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Belichick on challenges
Head coach Bill Belichick held his Monday press conference at 11:45 a.m. EDT and one of the hot topics of discussion was instant replay and challenging calls such as Carolina running back Stephen Davis’ 1-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
He was asked what resources he has available to him to challenge such a play.
“The only thing I can see is the play and whatever is up on the big screen (on replay),” Belichick said.
As for what the coaching staff might see from up high in the press box, he said: “whatever they feed (to television) they have in the booth. It goes to both (teams). You can’t request anything. Whatever they put up there, you watch. If it’s not up there, you don’t see it. There is nothing you can do about it.”
Belichick said one aspect that would make it easier to challenge such plays is a camera stationed at the goal-line.
“From where I’m at, it’s hard to see a play like that at the goal-line. It would be good if the National Football League, as part of the instant replay rule, had a camera like they do in tennis parallel to the goal-line in every stadium. So as a coach you knew at least there would be a camera angle of that shot.
“Like the play last year, the St. Louis (Rams’) 2-point play, we challenged that one. Even looking back on it, I thought that was a good challenge. That was a tough one for me. But part of it is the angle and that was part of the problem on (Davis’) play. One thing that would help the rule – and it’s been brought up many times but the league refuses to do it – is have a camera right on the goal-line. So if you do challenge a play there is absolutely one look at it that will tell if the ball crossed it or didn’t cross it.
“If you want to take it beyond that, you could put them on the sidelines and that would give you a better view of those plays. If you want to take another step, you could put them on the end line. But if you’re only going to do two of them, I’d put them on the goal-lines and start with that.
“But we don’t have that. Whatever camera angles the network feeds have, that’s what you have to go by. Some times they are better than others. It depends on the play, where the ball is, and the angle of the shot.”
After looking at the Davis play on tape, Belichick said he still didn’t think there was enough evidence to overturn the ruling on the field. Belichick clarified the rule that only one part of the ball has to touch the goal-line to be considered a touchdown.
Off to check out the locker room. Will update some more from Belichick and the players in a bit.
--Mike
