"Upon Further Review"

                         "Targeting" and Catch/No-Catch   This play has been the subject of discussion by officials, fans, and the media.  There are multiple issues in the play.  Most importantly, the injured player appears to be recovering very well from the collision and may soon return to action.  Issues to consider in the play:  Was there a catch and a fumble or an incomplete pass?  What does a receiver have to do to demonstrate possession?  If there was a catch, had the receiver transitioned from being a "defenseless player" to being a runner?  Did the defenders target the receiver high or did his own body dropping down cause his head to be lower than the tacklers expected when they began their tackle?   The video also highlights some mechanics issues.  The S signalled TD quickly, but the F followed with "incomplete".   The L's flag appears to be very late, perhaps he was waiting for a crewmate to flag the hit but none did?  The L, B, F, & S came together to discuss the somewhat complicated play but allowed B28 to remain near them during the conversation.  They should be well away from where the injured player is being tended to and B28 doesn't warrant a seat at the table.
 

                          Illegal Motion or False Start ?    Running backs are prohibited from making quick moves prior to the snap and must not make movements that simulate the start of the play (7-1-2-b-1 & 4 ).  Doing so causes them to be guilty of a false start.  Many officials will give running backs extra leeway and choose to penalize the act as illegal motion (live ball foul) although it is truly a false start (dead ball foul). 

                         Motion backs and Blocking Below the Waist     Team A in this video is one of the few triple-option teams left in college football.  They line up in very tight splits which likely means their wing backs, although lined up somewhat outside the tackles, are actually in the "tackle box" and therefore not restricted with regards to the blocking below the waist rules.  In this specific play, the back goes in motion which then does restrict him.  It appears he was on the right side of the ball at the snap and his low block was either North-South or towards the right sideline, so no foul {9-1-6 Exception 2-(a)-(3)}.  It was not flagged in the game.

                       Blocking Below the Waist During a Down Which Includes a Kick   All players are restricted from blocking below the waist throughout any down which includes a free or scrimmage kick.   Although we do a good job staying alert for such blocks by the team in possession, it is important to stay vigilant for such blocks by the defenders (Team A) as well.  Observe the actions of the punting team player at his own 27.  Should this be flagged?        

                       Blocks in the Back During Loose Balls      9-3-3-c Exception 3 and 9-3-4-f-1 permit a player who is legally attempting to recover or catch a fumble to push in the back in order to do so.  This does NOT permit the player to push in the back simply to prevent an opponent from recovering the ball.  The covering officials in this play must have judged A85 was trying to recover the fumble.   This rule has a sticky aspect. 9-3-3-c Exception 3 does not say BLOCKING in the back is legal if the blocker is attempting to get at a loose ball or the runner. What it does say is the blocker can PUSH an opponent to get at the ball or runner. Many officials don't think there is a difference between a "block" vs. "push".  Others believe there is a difference and cite 2-3-1-a & b to support that. The blocker in the video does push the opponent with his hands.  But, would it have been a foul if the blocker were to apply his shoulder to the opponent?

 
                    The Most Important Line on the Field      ....is the goal line.   Our mechanics are designed to have officials on the goal line as much as possible when that line is threatened.  Once we have it, we should strive not to give it up unless absolutely necessary.  On this deep kickoff we had the goal line but left it.  When the returner started to leave the end zone, we were no longer in a position to know for sure if the ball was taken fully out of the end zone.  If it had been and then the returner took a knee, a safety would be ruled.  If the ball came out only partially, a touchback would be ruled.  Ignore the commentary by the announcers who are focused on the returner's foot.  It is not the feet we are concerned with, it is the ball.