Controversial new CFL rule limits DBs
CFL now barring contact with receiver after five yards off line
Yes, allows Keon Raymond, they’ve opened up whole new vistas for receivers.
Along with a real can of worms for defenders.
And we’re all well aware of where @ Mr_ Raymond25’ s sympathies lie.
“You know what, man?’’ murmurs the Calgary Stampeders’ all- purpose defender, with a soft, resigned shake of the head. “It’s gonna be tough. I won’t lie. I had my first experience with it today. I got a 10- yard curl route coming at me. Usually, I’d open up and kinda collision at the top of the route, you know what I’m saying?
“Stake my territory. Let the guy know I’m around, that it’s not going to be a free catch.
“But I … couldn’t. My first thought is ‘ Touch.’ But now’’ — Raymond hops back, hands out, palms up, as, as if trying to avoid being made ‘ It’ in a game of tag, “you can’t.
“We’re going to have to adapt, change our technique. A lot more footwork is involved. We’re working hard, but it’s a different way to play.
“As I said, it’s gonna be … tough.’’
In an effort to bump up dwindling scoring, light up those scoreboards to arcade- pinballgame levels, the CFL has, among a number of rule changes, including outlawing any form of contact on receivers after five yards off the line of scrimmage.
No getting in grills. No jostling. Nary so much as a fingerprint shall be laid upon fabric. Strictly verboten. So along with the motion, the yard- off and everything else stacked in favour of those trying to add to pass- catching numbers, move sticks and score touchdowns …
“This,’’ says Raymond, “is different from the NFL. The guys down there aren’t running at you at 100 mph. They don’t have the yard off. They have a neutral zone which is, like, inches.
“Up here, you get four or five guys running motion at you, you’re already a yard away and now there’s a five- yard no- contact rule, which actually gives you only four yards to try to slow ‘ ‘ em down now.
“Before camp Coach Huff came in and showed us a video, pointed some things out and said ‘ These situations will now be pass interference.’ And I’m like ‘ Oh, you kidding me?’ We saw one play, there were four incidents that could’ve been flagged. Four. On one play. They’re going to get so many calls, the game is going to slow down, and I don’t think that’s what they’re after.
“If they’re trying to make this a more offensive league, well, they did.’’
As with any rule change anywhere, there’s apt to be a run on fluttering nylon early as players familiarize themselves with the new reality; endeavour to strip away ingrained habits. Usually, the initial stages come with a zero- tolerance policy followed by a gradual loosening of the standards.
“Last year,’’ reasoned cornerback Buddy Jackson, “we were the least penalized team in terms of illegal contact. We had, what, two? So I think we should be all right.
“We’re just gonna play ball. I’m not sure how strict the refs are gonna be with hand- checking and stuff like that. Personally, if I want to be physical I’m going to press, so that five- yard rule isn’t really going to affect me, at the boundary corner.
“All we can do is adjust as well as we can and still play football. At the end of the day, it’s still football. So it’s gotta be physical.’’ Jackson shrugged. “Definitely gonna see some flags flying around, though.’’
The man entrusted with reprogramming is first- year DB coach Kahlil Carter, who spent four years patrolling the defensive backfield of the Argos.
“It really,’’ reckons Carter, “comes down to technique. Which is also a physical thing. There’s been a lot of hands- on in the past, but now they’re going to have to re- learn to play the way they kinda did in college, being able to cover guys with great technique, great eyes, great discipline. For us, it’s about adapting. You can’t worry about rules, you can’t worry about referees. We have to play our way within the parameters set out. If the rules change or modify or die down, you adjust accordingly.
“We didn’t touch anybody after five in Toronto and we were a No. 1 defence. To replicate that kind of success, you do it with concentration, hard work and coaching.’’
Change is never a simple matter. Points are down, passing yardage is down. From a defender’s point of view, though, it’s easy to understand the frustration of more legislated advantage to offences.
“I felt, honestly, like they panicked a bit with the offence down,’’ said Raymond. “We had five rookie quarterbacks last year. When I was a rookie every team in this league had a veteran QB, it seemed. So I think that was part of ( the scoring drop- off ).
“Hopefully they change ( the rule) back, or, because you might wind up seeing some arena football scores. Maybe not on our end, but you’ll see some. It’s the rule for now, though, and we’re going to have to play within the rules. I’ll tell you what, this is either going to make guys look really good or look really, really bad.’’