BALL OR BASE

I'm surprised nobody has written about it yet, but did you agree with the call in the Steelers/Ravens game? Did the ball break the plane of the goal line? Was it clear? Both feet were down, but did the ball cross the line beyond a shadow of a doubt?

Irregardless of that call, why don't we use the ball to determine out of bounds, forward progress, 1st Down or TD? Why do we use the base? Would it really be all that hard to use the ball if there is one? I would think, in this modern day of customization, wouldn't it be more accurate to designate any and all potential offensive ball carriers with a ball of some sort so that we can measure the ball and not the forwardmost part of the base?

I know most of us stopped "adding" a ball when we designate a runner because of the dreaded Electric Slide, but would it really be so hard to use an onfield BALL REF to mark the spot and then give your guy the ball? How long should that take? 3-seconds? How 'bout we allow 10?

Here's how:

• Offense "set"
• Defense "set"
• Offense audible(s): pivot(s) and/or advanced pivot(s) and/or motion(s)
• Defense audible(s): pivot(s) and/or advanced pivot(s) and/or motion(s)
• Offense calls play: "Passing" or "Run #34"
  • If "Run 34" - Defense sets Ball Ref; Offense lifts player, places ball in arm/hand; sets player back down (10-second max)
• Defense runs switch until #34 gets tackled, runs OB, forward progress stops or he scores, all of which the ball determines the spot.

What say YOU?