Obviously Pap making checks w tape on his fingers was actually leading to some confusion.
The players were asked "what do we need to do to get the plays in w less confusion?"
More than one player said, "I can't really see what you're signaling, even w tape on." So they changed it.
My dad coached for 27 years and he always held up fingers at certain points as signals. It was an odd set of fingers to hold up for given numbers, given what we do everyday to signal a 2 or a 3 or a 4. It was his habit and once I asked him "why do you hold up those fingers for 'those numbers?'" His reply was that is was easier to read from the field.
These are kinks that seem mundane, but take time within the chaos of a game that really do pay dividends on the field.