BrutusBobcat
Icon and Entertainer
Well, holding could be called on almost any play. What I think that refs do is determine if it was a) severe enough to impede the defensive player and b) did it significantly affect the play.
I've noticed that holding tends to be called on bigger gains, where the runner or returner clearly was able to get into the open field due to a hold. I've also noticed that holds which occur closer to the ball carrier get called more often than those further away.
Also, open field holds (by WRs, for example) seem to get called more as well.
What I can't explain is why an egregious hold, like a tackle well, tackling a DE and allowing the QB to complete a pass, doesn't get called 100% of the time, as most other penalties are. I can't remember the last time I saw a missed false start, grounding, illegal formation, or to use one more closely related, block in the back. That one gets called virtually every time.
Maybe refs see allowing a little holding as "letting them play". Who knows? Is anyone on here a ref? :)
I've noticed that holding tends to be called on bigger gains, where the runner or returner clearly was able to get into the open field due to a hold. I've also noticed that holds which occur closer to the ball carrier get called more often than those further away.
Also, open field holds (by WRs, for example) seem to get called more as well.
What I can't explain is why an egregious hold, like a tackle well, tackling a DE and allowing the QB to complete a pass, doesn't get called 100% of the time, as most other penalties are. I can't remember the last time I saw a missed false start, grounding, illegal formation, or to use one more closely related, block in the back. That one gets called virtually every time.
Maybe refs see allowing a little holding as "letting them play". Who knows? Is anyone on here a ref? :)
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