2012 Post-Season Week 4 Clips
TECHNICAL NOTE: For those not aware, when viewing these videos in the You Tube window, you can adjust the resolution for a sharper view. Notice in the lower right hand corner of the video player window a setting icon that looks like a gear. 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.
Poll Results:
In last week's poll, ended in almost a straight split. The play featured a defensive player who lost his helmet (possibly due to a foul by Team A) and who then attempted to make a tackle. 54% of you said no foul for the continued participation by the helmetless player while 46% said foul. Those saying no foul generally made comments along the line of: The runner had already scored before the contact or it was a natural unavoidable instinct. Those in favor of flagging commented on the dangerousness of the player's actions to himself. Perhaps we will see some more clarification on plays like this before next season but there still seems to be lack of consistency on the call based on this poll.
Intentional Grounding ? The intentional grounding call continues to be one that challenges crews. Often it requires input from multiple officials before the call can be made, or not made. Some of the CFO videos this year seemed to suggest passers should be given great leeway on these type plays. This does not make the defensive players or coaches happy as they see great defensive players effectively negated by a passer being allowed to unload the ball. When the change was made that says eligible receivers no longer had to have a "reasonable opportunity to catch the ball", passers immediately were given much more freedom to avoid a sack with an incomplete pass. Please view the video and take the poll below. (Please remember to scroll down and click on the DONE button after making your choice.)
End of Game & PAT This interesting series of events took place in a bowl game. On the last play from scrimmage, Team A was awarded a TD. TV replays (and likely those on the stadium screen) made clear the ball carrier did not get the ball to the goal line plane. The covering official was not in an ideal position to make the call and subsequently erred. The replay official would have been able to independently correct the mistake if it had a "...direct competitive impact on the game." (12-5-1-a) It clearly had no such impact in this situation. The Team B coach also could have initiated the replay process by requesting a timeout and advising the crew he was challenging the ruling. The coach did request the timeout but it is not clear he ever specifically told an official he wanted to challenge the ruling. The ruling was not reviewed and the TD stood. That meant the score was 49 - 25 and there was no time remaining. 8-3-2-a tells us the try should not be attempted when there is no time remaining in the game unless the points would affect the game outcome. They would not in this situation so the try should not have been permitted. Allowing a meaningless PAT in this type situation can lead to undesirable consequences, i.e. extracurricular activity. Had the R signalled touchdown and then immediately announced that, by rule, the try would not be attempted and the game would be over, that would have likely prevented any further problems including a possible fight on or after the try.
Blocking Below the Waist on Kickoff All players are prohibited from blocking below the waist on kickoffs, unless that block is against the runner. (9-1-6-b). Observers can watch the actions of A86 (?) at the B-21 and decide for themselves if 9-1-6-b was violated. (Despite commentator's initial comments, there was no flag).
Illegal Block Below Waist by RB Good catch by the B to notice the illegal block below the waist (in the backfield) by A81. A81 was in the backfield and outside the tackle box at the snap. He was on the left side of formation but went across to the right side and clocked low towards the right sideline. This is illegal. (9-1-6-a -2 & 3).
Illegal Block Below Waist by Team B As the blocking below the waist rule has been tweaked over time, more restrictions have also been placed on Team B's low blocks. Currently, 9-1-6-a-5 prevents Team B from blocking below the waist outside a zone that extends sideline to sideline, 5 yards beyond and 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage.
Motion Legality
At the snap, Team A can have 1 back in motion but he may not be moving towards
his opponent's goal line. (7-1-4-b-1). The flank official who is on the
side the motion back is on at the snap has primary responsibility for judging
legality of motion. In both these videos, it appears illegal motion
was not flagged.
Video 1
Video 2
Hurdling Hurdling is illegal unless it is by the ball carrier (9-1-13). Hurdling is jumping with 1 or both feet or knees foremost over an opponent who is still on his feet. If the opponent has any part of his body on the ground except 1 or both feet he is NOT "on his feet". Observe the defender rushing the QB. Is his jump of the RB attempting to block, hurdling?
Forward Progress and IR In this critical play at the end of the 1st half, the covering official (L) determined the runner was down with ball short of the line to gain. The L typically has the best view of the line to gain marker and the ball of any official on the crew. However, the replay official has the authority to stop play and review forward progress spots with respect to a first down (12-3-3-e). It is not known why he did not do so here. In this situation, Team A had a huge dilemma. Since no first down was ruled, they had to get to the line of scrimmage and get the snap off before the clock expired. It was 4th down however, so spiking the ball was not going to be of any value. Team A likely would have been much better off had they not snapped and just let the game clock expire. They could have then stood there and hoped for the replay official to buzz the crew and announce he was reviewing the forward progress spot. By snapping the ball, Team A took that option away.