Four NFL officials gathered at the Steelers’ training camp facility in Latrobe in early August to explain the rule changes in the league this season to the area media. When asked about the elimination of the force-out rule, back judge Tony Steratore gave a simple response. “It actually makes our job easier,’’ he said. What he didn’t say was that it will also make the defenders’ job easier, too. The force-out rule has long been a part of the league, allowing a receiver to not necessarily get both of his feet inbounds if the official determined he would have come down inbounds if not “forced out’’ by a defender. The situations were many times controversial and non-reviewable, so the NFL decided to eliminate the human element completely. This year, a receiver has to get both feet inbounds, regardless of whether he’s hit in the air or not. Receivers, however, are not allowed to be “carried’’ out of bounds while in the air.