By Michael Shouse
This is an article on the officiating crew for Super Bowl XLV between the Steelers and Packers. Just as it would be for an umpire in any professional sports league, getting to officiate a Super Bowl is a really big deal and a mark of prestige. Here is the Super Bowl XLV crew with the crew they belonged to in the regular season in parentheses…
Referee Walt Anderson
Umpire Chad Brown (Ed Hochuli)
Head Linesman Kent Payne (Carl Cheffers )
Field Judge Doug Rosenbaum (Jerome Boger)
Line Judge John Hussey (Pete Morelli)
Side Judge Mike Weatherford (Gene Steratore)
Back Judge Scott Helverson (Scott Green)
Jerome Boger- Alternate
Anderson is a 15 year NFL veteran and was the line judge in the Ravens Super Bowl XXXV win over the Giants. He is a retired Dentist and has a Doctorate of Dentistry from the University of Texas. Anderson played his college football for Sam Houston State where he was a two time Academic All-American and 4 year letterman. Anderson is assigned the number 66. In addition to his NFL duties, Anderson is the coordinator of officiating for the Big 12 conference.
During the regular season, Anderson’s crew called the third fewest holding penalties with 31 penalties called for 267 yards. However on false starts, Anderson and his crew called the most in the league with 42 for 205. Anderson’s crew called the fifth most offsides penalties with 21 for 106 yards. On defensive pass interference calls Anderson’s crew ranked 12th with 11 calls for 197 yards. On personal fouls Anderson and his crew tied for third with 3 calls for 45 yards.
I see the game playing out a little easier referee wise than the crews we had in the divisional and conference championship matchups. Anderson is a guy who has played the game and is a more than capable referee. I see him and his crew calling a fairly straightforward game. I don’t see a lot of ticky tack penalties getting called. Of course I could be wrong but that’s how I see things playing out. The complete penalty report for each team in the playoffs follows. Enjoy the game and the climb toward #7. It does not get any better than this.
Below are the playoff penalty reports for both the Steelers and the Packers:
Playoff Penalty Report for Green Bay Packers
| TEAM | OPPONENT | PENALTY YARD DIFFERENTIAL | ||||||||||
| Date | Opponent | Result | Penalties | Yards | Nullified Yards | 1st Downs | Penalties | Yards | Nullified Yards | 1st Downs | Game | Season |
| 1/9 | @ PHI | W | 2 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 50 | 7 | 1 | 35 | 35 |
| 1/15 | @ ATL | W | 6 | 65 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 32 | 25 | 3 | -33 | 2 |
| 1/23 | @ CHI | W | 6 | 40 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 89 | 9 | 3 | 49 | 51 |
| Totals: | 14 | 120 | 7 | 5 | 23 | 171 | 41 | 7 | 51 | |||
| Nullified yards are yards nullified by penalties on the offense or the punt or kickoff return team | ||||||||||||
| Penalty | Count | Declined | Yards | Nullified Yards | First Downs | Stalled Drive |
| Offensive Holding | 3 | 0 | 30 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| Defensive Pass Interference | 2 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Defensive Holding | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Delay of Game | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| False Start | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defensive Offside | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Roughing the Passer | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Ineligible Downfield Kick | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals: | 15 | 1 | 120 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| Count includes declined and offset penalties. First Downs: penalty caused a first down for other team. Stalled Drive: no points scored on drive and no first down earned after penalty incurred. | ||||||
Playoff Penalty Report for Pittsburgh Steelers
|
TEAM |
OPPONENT | PENALTY YARD DIFFERENTIAL | ||||||||||
| Date | Opponent | Result | Penalties | Yards | Nullified Yards | 1st Downs | Penalties | Yards | Nullified Yards | 1st Downs | Game | Season |
| 1/15 | BLT | W | 9 | 93 | 30 | 2 | 6 | 74 | 12 | 3 | -19 | -19 |
| 1/23 | NYJ | W | 4 | 25 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 50 | 0 | 4 | 25 | 6 |
| Totals: | 13 | 118 | 30 | 5 | 12 | 124 | 12 | 7 | 6 | |||
| Nullified yards are yards nullified by penalties on the offense or the punt or kickoff return team. | ||||||||||||
| Penalty | Count | Declined | Yards | Nullified Yards | First Downs | Stalled Drive |
| Defensive Pass Interference | 2 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Unnecessary Roughness | 2 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Delay of Game | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| False Start | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Illegal Contact | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Offensive Holding | 1 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Defensive Holding | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Illegal Block Above the Waist | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Ineligible Downfield Kick | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals: | 14 | 1 | 118 | 12 | 5 | 1 |
| Count includes declined and offset penalties. First Downs: penalty caused a first down for other team. Stalled Drive: no points scored on drive and no first down earned after penalty incurred. | ||||||
You can follow Michael on Twitter @SteelersTide74
