Legion of Boom: Intimidates Not Only Opponents But Refs Too?

[AROS]

I was just listening to a segment on the radio in my car tonight on KJR with Kevin Harlan, the national radio caller for MNF games. He was talking about how a source he respects who is a NFL scout who travels around the country going to tons of games says the Legion of Boom intimidates not only the opponent but the officials as well.

He didn't expand too much on it as far as specifics went, but he said basically that their level of physicality is intimidating to the refs nearly as much as the players. Not sure how that affects the play calling but I thought it was interesting.

Legion of BOOM, beyotch!

 

[pehawk]

Totally true. Pete told them "keep doing it, eventually they'll get tired of calling it". VERY TRUE.

In defense of the LOB, they're technique has been refined where they aren't even committing penalties much anymore. They started out as mauling a-holes and have now become refined, technique-savvy thugs.

 

[Reaneypark]

Bull.

The refs aren't cowed by the LOB. That's just a dumb thing for him to say.

 

[-The Glove-]

Lol...this is getting hilarious. Anyone got a clip of the ref that flagged Browner for the PI where the ball was out of bounds and uncatchable? If he was pissing his pants, the guy may be on to something

 

[bestfightstory]

Sounds like something stupid Harbaugh would say to get the refs to call a tighter game.


If there is anything to this, IMO, it is that the LOB now has credibility and as a result we get the benefit of the doubt more often.

Kind of like the reverse of Chris Clemons, who for some reason in the past couple years never had a call go his way despite being held frequently.

The greats get some Jordan treatment.

 

[Blitzer88]

I don't exactly know how to react to this.........

 

[Goodwin Seahawk]

I heard this as well. The only thing that Comes to mind is the story from Richard Sherman when the refs told him to watch his aggressiveness or they'd flag him and him telling the refs to flag him then.

 

[HawkWow]

"He didn't expand too much on it as far as specifics went".

Specifics be damned!

 

[taz291819]

The reason the LOB isn't getting as many calls against them as in the past is because opposing offenses know they now have to play just as physical. And in the refs' eyes, if both sides are doing it, they'll just let 'em play.

 

[JSeahawks]

I don't think the refs are intimidated but I do think they get away with some extra holding, grabbing and rough stuff because of their reputation. As BFS mentioned Its no different then Lebron, Kobe or Michael Jordan getting away with things that most guys in the league couldn't.

 

[AROS]

I think so too...I just thought it was interesting how he specifically used the word "intimidated".

 

[LawlessHawk]

Very interesting. I think someone should monitor this closely.

 

[HawkWow]

Very interesting. I think someone should monitor this closely.

If Bill Walsh were still coaching the 9ers, he'd lobby for an immediate investigation. He'd refer to this thread as "all the evidence we need to take this team down" Continuing to add "they're like a pack of mercenaries up there in Washington".

Actually, Harbaugh can dig up that exact BS filled speech that Walsh, R.I.H., presented to the Pac10 in 1992.

I'll be stunned if he doesn't.

 

[Anonymous]

Intimidated? Well, they all very large men wearing protective gear.

I'm a little intimidated.

 

[Jazzhawk]

Remember when Browner was playing a new kind of Cornerback and kept getting PI flags every play and everyone was calling for him to be cut?

Ya, me neither.

They have redefined what it means to play tough, aggressive defense. In the beginning there were so many flags because the refs themselves didn't really know the rules. We 'get away with it' now because we play all the way to the edge of the rules AS THEY ARE WRITTEN and the refs finally know now what the edge is. They know this and don't call the same PI's that they did before because they know we aren't violating them. The great things is, for the most part, we are still the only team playing this way. Pete's philosophy seems to be that he'd rather play tough, aggressive, on the edge and risk a penalty or tow here and there, than just let the receiver get away with anything because we are too soft to play tough (Kelly Jennings).

Ya, I think in a way, the refs ARE intimidated, because they know they have to call to the edge of the rules, and if they don't we call them on it each week. Someone has gotten their asses handed to them by the league one too many times.

Ya, I DO think so.

 

[djb28]

It's true. As a matter of fact, My own Father is afraid of the LOB. He started an argument with me about our D and all the sudden the fear from just talking about it ran across his face and he turned white.. He couldn't speak. :sarcasm_off:

 

[SoCalSeahawk]

Didn't BB and Kam both get called for very ticky-tack PIs against the Texans? The refs didn't seem so intimidated.

 

[penihawk]

:13:

 

[JSeahawks]

Didn't BB and Kam both get called for very ticky-tack PIs against the Texans? The refs didn't seem so intimidated.

It's not pass interference where they get an advantage, it's all the contact and holding they do before the ball is in the air .

 

[LawlessHawk]

Didn't BB and Kam both get called for very ticky-tack PIs against the Texans? The refs didn't seem so intimidated.

It's not pass interference where they get an advantage, it's all the contact and holding they do before the ball is in the air .

It's also the mauling and beating they deliver away from the play... when coverage turns into "blocking"... how many times have we seen Sherm, Browner, etc. pop a receiver or knock them on their ass when they're not even involved.... that's the shit that really gets under opponents skin and takes them out of their game...