Belichick discusses defensive line shifts

[Count Steeler]

Lost in the complaints about the malfunctioning of the Pittsburgh headsets on Thursday night was the fact that the Steelers also were complaining about New England’s use of a defensive line shift to induce a false start by the Pittsburgh offensive line inside the five.
On Sunday, as 14 teams were playing their Week One games, Patriots coach Bill Belichick discussed the technique with the media.
“We’re not trying to simulate anything,” Belichick said regarding the perception that the defense was simulating the snap count by sliding in unison. “We’re allowed to move on the defensive side of the ball and we’re allowed to move together. Like, we don’t have to move one at a time. If we move, then we make a call and we move. We’re not trying to simulate anything. We’re just trying to move the defense. That’s perfectly legal. Defenses have done that for, I don’t know, probably 75 years.”

That was apparently news to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who questioned the tactic after the game.
“I thought that there was a rule against that,” Roethlisberger said after the game. “Maybe there’s not. Maybe it’s just an unwritten rule. . . . We saw it on film, that the Patriots do that. They shift and slide and do stuff on the goal line, knowing that it’s an itchy trigger finger-type down there.”

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...e-line-shifts/

[ETL]

Cheaters will cheat.

If if football becomes a game of which team can induce the most penalties on the other then I'm going to watch the paint dry on my walls instead. Or porn. Maybe I'll watch porn.

[Count Steeler]

They must have a guy on staff that knows the rules better than the officials. And that is how they practice. Within the rules, outside the norm, and gain an advantage.

As long as they stay within the rules, well played. And perhaps the refs know that and they always will give the Pats* the benefit of the doubt.

That does not excuse them of the other cheating they do.

[lipps83]

I have no problem with this and kudos to the Pats for doing this. I see this the same as a hard count trying to draw the defense offside.

Everything else the Pats do is probably cheating, but this isn't it.

[86WARD]

Didn't think there was anything wrong with it initially.

[teegre]

Everything else the Pats do is probably cheating, but this isn't it.

I agree.

That said, let me put it this way:
If my uncle comes over to my house, and starts to sharpen a knife, I'm not going to get worried. But, if OJ did...

The point being: they made this bed (liars/cheaters) and they have to lay in it.

[NCSteeler]

He said they saw it on film, so here is another classic case of lack of preparedness. IT WAS ON FILM, practice against it, make all the players aware not to jump especially on the GOALLINE.

[katmandu]

They must have a guy on staff that knows the rules better than the officials. And that is how they practice. Within the rules, outside the norm, and gain an advantage.

I bet I know who is too!

Old man Junior Johnson (old NASCAR driver known for cheating) !



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I agree.

That said, let me put it this way:
If my uncle comes over to my house, and starts to sharpen a knife, I'm not going to get worried. But, if OJ did...

Come on man! Everyone knows O.J. didn't do it ! LMAO !

[teegre]

Come on man! Everyone knows O.J. didn't do it ! LMAO !

I'm not saying he didn't do it... let's just say: "I understand."

[hawaiiansteeler]

Come on man! Everyone knows O.J. didn't do it ! LMAO !

and now that OJ is in jail he's unable to look for the real killer...

[fansince'76]

I'm not saying he didn't do it... let's just say: "I understand."