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Why is holding a 10 yard penalty?

dream_team

Hall of Fame
Just wondering... I can understand on passing plays, a hold could save a sack, which usually causes a loss of more than 5 yards. But on running plays, 10 yards may be too steep for the penalty.

IMO, holding on passing plays should stay a 10 yard penalty. But on running plays, should be only a 5 yard penalty.
 
Who cares? They only call it when they need to change the outcome of the game. Like 3 seconds in basketball. Holding is the biggest BS call in football, it's on every play but only called when it'll help out a good or popular team.
 
I agree that the 10 yard penalty is a bit too harsh. If it happens on every play, the penalty should be less severe. I would like to see a 5 yard penalty for holding.
 
There is no way the officials can watch all the trench fights on every play. The penalty must be severe so the player fear's being caught. Also holding seems to turn modest gains into booming plays. They must be held in check.
 
It should be Loss Of Down.

So on 1st and 10, you're on your own 20-yard-line. You run or pass the ball, and you gain 10 yards...but someone on the offense was holding. It becomes 2nd down and 10, with the ball still on your own 20-yard-line.

Doesn't negatively impact the offense and doesn't give the defense an edge by making the offense have a 1st and 20.

HOWEVER...an offense might be more tempted to push the limits of holding on a crucial 2nd and 1 or something short yardage...because the reward might outweigh the risk: You get caught holding on 2nd and 1??? OK, you still have 3rd and 1 to work with.

So maybe my idea is not the best one. LOL.
 
I think it is fair. I wish they would have a technical foul call ala NBA, when a player whines about not getting a pass interference call and such!
 
I do think offensive penalties should be more focused on loss-of-down (than yards moved backwards). You cheat, you lose the down (play). You shouldn't get to try and throw a 40 yard pass on the same down after you committed a hold on a run play. Why should the O ever get to replay a down that they just got caught cheating on?
 
I do think offensive penalties should be more focused on loss-of-down (than yards moved backwards). You cheat, you lose the down (play). You shouldn't get to try and throw a 40 yard pass on the same down after you committed a hold on a run play. Why should the O ever get to replay a down that they just got caught cheating on?

How about this idea:

1. You're on your own 20, and on 1st down your offensive lineman gets called for holding.

2. The ball gets backed up 10 yards to the 10, and it becomes 2nd and 10 from the 10. (The new first down marker is at the 20).

It's the best of both worlds. The offense loses forward progress, by having to back up 10 yards, but the offense doesn't have to get 20 yards to get a first down. In essence, it's a 20-yard scenario but it makes 2nd and 3rd down much more manageable for an offense...yet they screwed themselves by losing 10 yards of field position.
 
There is no way the officials can watch all the trench fights on every play. The penalty must be severe so the player fear's being caught. Also holding seems to turn modest gains into booming plays. They must be held in check.

*BAM*

That is why holding is a 10-yard penalty. 15 is too severe, 5 is not enough of a deterent, 10 will stay in a players head.
 
*BAM*

That is why holding is a 10-yard penalty. 15 is too severe, 5 is not enough of a deterent, 10 will stay in a players head.

Agreed. Against a decent defense, 10 yards is almost a drive killer. Linemen do not want to be the guy that killed a drive.
 
I read somewhere back around 1974, when the NFL changed the penalties for offensive holding, illegal use of the hands, and tripping from 15 yards to 10 yards, that the reasoning was something like this. In the case, IF the play COULD have resulted in a first down, there would be compensation and was severe enough for an UNKNOWN. In the case, IF the play WOULD NOT have resulted in a first down, it would not be too severe.
 
How about this idea:

1. You're on your own 20, and on 1st down your offensive lineman gets called for holding.

2. The ball gets backed up 10 yards to the 10, and it becomes 2nd and 10 from the 10. (The new first down marker is at the 20).

It's the best of both worlds. The offense loses forward progress, by having to back up 10 yards, but the offense doesn't have to get 20 yards to get a first down. In essence, it's a 20-yard scenario but it makes 2nd and 3rd down much more manageable for an offense...yet they screwed themselves by losing 10 yards of field position.

I think I like that. :thinking:
 
How about this idea:

1. You're on your own 20, and on 1st down your offensive lineman gets called for holding.

2. The ball gets backed up 10 yards to the 10, and it becomes 2nd and 10 from the 10. (The new first down marker is at the 20).

It's the best of both worlds. The offense loses forward progress, by having to back up 10 yards, but the offense doesn't have to get 20 yards to get a first down. In essence, it's a 20-yard scenario but it makes 2nd and 3rd down much more manageable for an offense...yet they screwed themselves by losing 10 yards of field position.

this is pretty terrible and fixes a problem that isn't even a problem. it sucks to lose 10 yards, but uh...don't hold?
 
Its a fair penalty and its not a bs call. While there might be a little holding on ant given play they mostly call the egregious ones that are cllosest to the play. Yeah sometimes the refs make questionable calls but that isn't exclusive to holding penalties.
 
It's a 10 yard penalty because the only thing stopping offenses these days are penalties, so the league needs it. :D
 
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