ET: Hochuli has been a reliable official for a number of years, so it's a shame that he made such a high-profile blunder. The early whistle has been a problem for years. Fortunately it hasn't raised it's head too often, but as long as officials are human, you'll still have blown calls every week.

CS: It's a judgment call, and I agree with you that the calls you mentioned were horrendous. So my solution would be if a ball hits the ground, rule it a fumble. Even if you know for a fact that it isn't a fumble, call it anyway. The coaches have the luxury of challenging a call and if the NFL adopted this scenario, you'd have reward teams with more challenges during a game. That's fine. It may slow down the game, but it would make it more efficient.

AC: Because of the human element in officiating, there's not much you can doother than have instant replay. The competition committee will meet again next year and will address rule tweaks and revisions.

We're not seeing as many missed calls on the whistle being blown as in previous years.

TM: Mark, on Sept. 16, I wrote a story titled "The Official View" for Scout, dealing with this very issue. Check out that story for a complete answer to your question.

Hey, why do teams and punters never go for the "coffin corner?" I remember in the '80s Ray Guy was amazing at it. Other teams
— Murreh from Qatar

ET: For the punters who were good at it, the coffin corner punt was highly effective. But it's more difficult to accurately nail the proper angle than it is too simply get the right hang time to allow your team to get under the ball to stop it from rolling into the end zone.

CS: Being able to punt with accuracy and pin the ball in a corner is an art, and I don't think a lot of punters these days take the time to perfect the craft. Players like Sean Landeta and Ray Guy were unique and understood the nuances of being a punter. Today, I think a lot of the punters worry more about their hangtime and distance and forget about placement.

AC: Directional punting is more of the way punters go now and they also go for hang time which seems to be the most important key these days.

TM: You know, that is an excellent question and is an art that appears to be long forgotten. What most teams try to do today is depend on their gunners (outside men on the punt team) to cover and for the punter to elevate the football. Remember, the coffin corner (inside the 5) is a very narrow window and most special-teams coaches believe they have a better chance of downing the football with their gunners than the kicker controlling the football with his leg. By keeping the ball in the middle of the field, there is also a chance that for a punt returner to muff the football.

Who will be the starting QB for the Vikings in '09?
—John from Brookhaven, Pa.

ET: One thing is for sure: He's not currently on the roster. Cardinals QB Kurt Warner is the most talented thrower who will be a free agent at the end of the season. He could be worth pursuing as long as the Vikings also seek a younger quarterback to develop, perhaps through a trade, such as Washington's Colt Brennan. Other than Warner, the only other free-agent QB who is in the realm of being a starting-caliber passer is J.P. Losman, but I don't think he'll solve any problems in Minnesota.

The other bad news is that there really isn't anyone in next year's draft class who jumps out at me as ready to start as a rookie. Minnesota may need to be aggressive with a trade offer to upgrade the position. If Miami's John Beck or Chad Henne can start for them next year, Chad Pennington could be another QB they could nab with the right trade offer. Or if Warner stays in Arizona, Matt Leinart might be worth considering through a trade.

CS: That's an interesting question. I think Minnesota will give John David Booty and Tarvaris Jackson a chance to prove themselves next year in training camp, but if Brad Childress is still the head coach and Philadelphia is willing to part ways with Donovan McNabb, I could see McNabb in Minnesota.

AC: Probably no one on their roster. It wouldn't be a surprise if they made a trade for a quarterback or looked to free agency.

TM: I would have to think Tarvaris Jackson, beginning his fourth season in professional football, would have the needed experience and maturity level to be the guy, particularly since he has every physical skill you look for at the position.

J.P. Losman, I believe an unrestricted free agent, the Chargers' Charlie Whitehurst, and the Texans' Sage Rosenfels are three that could be given consideration, but keep in mind that the price for QBs is ever so steep.

Is Matt Mayberry from Indiana the best overall athlete at the linebacker position right now? I have been reading and hearing a ton on positive things about him.
—Dan from Denver

ET: Mayberry is a talented prospect, but is far from being the best overall athlete at the LB spot. He's off to a fine start this year, but doesn't have the experience or the stats of some of the nation's best LBs right now. Ohio State's James Laurinaitis is my pick as the best overall athlete at the linebacker position. His size, speed, agility and football smarts helped him win the Nagurski Award (country's top defensive player) in 2006 and the Butkus Award in 2007.

CS: Is Matt Mayberry the best overall athlete at linebacker in college football? No, but he has a chance to be special. Mayberry, who is a junior, is probably one of the fastest linebackers in the country and is continuing to improve on the field every week. But when you play the same position as James Laurinaitis, Rey Maualuga, Aaron Curry and Brian Cushing, Mayberry isn't even on the radar.

TM: Dan, I believe Matt wears No. 43 and is Indiana's "mike" 'backer. He's a big sucker and appeared to make a good many plays, but to be honest with you I've only seen him on a TV game and since he is an underclassman, I really didn't study him to any degree.

Let me say this, inside run-stoppers with size and range are at a premium. Each year in every draft that I was involved with (34 in all), the list of WRs, DEs, OTs and DT's was endless, while the numbers at the mike backer and QB position was usually less than the number of fingers on both of your hands.

I spoke to a close scouting friend of mine after I received your question and he told me that Matt has a great-looking body and was an outstanding prep running back. He likes what he has seen thus far, but is only going to comment in detail once he makes a decision to forego his final year of eligibility.