The rule changes CFL commissioner Stu Johnston announced on Monday morning have set off a firestorm of debate on social media platforms with some current and former CFL players voicing their displeasure.
Leading the charge in that regard was B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke, who called the rule changes ‘garbage’ and took a run at Johnston.
“We have a commissioner who hasn’t been here for a year, who’s already trying to change the game, and I don’t believe he loves football as much as I do, as much as many fans do, Rourke said. "You can’t make adjustments like this and tell me you like football. What we’re moving towards is not Canadian football which is the game I grew up loving.”
Diehard CFL fans were upset about the field being shortened to 100 yards and the end zones being reduced to 15 yards. The moving of the goalposts to the back of the end zone and the changes to the rouge were also met with disdain.
Former CFLPA executive and retired ten-year CFL veteran Peter Dyakowski was extremely critical of the changes on X.
“This is disgusting. Dress it up how you like, but it's simply Americanization of the CFL. Worse than I expected. One of history's greatest acts of vandalism. Who even is this guy? First time I've ever seen him. Smaller field, tiny end zones, USA goal posts, fewer rouges. Yuck,” wrote Dyakowski, a Vancouver College grad.
The common theme from Johnston was that the changes would increase scoring and make games more entertaining but the fact of the matter is that scoring isn’t an issue.
According to CFL statistician Steve Daniel and his crew, heading into this past weekend’s games, the CFL was averaging 54.0 points per game, which is the highest average since the 56.2 ppg in 2008. The argument that having the goalposts on the goal line prohibits scoring is a weak one.
“I don’t think that Buck (Pierce) and I have ever sat down the night before a game when we put in our red zone stuff and said “what do we do about the goalposts in the middle of the field. It just doesn’t happen,' stated Rourke, who believes that moving the goalposts will basically eliminate missed field goal returns.
"If anything, we are using that as a vehicle to get ourselves open as an extra person to rub people off.”
Even the CFL’s press release didn’t make sense, stating that the change “encourages more aggressive play-calling on third down with offences starting drives 10 yards closer to the opponent’s end zone and field goals being only five yards further, despite the shifted goalposts.”
Pardon?
If you scrimmage on the 35 yard-line under the current rules, you will attempt a 42-yard field goal as the kicker sets up seven yards behind the line of scrimmage. Under the new rules, if you scrimmage at the 35-yard line, the field goal attempt will be 57-yards.
Sorry but that’s not “five yards further’ even for your agent who received a ‘P’ in Algebra 11.
What you have done with these changes is eliminate a field goal attempt from basically outside the opponent’s 35-yard-line.
The belief that coaches will be more aggressive in this scenario is a presumption. Coaches were never consulted about these rule changes and Johnston is assuming that they will be more proactive in their play-calling.
You know what they say about ‘assuming’ right?
What happens if coaches believe that gaining field position is more important and elect to punt instead? Less scoring.
Which — in about two or three years — will have people wondering what needs to be done to increase scoring.
I’ll let you guess what the solution is at that point.
Yes, four downs.
During the press conference to announce the rule changes, Johnston was asked whether or not he could guarantee that the CFL would ever go to four downs and the answer was ominous.
“I don’t offer guarantees and I don’t say the word never,” said Johnston.
Given Johnston’s sheepish response to that question, you can understand why some people believe this is ‘Phase One’ of the Americanization of the CFL.
Stay tuned.
EXTRA POINTS
* About the only changes that were met with some approval from coaches and players were the requirement that player benches be on opposing sides and the automatic 35-second play clock beginning as soon as the previous play is whistled dead. The new clock does have some worried that the final three minutes of a half or game could wind up looking more like the American game but there is talk that the league might add an additional time-out to help alleviate those concerns.
* The Lions (7-7) entertain the Toronto Argonauts (5-9) this Friday at 7pm at BC Place (TSN; CKNW 730; Sher E Punjab Radio AM 600).
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob “the Moj” Marjanovich writes about the B.C. sporting scene for Black Press Media. This column is brought to you by:
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