[Joe Seahawk]

The Seahawks don't run a no huddle, but the refs still slow us down for some reason this year.. It's BS!

Hawks find pace slowed by referees

MIKE SANDO; The News Tribune
Published: September 21st, 2006 01:00 AM


KIRKLAND – Seattle’s Mike Holmgren has occasionally tested the elasticity of NFL rules sparing game officials from criticism.
Given a chance to unload Wednesday, the Seahawks’ eighth-year coach fell silent for eight full seconds.

“Um, it had an effect on us,” he finally said.

The Seahawks weren’t happy when officials stopped them from snapping the ball before Arizona’s defensive players could substitute Sunday.

“It had an effect on us, and I don’t want it to bother the quarterback, certainly,” Holmgren said. “So we’re going to do what we do and play by the rules. You’re allowed to do what we do.”

Rules prevent offenses from rushing to snap the ball “with the obvious attempt to cause a defensive foul” such as “too many men on the field.”

The Seahawks get in and out of the huddle faster than most teams. Opposing defenses sometimes have trouble substituting to match Holmgren’s ever-changing personnel combinations.

Officials never penalized the Seahawks on Sunday, but they did raise concerns.

“For some reason, the refs were trying to slow us down,” quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. “They kept holding us on the line of scrimmage.”

Officials stopped one play when the 25-second play clock was down to 18 seconds (the NFL’s usual 40-second clock becomes a 25-second clock following administrative stoppages and game delays). Holmgren said he sought clarification from officials.

“Our tempo is good, but it’s nothing that (opponents) can’t substitute or they can’t do what they’re supposed to do, too,” Holmgren said. “I talked to the officials about it, yes.”

Opposing coaches might not notice the Seahawks’ fast pace during preparations because the time between plays is edited out of the videos they watch. Word has gotten around as the Seahawks have become more successful in recent seasons.

“There has been some mention of that pace business in the last couple years, and until it was talked about or written about or something, I was never really even that aware that we were doing that,” Holmgren said.

“I just know that I want the guys in and out of the huddle. I think it’s a bad sign when you’re watching a football game – any football game – and after the play the guys get up kind of slow, they kind of meander back to the huddle. I don’t like that look.

“I try to get the play in as quickly as I can so Matt can do what he has to do, too, if he has to change it or whatever.”

http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports...-5353313c.html