Walt Coleman doesn't see the revamped catch rule as a big change for NFL game officials because the veteran referee believes they've already been calling catches the new way.

If anything Cheap Quenton Nelson Jersey , Coleman figures there will be fewer reviews of their rulings.

"Most of the calls that seemed to create the most controversy, we ruled them correctly and then they were overturned on replay," Coleman said Friday as officials gathered for their annual preseason meeting in the Dallas area. "From our standpoint, we're just going to continue to officiate the plays like we have."

League owners unanimously approved the changes in April 鈥?more than three years after Dez Bryant's infamous catch that wasn't in Dallas' playoff loss at Green Bay, and just a few months since Pittsburgh's Jesse James had a late go-ahead touchdown taken away in a loss to New England that damaged the Steelers' hopes for the AFC's top seed.

Essentially, the new rule eliminates the ground as a factor on catches while establishing three main criteria:

鈥攈aving control of the ball;

鈥攇etting two feet down or another body part;

鈥攎aking a football move, such as taking a third step or extending the ball.

On the plays involving Bryant and James, the ball moved slightly after hitting the ground as they extended it forward, even though they never lost control of it. Both were ruled catches and overturned on review.

"I don't think it was one thing," senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron said. "I think we got to a point where fans, the office Authentic Taylor Hall Jersey , coaches, players, wanted to see more exciting plays. How do we make this particular play a catch? How do we take the Dez Bryant play and make it a catch?"

Riveron said the competition committee consulted with coaches, former players, game officials and supervisors, among others, to reach the rule change that was approved.

The committee cited overturned receptions by James and fellow tight end Zach Miller of Chicago last season among the dozens of plays they reviewed "dozens of times," according to committee chairman Rick McKay, president of the Atlanta Falcons.

Ron Torbert, going into his fifth season as a referee and ninth overall as a game official, doesn't think the new rule is just about simplicity.

"We had a good idea of what it was and how to officiate it Josh Rosen Color Rush Jersey ," Torbert said. "We certainly understand that the way it was written, plays that people wanted to be a catch weren't a catch under the older rule. We understand that."

And while game officials are hesitant to share opinions on anything related to their role, they can see where fans sit with the catch rule.

"I think fans will like it more because we've got some of the greatest athletes in the world who can do things that no one else can do," Torbert said. "To be able to see them rewarded with a catch when under the old rule, it may not have been a catch, I think from that standpoint the fans will enjoy the game more."

Coleman, getting ready for his 30th NFL season, was in his third year as a referee when he called the reversal in the "tuck rule" game during the playoffs following the 2001 season. He changed what had been ruled a fumble by New England quarterback Tom Brady to an incompletion, leading to a winning field goal that sent the Patriots on their way to the first of five Super Bowl titles.

While he didn't make the call on the Bryant catch that was overturned (recently retired Gene Steratore did), Coleman saw similarities in how reactions to the two calls lingered for years. And he certainly heard from fans on the catch rule in general .

"People just didn't understand that you had to hold on to the ball going to the ground," Coleman said. "When you catch the ball and you reach out Customized Washington Redskins Jerseys , everybody thought that should be a catch. The way the rule was written, it wasn't."

And now the way the rule is written, it is.

Jon Gruden targeted Paul Guenther as his defensive coordinator in his return to Oakland even before he got the Raiders job, believing his aggressive defensive scheme was just what the team needed to reverse years of bad play.

Guenther's task has been even harder than originally thought because he is still waiting to get Oakland's best defensive player in camp.

Star edge rusher Khalil Mack skipped the entire offseason program and now extended his holdout into training camp as he seeks a long-term contract commensurate with the skills of one of the NFL's top defensive players.

"I really can't worry about that right now," Guenther said Sunday after Oakland's first padded practice. "I'm just trying to coach the guys who are out here. Obviously when he gets here, if he gets here, he'll be an exciting piece to add."

There is no indication of when that time will come as Mack's camp and Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie have been quiet about negotiations. Mack is entering the final season of his rookie contract that is set to pay him $13.8 million and Oakland would have the option of using the franchise tag next offseason if no long-term deal is reached.

Mack is one of several prominent holdouts this summer, joining players like Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Seattle safety Earl Thomas. Pittsburgh running back Le'Veon Bell is also staying away from training camp but is not a holdout since he has not signed his franchise tender.

"He's working," fellow edge rusher Bruce Irvin said. "I talk to him every day. He misses it. You just know how it is. He's working his butt off and when he gets in here he'll be ready."

Mack has been one of the top defensive players in football since being drafted in the first round in 2014. He was a first-team All-Pro at both defensive end and linebacker in 2015 and won AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. He has 40 1/2 sacks in four seasons and leads the NFL in QB pressures with 185 1/2 since entering the league, according to SportRadar.

Free-agent acquisition Tank Carradine has taken over Mack's role at defensive end on the base defense but is not an accomplished pass rusher. The Raiders hoped to upgrade that rush by drafting defensive end Arden Key and tackles Maurice Hurst and P.J. Hall.

Key and Hurst have shown good bursts early in training camp as the Raiders prepare without Mack.

"We can't worry about who isn't here because when Khalil gets tired Authentic Lamar Jackson Jersey , when he goes out of the game, the guys who are here have to go into the game and play while he is tired," Irvin said. "He rarely gets tired, but when he does those guys have to be ready. We're focused on getting these young guys ready and that stuff will take care of itself."

Irvin is also taking on a bigger role in the pass rush after spending his first two seasons in Oakland as an outside linebacker who also rushed the passer.

Irvin dropped into coverage on almost one-third of pass plays last season, according to SportRadar. But Guenther plans to use him almost exclusively as a defensive end in his defense.

"I just think his best gift is going forward," Guenther said. "That's what he should be doing each and every down. Instead of playing linebacker and dropping into coverage, we have to utilize his and everybody else's talents the best we can."

NOTES: CB Gareon Conley has missed the past two days with a hip strain sustained on the first day of practice. ... RB Jalen Richard left practice with an undisclosed injury.

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