My take on the four calls

[All-American]

I watched the replay of the game on the Mtn on Sunday, paying especially close attention to the four more controversial calls which the refs made. Here is my view on the calls:

1. Offensive Pass Interference on Austin Collie. There was hand-slapping and jersey grabbing throughout the play and throughout the game. Utah had clearly made tough, physical play by the defensive backs a part of their game plan, and this play is no different. It comes as little surprise that Hall, Pitta, Collie, and Allen all complained about the contact coming from Utah defenders through the course of the game. On this particular play, the contact was there just as it was most of the others, but the very last thing that happened just before the ball landed in Collie's hands was a very clear push by Collie of McCain. No way the ref can let that go: good call by the refs.

2. No Personal Foul on Brian Kehl. To me, the distinction between unnecessary roughness and a no-call is the ability for the defender to recognize and react to the dropped ball, the step out of bounds, etc. In order for this to have been a legitimate penalty, Kehl would have needed to see that the ball was not caught and had sufficient time to adjust course. The receiver had not even hit the ground before Kehl made contact. That doesn't seem to be time enough for Kehl to make a course correction, and I'd believe him if he said that he didn't know the receiver had not caught the ball. It did look like Kehl's helmet hit the back of the Utah receiver's helmet at the bottom, but I didn't think it was enough to justify a penalty, either. Good no call by the refs.

3. Personal Foul committed against Pitta. Again, the distinction is the ability for the defender to recognize and react. The Utah defender had a better chance to recognize and react than did Kehl-- both receiver and defender had an extra step or so after the play was over. Nevertheless, though there is a degree of difference between this hit and the hit by Kehl, I am personally unable to say with absolute certainty that the call was good. I think the ref would have been justified in withholding the penalty, by reasoning either that there wasn't enough time to recognize and react, or by the Jordan-Russell rule that dictates that the referee's first tendency late in a close game ought to be to not call the penalty. I think he was justified in throwing the flag on this play and not the other, but the difference between the two is admittedly small enough that it fits within the margin of error produced by my own lack of objectivity.

4. Pass Interference committed against Reed. The least controversial of the four penalties. The defender was facing the ball and clearly pushing Reed out of the way with his back hand. It looked as though he were a basketball player boxing out the other player for a rebound. Good call.