’re talking fewer than five penalty yards a game, and since the majority of holds probably don’t wipe out significant plays, maybe one, at most two extra big plays allowed in a year.
I don't think any of your explanations are reasonable. If you're looking at one game, then maybe, but over the course of 2 1/2 seasons you think everyone is just game planning better for Michigan than Indiana? Or Coaching? C'mon. We're not talking about a small difference here. We're talking the average is 49.8% higher than Michigan's average per 100 plays. That's a significant difference.
I think you need to go back and look at the post. It distinguishes between accepted and total per 100 snaps and the numbers are pretty glaring.I didn't see that the bottom number was total called. Then yes, that negates #1.
I don't think any of your explanations are reasonable. If you're looking at one game, then maybe, but over the course of 2 1/2 seasons you think everyone is just game planning better for Michigan than Indiana? Or Coaching? C'mon. We're not talking about a small difference here. We're talking the average is 49.8% higher than Michigan's average per 100 plays. That's a significant difference.
It’s significant once you cut it down to a rate like that. The difference between first and last is less than a hold every two games (something like .44 per game). So we’re talking fewer than five penalty yards a game, and since the majority of holds probably don’t wipe out significant plays, maybe one, at most two extra big plays allowed in a year.Ha. You're certainly not wrong about any of what you posted. Maybe the timing was also perfect since the fan base is still wondering how Higdon was flagged for a bizarre holding call, where he was body slammed.
Is that significant?
( this is an interesting look at how data presentation can often and inflame our passions, though I suppose ranking show that to us all the time, if we’re willing to look)
I didn't see that the bottom number was total called. Then yes, that negates #1.Any time Michigan fans think they have a legit gripe, your response is always "it can't be true because Michigan is a big money maker for the conference." In most cases, I understand your perspective, but that can't always be the out. On the flip side, I get it, some things are coincidence and the world is not out to get Michigan football.
But no, who says that's game planning BETTER against Michigan? I never said they were game planning better. I said they were game planning different. If you trust your OL to hold up you are going to game plan different than if you don't. You are going to trust longer pass plays to hold up, you are going to trust your OL to establish the run game. So while over the course of a game against Indiana you are probably going to hit more deep passes and successful runs, you are also putting yourself in position to get called for more holdings in the times you don't. And yes, coaching. Not better or worse coaching, but specifically coaching your defenders to throw their arms up (which I personally hate).
I'm not saying that one is legit, I'm just saying that is a far more reasonable explanation than actually thinking the Big Ten would have any sort of anti-OSU or UM or PSU bias. That mere suggestion made me literally lol. Maybe they hate money, and adding Rutgers was a purely football move.
Ha. You're certainly not wrong about any of what you posted. Maybe the timing was also perfect since the fan base is still wondering how Higdon was flagged for a bizarre holding call, where he was body slammed.And yes, that was a terrible call
Any time Michigan fans think they have a legit gripe, your response is always "it can't be true because Michigan is a big money maker for the conference." In most cases, I understand your perspective, but that can't always be the out. On the flip side, I get it, some things are coincidence and the world is not out to get Michigan football.Yes, there can be a legitimate gripe, I just don't buy that the legitimate gripe is some sort of conspiracy. For example if it's that their guys are playing football while other guys are flailing as they've clearly been coached to do, that's a gripe. Just like I don't buy any anti-MSU basketball officiating bias that some MSU fans claim. I do buy that some coaches coach their kids to flop and draw charges rather than play defense. Those are two different gripes. There are bad calls, that Higdon holding for example.
Lastly, what's a reasonable explanation to one person may be unreasonable to another. I would argue, there's also big money in Michigan losses as well. Nowadays, media dollars are driven by both good an bad. Michigan losing to Appalachian State fed many media mouths for a long time.
A conspiracy theory against at worst the 2nd biggest money generator in the league fails to even get off the ground.A. I agree that elite DLs should in theory have lower (sometimes even far lower) accepted opponent holds. But the total holds you asked for were posted in the same graphic and Michigan's opponents were a *drastic* outlier in that category, too.
That's also only accepted holding calls. I'd be far more interested in seeing total holding calls. First, it would make sense that an elite defense would have a lower percentage of called holdings accepted because there's a higher chance of a play being made elsewhere. Either one player getting held while another player got a sack, or still getting an incomplete pass on a 3rd down. Something like that. Second, an elite defensive line presumably would cause teams to scheme differently. Why is Indiana at the top of that list and Michigan at the bottom? Possibly because the gameplan against Michigan is that you better get that ball out quickly to try and negate that DL. Third, maybe there's some amount of coaching involved there. Just like you see more and more basketball player flail their heads back driving down the lane, you see more and more defensive linemen throw their hands up in the air, drawing fouls where (a) one may not exist or (b) one may exist, but would not have been seen but for the arms flailing. Or maybe it's just dumb luck.
Somewhat tangentially:they should put trackers in the field and football to help determine 1st downs.
I'm WAY past ready for the Big Ten to use its jerk money for full-time professional refs. It's dumb that a once/week ref can't feed a family of two (and barely a family of one) on his salary ... and that we act surprised at the quality of the calls.
And, no, paying them more can't guarantee there won't be weekly fan outcry, but at least it will be a gesture of good faith that the best refs are being chased. Not to mention that competitive pay is necessary for a healthy pipeline of officials. I'd like to see the cost/benefit of giving Big Ten refs NFL-equivalent salaries.
More transparency and individual accountability of refs is overdue as well. A few years back, the NBA started publishing extensive details for all calls and no calls in the last 2 minutes of close games. That would be a good start.
Big Ten refs need to be independently rated on performance, with transparency and consequences. Unfortunately, without higher salaries, the incentives to be a ref in such a system are low. The whole system needs a revolution.
GPS'ing balls has been suggested for years. It could help but on its own could not account for when a person's knee or elbow hit the ground. So it would require an elaboration of the powers of the review room, which may not be a good idea (for game flow or for getting it right).I would think trackers in the ball and markers, that would cause the markers to light up or signal when the three markers created a straight line would be how you would do that. It would still likely involve replay, but you could compare the knee to a light, similar to basketball comparing whether a shot is touching a players hand or not when the clock expires. I don't think it would eliminate replay, but it would help ensure that replay is correct. Spot of the ball outside of when the line to gain matches a mark on the field has to be the toughest call to overturn, and I think it would simply change that.
Also they should just get rid of all officials on the field except maybe 2 - 1 on each side of the LOS and have guys sitting in booths watching the game from every imaginable angle in real time in constant communication with guys on the field telling them what penalties to call or penalties not to call or which ones they missed.That's a radical idea. The game may inch in that direction. However I don't want football to ever throw a flag on literally *every* call. The game would never move or end. Because almost every play may have plenty of penalties. I just want a judgment call machine (let's call it a referee) to be fair and proportional when estimating which number of real penalties to see and flag.