Blandino says SF shouldn't have been penalized for roughing passer
The NFL said Ed Hochuli made a bad call Sunday. (USATSI)With the 49ers trailing the Seahawks by three points early in the fourth quarter Sunday, Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson threw incomplete on third down. That meant the Seahawks would set up for a field goal, and even if they made it, San Francisco would still be behind by only one score.
Except 49ers linebacker Nick Moody hit Wilson in a way that compelled referee Ed Hochuli to throw a penalty flag for roughing the passer, giving the Seahawks an automatic first down. Two plays later, Wilson threw a touchdown pass, giving Seattle the 17-7 lead it would hold until the end of the game.
But here's the thing. On Monday morning, Dean Blandino -- who's in charge of NFL officiating -- told the NFL Network, via NFL.com, that the penalty should not have been called.
It's hard to argue with him. First, the video evidence.
As for Blandino's take ...
'In looking at it, it was not (the correct call),' Blandino said. 'The rule protects a passer from two types of hits: Hits to the head or neck, or hits with the crown or forehead, which is just below the crown part of the helmet, and that's what the referee called. It's close, but when you look at it on tape, Moody's head is up, he hits with more of the side and the facemask to the body of the quarterback, and in our review, with the ability to look at it in slow motion, it's not a foul.'
OK, but then did Hochuli call it that way? Considering it was a major call that severely hurt San Francisco.
'Certainly, if he doesn't see the whole action, we don't want him to throw the flag,' Blandino said. 'Ed was getting into position and he saw him, or what he thought he saw ducking the head and making the contact, so he wouldn't throw the flag if he didn't see it, but it obviously happens quick, it's full-speed, and he doesn't have the benefit of the slow motion replays that we all do after the fact.'
Which brings us to this point.
Blandino's explanation of the bad call on the 49ers illustrates the need for replays on judgment calls.
- SI_DougFarrar (@SI_DougFarrar) December 15, 2014
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