Seahawks vs Doltphins game thread

[Sibelius Hindemith]

On that final first down by Carson that sealed the deal, might have been a bad angle, but it looked like the ball was one pube short of the first down pole. It was however beyond the tape mark on the chain. So where do they measure the point of a first down...the pole itself or the end of the tape mark?

https://twitter.com/JasonKrump/status/1 ... 72/photo/1

Excellent question, maoling. I was wondering that very same thing. Hope this answer helps:

The first down marker is traditionally two orange poles with a 10 yard chain connecting them (10 yards from the inside edge of one pole to the inside edge of the other pole). Once a ball is spotted for play on 1st down, the Linesman spots his foot on the line of scrimmage. The chain operator places one pole at the location. Another chain operator places a marker on the multiple of five yard line nearest the end of the chain.

If the play results in a spot close to the line to gain (10 yards from the 1st down line of scrimmage), then the marker is placed on the multiple of five yard line and the chain extended to the spot of the ball. If the nose of the ball touches or goes past the inside edge of the pole, it is a first down.

I don't follow the part about the "multiple of 5 yard line". Why would you place a marker there?

[D-train]

On that final first down by Carson that sealed the deal, might have been a bad angle, but it looked like the ball was one pube short of the first down pole. It was however beyond the tape mark on the chain. So where do they measure the point of a first down...the pole itself or the end of the tape mark?

https://twitter.com/JasonKrump/status/1 ... 72/photo/1

That pick was at a bad angle.....

[IStillLoveTheMs]

The funny part, if you watch the replay of the game... I'm pretty sure the ref puts the ball about an inch closer to the pylon in favor of the Hawks right before they extend the link to measure.

I'm not complaining, but I remember feeling it was pretty blatant.

[Sibelius Hindemith]

Little doubt the Dolphins would have stuck it in the endzone had they gotten the ball back with over a minute left given how the D was looking late in the game That game was closer than most Seahawk fans want to admit.

[Michael K.]

I don't follow the part about the "multiple of 5 yard line". Why would you place a marker there?

Because it is a constant. That is how you keep the chain accurate. The ref marks the chain at the multiple, then places the marker at the same multiple out on the field. Then they stretch the chain tight. Otherwise, you would be relying on the chain gang to run out there straight and somehow be located in the exact same spot. The ref grabs the chain in one spot, runs out onto the field and sets it down on the same spot.

I have run the chain gang for several youth and Junior High games. They don't usually use a marker...the ref just grabs the chain in that spot and runs out to the same spot on the field. Not sure why it says multiple of five though, as most fields don't have full lines every five yards. It is generally the ten they would spot it with, I would think.

[57reasons]

Somebody mention last week that they should just let RW call the plays. Well his head set went out on the second to last drive and this is the result:

https://twitter.com/Joe_Fann/status/1312865299461337093

Ha! are we sure it actually went out? in McCarthy's latter years in GB, his QB ARod was notorious for having his headset go out, and "having" to call his own plays.
works for me allowing two of the best ever to play to make their own decisions in the moment knowing their own personnel as opposed to coaches' play calls pre=planned based on film study of other opponents.

[Sibelius Hindemith]

I don't follow the part about the "multiple of 5 yard line". Why would you place a marker there?

Because it is a constant. That is how you keep the chain accurate. The ref marks the chain at the multiple, then places the marker at the same multiple out on the field. Then they stretch the chain tight. Otherwise, you would be relying on the chain gang to run out there straight and somehow be located in the exact same spot. The ref grabs the chain in one spot, runs out onto the field and sets it down on the same spot.

The bolded parts make no sense to me. What do you mean by "marks the chain"? The chain is of a constant length and shouldn't need to be recalibrated, right? Why wouldn't they just put a marker on the sideline of where the line of scrimmage is at, then when they make the measurement just line up one of the poles with that marker? What relevance do the "multiple of 5" yard lines have?

In other words, when a first down is achieved, doesn't the official that places the ball determine the line of scrimmage and isn't that marked off on the sideline? Why would you need to do all that other stuff?

[Sibelius Hindemith]

Are you talking about what they're showing at 2:44 of this video with regard to marking the nearest multiple of 5 yard line?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5PRiNBAR2o

If so, then your explanation makes sense to me now. I had assumed from the original quote that they were placing a marker on the sideline but not on the chain itself. The quote from Maoling's post....

Another chain operator places a marker on the multiple of five yard line nearest the end of the chain.

... was not very well worded. I note that you did say "marks the chain" in your post MK but it just didn't sink in because I've never seen that before. I always assumed they placed the one pole at the LOS and then stretched the chains out from there.

[Michael K.]

Yeah, The only way to run the sticks out there is to "mark" them at the line...like the 10, 20, 30...etc. So yes, the chain itself. For some reason I was, and still am, struggling to explain! Haha

The only way they can accurately stretch the chain from the LOS is of the LOS is on a solid yard line....the 10, 20, etc. Otherwise there is no way to accurately place in in the middle of the field, away from the sideline.

[SeattleAddict]

am I the only one that thinks the chain measurement is kind of... I dunno... inaccurate?

I mean, it's down to fraction of inches, but the whole thing is predicated on the original guy putting the marker in the right place. If he's off by 6 inches, then the whole thing is off. Seems like something they could handle with something like the hawkeye thing they use in tennis.

Granted, non-NFL levels of football wouldn't be able to use it, but they don't have instant replay, etc etc.