HOLDING HARRISON

by grapes on Aug 31, 2009 5:21 PM EDT

I've been a football fan for 35+ years, and for the life of me I can't figure out why holding on James Harrison is not called more often! I noticed it again against the Bills, last year he was almost getting his shirt ripped off on many plays, yet no flags. I don't believe the "refs against the Steelers" arguements, is he that good, therefore it can't be called everytime? Anyone out there with reasonable possible reasons, I can't come up with one.

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Because

If they didn’t hold on most plays he’d be unstopable. While the refs are going to be more strict on holding, JH is still going to be held to his size, especially by tall linemen.

by Steel in FL on Aug 31, 2009 6:54 PM EDT reply actions

This one is pretty easy...

While holding happens all over the league and is never called, I wouldn’t be surprised if they missed a few on Harrison simply because it would be nearly every play.

by smashtheguitar on Aug 31, 2009 8:42 PM EDT reply actions

it does happen often

I don’t think they really noticed it until the Super Bowl where he caused 3 holding penalties alone, I believe.

Lets wait until the regular season before we start yelling about this again.

by shleeve on Aug 31, 2009 9:19 PM EDT reply actions

Actually...

…the refs notice all the time. They just incorrectly feel (for whatever reason) that they must be the ‘balancers’ of the game. Harrison too overwhelming? Couldn’t have that!

But in the same vein, why don’t the refs call intentional grounding (on obvious non-grounding calls) when a certain quarterback is lighting up a team?

Refs should be fair, be balanced, call the game as it comes to you, don’t try to moderate the action on the field.

Refs, get out your sharpies and write this down: NOT IN YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION.

"If I could start my life all over again, I would be a professional football player and you damn well better believe I would be a Pittsburgh Steeler." -- #58

by __.58.__ on Sep 2, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions

i think this may have something to do with not calling holds in Deebo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMh3YpAKrCM&feature=related

of course, they need to do it regardless. but i kinda like having a man you can’t hold down on my team :) that’s what makes us the STILLERS!!!!

Ima hitch onto your wave :)

by steelersgrl on Aug 31, 2009 10:10 PM EDT reply actions

If every holding call was called there would be one on every play. Just let the game play.

by archon095 on Aug 31, 2009 10:31 PM EDT reply actions

NOT WHAT I MEANT

I’m not referring to ticky tack holds, I’m referring to the two or three obvious holds against Harrison during each game that are ignored. I’ve been around for a while and understand that there is holding on every play, the flagrant ones are what I’m talking about.

by grapes on Aug 31, 2009 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions

When the refs came to camp

there was a story in one of the papers (PG maybe?) where the refs answered this exact question. I don’t remember their exact words but it had to do with Harrison’s height and effectively boiled down to, unless he’s past them and they grab him it’s not going to get called as a hold. So don’t expect too many flags unless the Left Tackle is living up his name a bit too literally.

by KiwiSteelerFan on Aug 31, 2009 10:43 PM EDT reply actions

thanks kiwi, that's what I was looking for

by grapes on Aug 31, 2009 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions

It was in the Trib...

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_637487.html

“The ref told me if he has his arm around me, and my feet are past his feet, then it’s a hold,”

so as long as the OT clotheslines Harrison before he gets past him, even though that’s still a blatant hold, it’s not going to get called. I wonder what happens if you have 2 guys doing that to him, like I seem to remember against San Diego, where the Tackle may have been level with Harrison but he was already past the Guard.

by KiwiSteelerFan on Aug 31, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I recall the San Diego clip also

when he had two guys clotheslining him and still like a man possessed was crashing that line..

Like Zeus or something.

by Mechem on Sep 2, 2009 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions

like Zeus......(whimsical stare off into the distance).....

Ima hitch onto your wave :)

by steelersgrl on Sep 2, 2009 8:04 AM EDT up reply actions

let two guys do that to him and then Lamar can lay the Woodley from the other side

by SteelersFnRule on Sep 1, 2009 10:00 AM EDT reply actions

works both ways

actually your touching on one of my deepest , subtle , and till now unexpressed paranoid fears for this season,,,,,,and thats not our dee being held,,,,,,, but the new agressive enforcement of holding,,,,punishing our o line,,,,,

they need to hold,,,, a lot,,,,,,,,, remember how brutally rushed ben was last year,,,,,, if it starts to seem like the only time he isn’t getting pounded or chased , we get penalized.,,,,,we’re in trouble
remember philidelphia,,,, that was brutal.

and no matter how bad it is if silverback is held and doesn’t get a sack , its not as bad as " not holding "allows ben to get pounded. ,

by steelswine on Sep 1, 2009 10:12 PM EDT reply actions

please dont use the p-word

I still have nightmares bout week 3…

by Mechem on Sep 2, 2009 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions

p word...

which one? paranoid? punishing? pounded? penalized? philadelphia?

i bet it’s penalized :)

Ima hitch onto your wave :)

by steelersgrl on Sep 2, 2009 8:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Well, I've ...

always been a believer that if a referee sees an infraction it should be called … every time, all game … period. If one doesn’t, then rule application is situational, whimsical, etc and most often is applied at the wrong time. Fix the real problem … make players follow rules or change rules.

by tenthmtnman on Sep 2, 2009 8:34 AM EDT reply actions