The NFL will reportedly consider measuring first downs electronically in 2025 season

[tredadda]

Everyone cheers these rule changes because they think it hurts KC. They tend to forget that their team will also be impacted positively or negatively by this. Gonna laugh if Buffalo gets spotted short again or KC picks up a critical first down they might not have due to this technology. No different than increased emphasis on illegal formations because folks reeeed about KC and Juwan Taylor.

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by tredadda

Everyone cheers these rule changes because they think it hurts KC. They tend to forget that their team will also be impacted positively or negatively by this. Gonna laugh if Buffalo gets spotted short again or KC picks up a critical first down they might not have due to this technology. No different than increased emphasis on illegal formations because folks reeeed about KC and Juwan Taylor.

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DETERMINING THE SPOT OF THE BALL. IT ONLY DETERMINES IF THE BALL, ONCE SPOTTED BY AN OFFICIAL, IS ACROSS THE FIRST DOWN MARKER

It only eliminates the need for the chain gang to measure on the field.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DETERMINING THE SPOT OF THE BALL. IT ONLY DETERMINES IF THE BALL, ONCE SPOTTED BY AN OFFICIAL, IS ACROSS THE FIRST DOWN MARKER

It only eliminates the need for the chain gang to measure on the field.

They can measure dees....

[tyecopeland]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DETERMINING THE SPOT OF THE BALL. IT ONLY DETERMINES IF THE BALL, ONCE SPOTTED BY AN OFFICIAL, IS ACROSS THE FIRST DOWN MARKER

It only eliminates the need for the chain gang to measure on the field.

Are they also going to electronically monitor where the chain gang puts down their sticks? Because isn't that in itself subject to miniscule discrepancies?

Ive always been confused about when they move the chains, but then move them back to remeasure. Like how do we know you got the precise spot back?

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by tyecopeland

Are they also going to electronically monitor where the chain gang puts down their sticks? Because isn't that in itself subject to miniscule discrepancies?



Ive always been confused about when they move the chains, but then move them back to remeasure. Like how do we know you got the precise spot back?

They mark a spot on the chain that's directly in the middle of a yard line.

[tyecopeland]

Originally Posted by DaFace

They mark a spot on the chain that's directly in the middle of a yard line.

I understand that part. But say the ball gets spotted somewhere inbetween two yard marks. The post gets put down roughly the same between the yard marks but is it exact?

Then the other part, they move the chains. Aren't they also moving that spot on the chain for this next set of downs? Who knows if they get the exact link in the exact place when all of a sudden the spot is challenged and they have to move the chains back?

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by tyecopeland

I understand that part. But say the ball gets spotted somewhere inbetween two yard marks. The post gets put down roughly the same between the yard marks but is it exact?

Then the other part, they move the chains. Aren't they also moving that spot on the chain for this next set of downs? Who knows if they get the exact link in the exact place when all of a sudden the spot is challenged and they have to move the chains back?

There is a clip-on circle that goes on a yard-line. You maintain that marker until the chains move. They re-clip to match a yardage line when they move the down markers. See like the orange circle in the middle of this set:

[tyecopeland]

Originally Posted by kccrow

There is a clip-on circle that goes on a yard-line. You maintain that marker until the chains move. They re-clip to match a yardage line when they move the down markers. See like the orange circle in the middle of this set:

Right. Like I said. They have to move that clip when they move the chains. So how long do they wait to move the clip? They move the chains, then move the clip and then move the chains back to remeasure? It doesn't happen a lot but enough times I've wondered about the mechanics of it.