Today will be the fourth column this week on my objections to almost all the CFL changes that were announced Monday.
The rouge is significantly changed. The league press release states:
The rouge will no longer include a single point for a missed field goal attempt that goes wide of the goalposts. A point will also not be awarded when a punt or kickoff sails through or rolls out the back, or sides, of an end zone without being touched by a returner.
If a punt, field goal or kickoff settles in the end zone, and the returner fails to take it out or takes a knee, a single point will still be awarded.
The change eliminates games being decided by a missed field goal, punt or kickoff through the end zone.
The modified rouge – in conjunction with the repositioned goalposts and the shortened field to be instituted in 2027 – will encourage more aggressive play-calling on third downs, given the threat of the return game or the possibility of yielding favourable field position on the ensuing drive.
The rule will practically eliminate the rouge. With shorter end zones most kickoffs, field goals and punts that reach the end zone will go through the end zone or out the sides of the end zone. If the ball is coming down 10 - 15 yards deep in the end zone returners will let it land as most of the time it will bounce out of the end zone. If it is caught from the goalline to 10 yards deep it will be be returned out of the end zone most of the time as returners can easily reach the goalline.
I never had a problem with a game being decided by a missed field goal, punt or kickoff going through the end zone.
The existing rules push defences to aggressively defend last drives with the score tied to prevent short field goal attempts that can win the game by being made or missed with a wide kick going through the end zone.
The argument that missing a field goal should not be rewarded can hardly have been a major consideration since the rouge was retained in a modified form. A regular season game or a playoff game or a Grey Cup can still be won by a missed field goal.
The rouge is the most Canadian rule. It is unique and makes our game different. It is part of the brand of Canadian football.
The rouge is a part of the structure of the Canadian game including field size and the goalpost at the goalline that forced every play to have consequences from the first play of the game to the last play of the game.
I return to Nathan Rourke’s comments to 3DownNation where he stated with regard to the rouge:
“I know that’s a trade-off. But again, the rouge is something that’s uniquely Canadian. Something that, again, I grew up with, loving, and being able to embrace that, embrace special teams, I think is amazing, it’s a part of the uniqueness of the game. The commissioner talked about wanting to preserve the rouge, I don’t believe him, I don’t believe him.”
I think the greatest impetus for change came from those who see Americans mocking our game for having the rouge. I have often heard they consider the play weird. My experiences in Toronto have convinced me that most residents of Toronto care what Americans think of them. I do not care what Americans think of Canadian football.
I think American football is weird having fair kicks to avoid having to return kickoffs and punts. Fair kicks also mean onside kicks are limited to be bounced off the ground. The American game avoids having consequences for every play. I am sure it would be hard to find even a few Americans who care if Canadians think their game is weird.
The number of games decided by rouges is so small as to be insignificant. Changing a rule because it might affect a playoff game or the Grey Cup is not enough justification to change the principle that every play has consequences in Canadian football. Either the rouge is fully part of the Canadian game or not a part of the game. The new rule emasculates the rouge.
The new rule with the 35 second clock was totally unneeded.
The league describes the change:
To improve game flow and consistency, a new 35-second play clock will automatically begin as soon as the previous play is whistled dead. Currently, the 20-second play clock does not start until manually initiated by an official. The change eliminates inconsistencies in timing caused by teams getting set at their own pace, varying times taken to set yardage markers, and more.
The revised play clock also instills a sense of urgency in players to progress the game and continue the drive in a timely fashion.
The inconsistency on timing could be avoided by instructing officials, upon a play being dead, to simply take the ball and spot it immediately and starting the 20 second clock without regard to teams getting substitutions in, setting yardage markers and whatever “more” is meant above. It would be up to teams and the yardage people to keep up to the play.
I heard the Commissioner lamenting on the SportsCage that it took 11 minutes to play just over a minute late in a recent game. Applying the above instructions to referees would have prevented the prolonged ending. There would be no leisurely looking around by the referee to see if substitutions and yardage marking were all done in the last three minutes of the second and fourth quarters.
As I understand the current rule it would destroy the drama of the last three minutes of the game where the team ahead has the football with three minutes to go and a first down. When the three minute timeout ends the clock starts. With a play taking about five seconds and 35 seconds between plays for 40 seconds per play the offence could use up 120 seconds leaving the trailing team but a minute with the ball.
If the defenders have a timeout it could reduce the time offences could run off but one first down and the game is over. Under current rules an offence getting a single first down early in the last three minutes cannot run out the clock.
Unless the existing rule of the clock not starting in the last three minutes after an incompletion or out of bounds play would remain the trailing team could barely get any plays completed.
If the 35 second clock is not going to apply in the last three minutes we are back to the inconsistencies the new rule was designed to prevent.
The 35 second clock is subject to manipulation by strategic injuries stopping the clock.
It is effectively the American approach where there is a 40 second clock.
Just direct the officials to spot the ball more quickly all game and there would be no problems with pace of the game unless the Command Centre remains allowed to intervene. My thoughts on the Command Centre are for a different column.
I do support the teams being on opposite sides of the field. There is nothing unique or special related to the Canadian game in having them on the same side.
