NFL to test Optical Tracking for 1st Downs

[Ian]

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

This is long overdue. The first down markers is an archaic system that is rife with possibilities for errors. And since the NFL is all about "integrity", it's another by-product that runs the possibility of some shady influence.

It appears the NFL might be making a change on the field that would change one key aspect of the game.​

​

According the Washington Post’s Mark Maske, the league is looking at potentially employing technology that would replace the first-down chains, which right now, as we know, is handled by a crew on the field that physically moves the sticks.​

​

The technology was apparently developed by the company Hawk-Eye, which is the same system that is used in Tennis and other sports.​

​

Maske reports that the league has tested the technology, and the next thing will be to gauge the interest of teams and owners, with the possibility of the system being implemented by as soon as next season, although NFL executive vice president Troy Vincent believes 2025 is more realistic.​

​

It would be interesting to see if it works better than how the officials currently see things. As we’ve seen, that system has been less than reliable. We’ve seen poor spots and bad measurements, and this technology would potentially solve that problem.​

​

​

I don't think that is possible for ANY new alternative to be less reliable than the current system of trotting out the chains, and eye-balling where the new first down marker is.

It is kind of nice to have a chain and eye ball left in the game. Inaccurate? Absolutely. Crazy as hell every time the chain gang ran onto the field to measure to less than a quarter inch. My son and I laugh every time the chain gang runs onto the field to measure. The ref would pinch the chain at the yard marker and then reset the chain based on his pinch. Great tradition. I will miss it.