Officiating

The crew for the Steelers Browns game is ranked 4th in the most penalties per game (~18/gm). The off sides by Watt was a typical example of over-officiating.

And then you get obvious bias towards some teams and it smacks of league tampering:

 

Watt seemed upset about at least one of the calls. It makes you wonder how closely they were calling that offsides.

 

One of the big complaints other teams have had when playing the Steelers is that Watts is offsides a lot. I personally don't think so, but maybe I'm biased on this. I think he just times things really well and is always very close to being offsides. But that may be one of the reasons that he got tagged in this game. He might have been under a microscope with the default setting set on call the penalty.

 

First the refs normally talk to players about this before calling a penalty

Watt is looking right at the ball

Ref is looking right at Watt and the ball

It was a dumb penalty by Watt particularly the second time

 

I was afraid he was going to get penalized for jawing with the ref after the second call.

 

I don't have a problem with them calling it, but I do have a problem with them refusing to throw the flag for offensive holding while they are watching him more closely.

 

Tomlin talked about if before the game that officiating crew was one of the ones that likes to throw a lot of flags.

 

Did they show a replay of his second infraction? I don’t recall seeing one, so I can’t say it was dumb by Watt. He routinely checks with the official, like a WR does, to make sure he’s lined up okay. Whether he did on these plays, I can’t say, but his brother said he did on the first one, I believe. Lining up offside, seems like a chincy call to me, which is why you pretty much never see it. They also called one on Porter Jr.. For some reason it seemed like a point of emphasis for this crew.

 

Ok ....1st....Many times, and even on at least one of the penalties, Watt turns to the line official, and ask for the thumbs up, and gets it, and then the ball is snapped, and still they say he lined up off sides. That makes no sense to me. How do You say is good, and then throw the flag?? Go back, and watch the game.