Is Kabongo a marked man?

[esquimauxjunkie]

Is it just me or do the stripes seem to have it in for Mr. Kabongo. He seems to get flagged for holding more than any o-lineman in the league and at times even the oh so polite to the refs, TSN commentators seem at time totally confused as to where the hold is.

[Numberz]

Re: Is Kabongo a marked man?

It's in his technique. He doesn't necessarily hold any more than any other lineman....all lineman hold....but he gets his hands on the outside. He has to learn to keep his hands inside. There's no conspiracy. The refs don't hate Kabongo. There' s a logical reason for the penalties.

[gizmo fan 2]

Re: Is Kabongo a marked man?

It's in his technique. He doesn't necessarily hold any more than any other lineman....all lineman hold....but he gets his hands on the outside. He has to learn to keep his hands inside. There's no conspiracy. The refs don't hate Kabongo. There' s a logical reason for the penalties.

I agree with that somewhat...but it's also hard for him to keep his hands inside because he is so wide that he'd have no leverage that way.

As for the original post, I agree with that somewhat as well...he seems to be getting dinged more than other linemen. It seems to me that if the refs know there's a call but aren't sure of the number, sometimes they just say #56...because he's the biggest one out there. I know there's been at least a few procedure/offside calls where his number has been called but we've all been pretty sure that it was a different lineman that moved (perhaps more at home games, I'm not sure).
Anyways, I think he has maybe a tighter eye on him than there is on other linemen, and that isn't right.

[Numberz]

Re: Is Kabongo a marked man?

I would say that an o-lineman has better leverage when they keep their elbows close together.

[gizmo fan 2]

Re: Is Kabongo a marked man?

I would say that an o-lineman has better leverage when they keep their elbows close together.

Leverage-wise, maybe...but it doesn't help for maneuverability (I'm picturing T-rex arms where elbows are jammed into the belly). Guy makes a move on you outside and you have no choice but to move your arms out, no?
(Though, thinking about it another way, two hands close together with arms extended does have more force then two hands farther apart...that bit makes sense).

[Childress]

Re: Is Kabongo a marked man?

Offensive linemen keeping their hands on the inside is a basic fundamental of football that is coached at the earliest levels. If Kabongo can't master the technique, and gets his hands around the outside regularly, then he deserves every holding penalty he gets.

[Opus]

Re: Is Kabongo a marked man?

It's in his technique. He doesn't necessarily hold any more than any other lineman....all lineman hold....but he gets his hands on the outside. He has to learn to keep his hands inside. There's no conspiracy. The refs don't hate Kabongo. There' s a logical reason for the penalties.

The guy is massive.....how do you keep your hands inside when you lock the defender down on a spin move. One of his holding calls was just like that this last game, where the D-Lineman tried to spin off and Mongo's hands wound up on his back from the spin.

We've heard that the CFL's officiating crews do prep work to look for certain things from certain players.....I think he might be marked....much like Romes for anything close on a QB.....

[esks4life]

Re: Is Kabongo a marked man?

Offensive linemen keeping their hands on the inside is a basic fundamental of football that is coached at the earliest levels. If Kabongo can't master the technique, and gets his hands around the outside regularly, then he deserves every holding penalty he gets.

Technically Kabongo never started out as an O lineman. He played on the D line when he first came to Edmonton.(not really sure the story on the whole transition) So maybe he isn't fully down with the techniques and fundamentals.

But regardless I have seen other lineman do worse and get away with it. That fat ass Lazeo in Calgary pretty much holds every play and gets away with BS after the whistle.

[Beerfish]

Re: Is Kabongo a marked man?

I have no problem with refs deciding to clamp down on holds as long as it goes both ways. It just burns by butt seeing one team get called for a number of holds then watching that same teams D-line getting absoultely mauled and no calls going the other way.

[Esks4ever]

Re: Is Kabongo a marked man?

Technically Kabongo never started out as an O lineman. He played on the D line when he first came to Edmonton.(not really sure the story on the whole transition) So maybe he isn't fully down with the techniques and fundamentals.

But regardless I have seen other lineman do worse and get away with it. That fat ass Lazeo in Calgary pretty much holds every play and gets away with BS after the whistle.

I'd think by now he'd have the fundamentals and techniques down. Personally I'd believe refs watch him more than the other Olineman - its just sad that, while most of his holding calls are legit - they ( the refs) go on to absolutely miss a clear as freaking day holding call by the other team.

[Oiler]

Re: Is Kabongo a marked man?

Refs should only call blatant penalties and try hard not to call any borderline ones. Often they are too quick to blow whistles or call penalties.

[pete]

Re: Is Kabongo a marked man?

The guy is massive.....how do you keep your hands inside when you lock the defender down on a spin move. One of his holding calls was just like that this last game, where the D-Lineman tried to spin off and Mongo's hands wound up on his back from the spin.

We've heard that the CFL's officiating crews do prep work to look for certain things from certain players.....I think he might be marked....much like Romes for anything close on a QB.....

Theres nothing wrong with him having his hands on the guys back when he tries to spin away. Grabbing cloth on the back of another player will always get called however.

His technique is sloppy no question about it. Even a big man needs to learn to keep his hands high and in tight. If you notice his hands are getting beat down by defensive linemen because they are dangling out in no mans land. The result is him instantly being beat. The only way to slow the guy down on the way by is then to grab. His pass set needs some work. He stands real tall and becomes very beatable by the bull rush. An offensive linemans power comes from a compact base. Stand straight up and their goes your base. Defender gets underneath you and has you on roller skates and rather then get RR smoked he holds.

IMO this year PK has taken a big step forward (leadership wise) and one big step backwards ( technique wise). He is NOT a marked man however.

[esquimauxjunkie]

Re: Is Kabongo a marked man?

IMO this year PK has taken a big step forward (leadership wise) and one big step backwards ( technique wise). He is NOT a marked man however.

Have to disagree, there have been several times this year where the commentators have watched the replay and could not figure out why he was being called. There have also been several times where there has been a hold which has been shown on replay and it has been someone other than Kabongo yet the refs call his number and this as well has been pointed out by the commentators. It has been painfully obvious this season that PK is the pet whipping boy of the refs and it is only a matter of time before coach Hall has had enough and swallows a fine to make sure that Mr. Higgins is aware of what is going on.

[stamphater]

Re: Is Kabongo a marked man?

It should be noted that Mongo was called for a grand total of two holding penalties before this game...

[CFLfan]

Re: Is Kabongo a marked man?

I have been telling anyone who listens that Kabongo is getting picked on by refs. I also feel comfortable saying that refs pick on certain players and teams for a variety of reasons. Kabongo is no more guilty than any o-lineman who blocks Romero, 56 just gets more flags. I am unsure how to get more refs calls for the Esks except to be the best team on the field every time. And I believe Kabongo got two holding calls in the Montreal game alone.