The Packers were on the wrong end of some questionable calls during Sunday’s loss to the Lions. Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur has chosen his public words about the officiating issues very carefully.
On Tuesday, LaFleur was pragmatic.
“I don’t think officiating in this league is very easy,” LaFleur told reporters. “I really don’t. I think things happen quickly and there’s some bang-bang, split-second decisions you’ve got to make. So, I don’t think they have an easy job. But, you know, all you want as a coach is consistency across the board. As best as it can be. And sometimes you get it, sometimes you don’t.”
He’s right. It’s a problem that’s inherent to the entire officiating function. As explained on Monday’s PFT Live, the league continues to officiate games with a system that has slowly evolved since the decades before TV was invented. At this point, given the various technologies that are available, the league should tear the current apparatus down and rebuild it in a way that maximizes video and digital technology.
Without that (and it’s unlikely the league will do it, for various reasons starting with the expense), the game is left with a flawed, imperfect system that relies on middle-aged officials who are trying to see what’s happening with the naked eye while avoiding being trampled without the benefits of helmets or pads.
The game moves quickly. Information needs to be processed and decisions need to be made in less than the blink of an eye, from a perspective among, not above, the fray.
No, it’s not easy. If it wanted, the league could make it much easier. Much more accurate. Much more reliable.
It won’t start until someone at 345 Park Avenue is willing to make an unpopular suggestion, and then to become the in-house champion for change. On top of everything else that person already has to do.
Which means that the current situation will continue, with mistakes being made and shoulders being shrugged and coaches and owners (except for Tom Brady, apparently) being muzzled. The only recourse for teams is to submit questions to the league, wait for answers, and then (ideally) keep quiet about that, too.