This is a good place to post an article about the disparity of the numbers, andtypes of penalties called among crews. Very interesting to realize some crews are tough in certain areas, and verylenient in others when it comes to infractions. It would behoove coaches to study the predilections of each crew, to determine what they can or cannot get away with on the field, and alter their game plans accordingly.
http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/Article.php?Page=1512
(snip)
Ron Winter led the crew that called the most penalties. Controversial Walt Colemanled the crew that called the fewest.The difference was huge:Winter's crew tossed 83 more flagsthan Coleman's crew over the course of a 15-game officiating season,resulting in nearly 600 more penalty yards.
<UL>
<LI>Winter's crew called228penalties; 205 were acceptedfor 1,666 yards
<LI>Coleman'screw called 145 penalties; 132 wereacceptedfor 1,074 yards
</LI>[/list]
That's a truly remarkable gap between two officiating crews basically watching the same football games.
<UL>
<LI>Winter's crew called an average of15.2 penalties; an average of13.7 were accepted for 111.1 yards.
<LI>Coleman's crew called an average of9.7 penalties; an average of 8.8 were acceptedfor 71.6 yards.</LI>[/list]
Even assuming that the calls go both ways, that disparity is hard to explain.
Edited by: Bart
