2011 Post-Season Week 3 Clips
TECHNICAL NOTE: For those not aware, when viewing these videos in the YouTube window, you can adjust the resolution for a sharper view. Notice in the lower right hand corner of the video player window a setting such as "240p". Click on that and you can adjust the setting up to 360p, 480p or even 720p in some cases. This will give you a sharper image.
Previous weeks have featured plays with polls. If you answered the polls, you should be able to see the results now.
Touchback or down inside the 1 ? Perhaps the philosophy on catches/recoveries when a player is going to the ground was used in this play to rule this a touchback. Different minds will see this differently. Some will see the player gain possession of a ball with 2 feet on the ground before falling down and intentionally dropping the ball as he falls in an attempt to keep the ball in the field of play. Others will see a loose ball that was never completely possessed before it came loose and went across the goal line as the player sat there. Please view the video and then take the poll that follows.
Player Tossing the Flag It is generally not a good idea for a player to throw a flag that has been deployed by an official. However, officials must use their judgment when deciding if an act truly deserves to be flagged or not. Viewers can decide for themselves if a flag is warranted in the video play.
False Start or Defensive Foul ? Officials continue to be challenged by defensive teams which are engaging in all sorts of pre-snap movement. If the movement is judge to be legitimate football movement and restricted offensive players react, the foul is on the offense. However, if the defensive movement is judged to be a quick, abrupt movement that is not a normal defensive move, then the defense has fouled (delay of game) (AR 7-1-5-IV.) A somewhat related foul is when the defense actually enters or goes beyond the neutral zone and a threatened Team A player reacts. That act by the defense IS offside (7-1-5-a-2). Observe the actions of the nose guard in this play: False Start or Defensive Foul 2? Do you believe the nose guard was simply going to a 4-point stance or was trying to stop himself from falling forward? Or do you think he was making a quick abrupt act designed to draw offensive movement?
Another punt to the goal line In this play, the reactions of the 2 covering officials seem at odds. 1 appears to have the ball dead at about the 1 while the other is clearly signaling touchback. Neither appeared to have dropped a bean bag in the end zone which should have been done if they were ruling the ball was batted after it broke the plane of the goal line. Why was the F at the 1 instead of on the goal line? Across the field, the S does a good job of observing the fair catch signaller since he no longer has goal line responsibility.
Illegal Shift or False Start ? You will have to watch the video for the replay to see what Team A does. They come directly from a timeout huddle near the sideline to the line of scrimmage. Players are getting set but it appears one wide receiver never gets stopped before the ball is snapped. The wideout on the L's side never gets set for 1 second. Play is allowed to run. Shouldn't this be a false start under the rule change for this year (7-1-2-b-5) ? There is also a very ugly facemask foul at the end of the play. Although there is no penalty yardage possible for the facemask foul in this play, if the covering officials deemed the foul to be flagrant, the fouling player would still be disqualified. (2-10-1, 9-1-1 and 10-1-1-b)
Unsportsmanlike Conduct ? If a player scored a TD and then got together with a teammate to perform the choreographed act that green #11 and #4 do in this play, would you flag it as unsportsmanlike conduct? If so, then you should flag this act by the defenders also. (9-2-1-a-1-d)
Onside Kickoffs and Early Blocks Once again we have an onside kickoff with Team A players blocking before they are eligible to touch the kicked ball. This is a foul (6-1-2-g). Crews must assign specific responsibility for catching this act and it may be those officials away from the ball on the other side of the field who are best poised to make this call. The F's bean bag sends the wrong signal to other players, coaches, etc. It also introduces an error in the game clock which could be BIG in some situations.