Inside the game

A play, a plea and pass the Tums

The moments following a disputed call can be some of the most nerve-racking for an NFL coaching staff.

By STEPHEN F. HOLDER
Published November 16, 2005

TAMPA - The officials viewed it as a fumble, and the Redskins' jubilant reaction confirmed they were in agreement. Bucs coach Jon Gruden wasn't so sure. And there was only one way to find out.

Throw the flag.

That little red flag that can spur big changes indicates to an officiating crew that an NFL coach wishes to challenge a ruling through instant replay. In this case, Gruden wanted to be sure Cadillac Williams truly fumbled on that third-quarter play during Sunday's game. If upheld, the call would give the Redskins possession at the Tampa Bay 7.

The home fans cheered with approval, probably wondering what took Gruden so long.

If they only knew.

The moments immediately following a disputed call can be some of the most nerve-racking for a coaching staff. There are so many things to consider, so many questions to ask, so much information to process and so little time to sort it out.

"There are a lot of things you have to think about," Gruden said. "Was it a 1-yard gain? Was it the spot? Was it a catch on the sideline? What's the game situation? How many timeouts do I have left?"

Challenges are at a premium with only two per game, and each that does not result in a reversal costs a timeout.

Gruden's decision to challenge Williams' fumble ended in disappointment when the call was upheld. Three plays later the Redskins scored, and the Bucs had lost a critical timeout that would have been useful on their winning touchdown drive. By then, they had none.

It was only one example of how the decision to challenge a call can have huge implications, even if it didn't bite the Bucs this time.

The need to be judicious is clear. In those frantic moments, this is how the process unfolds for the Bucs: Gruden, who is responsible for calling the next offensive play and formation, must stop and radio quarterbacks coach Paul Hackett in the coach's box. Hackett, the replay quarterback if you will, immediately relays the opinions of the coaches in the box and examines a series of replays on his TV monitor, looking for anything conclusive.

On the field, Gruden and other assistants will gather information from the player or players involved, looking for additional input. All the while, Gruden (when the Bucs have the ball) or defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin (when the Bucs are on defense) continue working on setting up the next play, including making certain the correct personnel are in the game.

Assistant to the head coach Paul Kelly, who is assigned to throw the flag, awaits the decision.

It all happens in a matter of seconds between the last whistle and the next snap.

"Coach will usually ask, "Should we challenge this?"' Hackett said. "Then, in the box, it's "Yes, no, no, yes.' It really does require that everything stop. There is no more forward thinking about what the next play is going to be, nothing.

"For the play-caller, if we don't challenge, he's got to stay in rhythm and be ready for the next play. And if we do challenge, you have to have two plays."

One is for use if the call goes your way, the other if it doesn't.

Hackett relies heavily on the replays coaches see in the box, but even that isn't foolproof.

"A lot of times, when you're watching a replay, one or two views of a play might be inconclusive," he said. "It might take you until that third view to see it. Well, by then, the decision had to have been made already. So unless something pops up right away and you say, "There it is,' it's really hard."

It's particularly hard when the opposing team has the ball because it can expedite the next snap.

There are times when Hackett will yell into his headset, "Gimme a minute." But it's hard to blame Gruden for getting antsy considering the insanity that surrounds him.

"Remember, (Gruden has) got a ton of people in his ear saying, "I saw this, I saw that!' " receiver Ike Hilliard said. Mostly, they're players who never saw a call they wouldn't challenge, so a coach must take the source of the information into account.

In the end, making a challenge is a high-stakes roll of the dice.

A replay must show "indisputable visual evidence" to result in a reversal, something that can be difficult for cameras to capture. Case in point: Sunday's 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Ladell Betts. His foot appeared to graze the sideline, but the referee did not consider the evidence conclusive.

In fact since 1999, only 31 percent of reviewed plays have been reversed, including challenges that come from NFL replay assistants in the final two minutes of each half.

All a coach can do is make his decision and hope for the best.

"You just have to do it so fast," Hackett said. "It has to be almost instantaneous. Sometimes, they're very obvious, but most times, they're just not. And the play clock is running. Everything has to keep moving. But at the same time, everything has to stop."

Gruden is a proponent of replay and likes the current system that allows for challenges. He just doesn't like the headaches associated with it.

"Let's just say it's not my favorite part of the job," he said.

[Last modified November 16, 2005, 01:10:16]