Is the R position less mechanics-intense because the R's role is game manager? Do I understand the White Hat role correctly?
All officials have generally equally intense jobs. While the R may not run as many miles in a season as a deep guy, he is the one that gets the focus of attention - during the game and after. (The principal quality of an R is that he must be really good lookin', since he gets so much TV time.
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Deep guys generally have fewer things to be concerned with, but the things they have are exceptionally critical (DPI, KCI, catch/no catch, inbounds/out of bounds). The H and L have more to do than all other positions combined. And they are the primary guys that have to listen to the sideline BS. The U has to be really good at knowing and seeing holding, seeing chop blocks, numbering exceptions, etc.
The R has to be good at recognizing substitutions, managing the pace of the game, managing the clocks (with the B and S), ruling on pass or "empty hand", roughing the passer, running into/roughing the kicker, intentional grounding, as well as holding, and so much more.
The R - as crew chief - has additional administrative duties and responsibilities, on and off the field. The R is the face and the mouthpiece of the crew. That doesn't mean he is any smarter or talented than others on the crew. I have worked with guys that did not want to be Referees, but were every bit as astute with penalty enforcement as any R. The R has to WANT to be the R, to be the focus of public attention, and to be the leader of the crew. When there is a crew decision to be made, he is the one to lead the crew to the right decision, or, when necessary, make that decision, popular or not.
But the R's rule/mechanics knowledge should not be superior to everyone else on the crew. All other crew members should know all of the rules thoroughly, and not only the specific mechanics of their positions, but everyone else's too. When you have that level of understanding of rules and mechanics, very little gets by the crew.