A few weeks ago at a bar, during a business trip, a few friends/co-workers/readers hit me with an interesting question for The Challenge Dividend. It wasn't about government, religion, or science, but rather what guys usually talk about in a bar on the road: sports.
The question was whether or not the new rules of the NFL, which go to extra lengths to protect the quarterback from harm, are worsening the game. One friend, Jay, argued that such rules were worsening the game by not challenging the quarterback enough. In terms this blog might use: he believed that quarterbacks, and offenses overall, would now seem to have an unfair advantage over defenders. Perhaps this decrease in challenge is hurting the game. Several sportswriters have come out against the rules as well (see here).
It is a great question for this blog to tackle because I think the answer helps show a key element of my Challenge Dividend theory: the focus of improvement.
"Focus of improvement" represents the ultimate purpose of the contest. For example, the U.S. government aims to create an economy that maximizes long-term growth in GDP; as a result, it creates laws and support systems to support a vibrant, free market economy, and it measures the result (GDP growth). Another example is the small business owner who wants to focus improvement on profitability of the company; so she may provide incentive-based compensation for employees based on annual profit growth.
So in any debate about NFL rules, we have to start with its focus of improvement. First, NFL owners and executives are continually looking for ways to increase the long-term profitability of their league and franchises. For sports, profitability is based on the league's ability to maximize the popularity of the sport, both on its own and in competition against other sports leagues. Therefore, the NFL's focus of improvement in this case is to make its games more popular to fans.
Assuming it all comes down to what is going to make the fans happier. I believe that rules to protect the quarterback act to improve the game:
- Offense = Interest. In the U.S., fans like lots of scoring and big plays. Healthy star quarterbacks deliver this in spades, and a little more protection in the pocket provides time for receivers to go longer. Big defensive hits are momentarily exciting, but a 6-3 game is a bore. Overall, the NFL has used this rule to add Offense vs. Offense challenge. Improvement should come in scoring and overall action.
- Quarterbacks are the Generals. On the field, these guys are the team leaders and stars. The short term effect of an injury is that a city of fans lose hope and interest when their quarterback goes out for the season. Long term, fans want to see players like Bret Farve stick around forever, versus bowing out due to multiple concussions.
- Defenders are Bigger and Tougher. The increase in size and skill of defenders seems to be increasing at a higher rate than the ability of quarterbacks to evade them and offensive lines to protect them. Should we not find a way to challenge these behemoths?
I think the biggest counter-argument as this season has unfolded is that the rules seems to be enforced inconsistently. Officials make a quick, gut call on roughing the passer, and the defenders are unsure what is legal. Replays are not used to correct bad calls here. And there have been a few game-changing misses. At the end of the day, fans could react with anger and doubts.
But the good news is that the NFL is continuously watching and improving. Instant replay is an example of a tool and rule that took years to iron out, and now adds fairness while working efficiently. Officials will have more experience enforcing the quarterback rules next year. And even this year the rules are not having a major negative effect in adding penalty yards; the data shows that through 12 weeks the number of roughing-the-passer penalties actually decreased to 76 from 82 last year.
So when applying Challenge Dividend theory to your organization - or your office sports debate - remember to come back to the focus of improvement. For my Cincinnati Bengals, I hope the focus in 2007 will be nailing the basics...
Comments