Many on BBI have likely now seen the game via replay. Of the typical questionable calls that we whine about after a loss, this one sticks out as having the greatest impact.
4:44 remaining 2Q, WFT driving, 3rd & 7 from our 41. Pass is behind 17 as he does a split on the ground to reach behind for the ball. No good, we get the stop! Then, 2-3 seconds later, we see a flag fly at the top of the screen.
Call is holding “before the pass” against 37 (who had a long day in single coverage). Cut to the replay, and it shows a hand on the back WITH A CLOSED FIST, trying, or not trying to make a grab of the jersey, but failing to, as the jersey never pulls. Yes, Moreau did have an arm in front of 17, but it didn’t look consequential. The call is typically made on a jersey pull.
So, about 5 seconds after that took place, after the play is incomplete, the official decides to throw the flag, as if waiting to see the outcome of the play before making a decision!
Note, 3 plays later, the same official throws a DPI flag near the goal line, which upon a conference, was picked up.
WFT got their 3 pts, and you know the rest.
Anybody else see it that way?
THIS. Also agree with OP. Thought it was a bad call and a very very late flag. And the flag that was picked up I was absolutely going balistic over prior to them picking it up.
All I can say is look again, more closely. Moreau may have tried to hold, but failed to do so.. so we have to say - it wasn’t a bad call, just the wrong call. And as it turned out, maybe the biggest call of the day.
Considering the evidence:
- McLaurin wasn’t slowed at all (he arrived before the ball - plus it was a bad pass…)
- Vilma said “he grabbed the back of his shirt” which implied that it wasn’t the hand on the chest - that didn’t look like a hold.
- McLaurin’s jersey was not pulled - Moreau missed his target (or thought better of it).
It just wasn’t a hold…but it was a huge play.
The thing that irked me was the timing of the flag - waiting until the play was over to throw a flag for something that supposedly happened 10 yards ago. Never seen an official who decided to wait for the outcome before committing to a penalty.
On the other hand, maybe the flag got stuck in his pocket….😕