Protection for QBs on agenda for CFL
25-yard penalty for deliberate head shots among several new measures in the works
The CFL is looking to increase protection for quarterbacks, with a recommendation that could potentially increase roughing the passer penalties from 15 to 25 yards.
With quarterbacks in mind, a recommendation from the CFL’s rules committee Friday said the Command Centre would have the ability to upgrade a 15-yard roughing the passer call to a 25-yard penalty for a direct blow to the quarterbacks’ head or neck with the helmet, when that player has a clear view to the quarterback and there are no mitigating circumstances such as a quarterback ducking his head.
There’s also a push for allowing the Command Centre to assist referees with roughing the passer calls, including instances where an obvious infraction was missed because the official’s view was blocked.
Also suggested: Whistling the play dead anytime a quarterback carrying the ball gives himself up by sliding with any part of his body. Currently, a quarterback can only “give himself up” by sliding feet first.”
“We always want to progress and protect the quarterbacks further — they’re the stars and key focus of our game,” said Darren Hackwood, the CFL’s senior director of officiating, after the committee wrapped up its annual meetings.
“We feel this is the way to have a deterrent, to add the 25-yard penalty. Allowing the Command Centre to help the referee call it will allow us hopefully to fix some of the misses we had last year.”
The committee is also suggesting that a second Coach’s Challenge be added, if the first challenge is successful.
“On his road trip across the country, (CFL commissioner) Randy (Ambrosie) heard that a lot from fans — that coaches should have that second challenge. We brought it to the committee and they were in favour of it.”
Other items being put forward include a 10-yard objectionable conduct penalty will be assessed for faking or embellishing contact, more commonly known as diving.
Spearing any player will be upgraded to a 25-yard penalty by the Command Centre when a blow is delivered with the top of the defender’s helmet, and he has a clear view to the opponent and there are no mitigating circumstances
such as the opponent ducking his head.
If a player receives two 25-yard penalties in the same game, he’ll be disqualified.
A kicked or thrown football remains a live ball instead of becoming a dead ball when it touches a goalpost ribbon.
The CFL Rules Committee includes CFL director of officiating Darren Hackwood, referee Al Bradbury, CFLPA rep Jeff Keeping, Kavis Reed (Montreal GM), Rick Campbell (Ottawa head coach), Jim Popp (Toronto GM), Orlondo Steinauer (Hamilton head coach), Mike O’Shea (Winnipeg head coach), Jeremy O’Day (Saskatchewan GM), John Hufnagel (Calgary GM), Brock Sunderland (Edmonton GM), and Ed Hervey (B. C. GM).
Recommendations now go to the CFL Board of Governors, which will decide on them later this spring.
“Generally, over the years, mostly they’ve gone forward with our recommendations,” said Hackwood.
COMBINE SCHEDULE: The CFL Combine kicks into full gear Saturday at the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport, with vertical jump beginning at 9:30 a.m., followed by bench press at 11:30. There will be a bit of a break before players begin interview sessions with representatives from the nine CFL teams. On Sunday, the offensive linemen, defensive linemen and kickers will take the field (40-yard dash, shuttle, 3-cone and broad jump) beginning at 9 a.m. at Varsity Stadium. That’s followed by offensive line and defensive line individual and group drills at 10 a.m. Long snappers and kickers will work out at 10:45 a.m. At 11 a.m., linebackers, quarterbacks, running backs, defensive backs and receivers take the field. Running backs, linebackers and quarterbacks will perform individual and group drills at 1 p.m. At 2 p.m., it’s receivers and defensive backs in individual and group drills. The Combine is scheduled to finish at 3 p.m.
SMORGASBORD OF TALENT: The Combine is a chance for some of the finest young talent eligible for the CFL Draft to show what they’ve got, on and off the field. Quarterback Michael O’Connor from Ottawa is 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, and loaded with talent. Recruited to play at Penn State, he left after a year and returned to Canada to play at UBC — where he had four very successful seasons. In 2015, he was the Vanier Cup MVP.
... Jaylan Guthrie, an offensive lineman from the University of Guelph, didn’t play in 2018. What he brings to the table, though, is a huge amount of talent. Some project he could be a first-round selection in the CFL draft.