"Upon Further Review"

                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:

                        Week 4's poll featured a play where there was a potential foul for a chop block.  Of those 155 who voted,  70% said 'No Foul", while 30% said foul.  

      Continued Participation ?    This year's changes regarding helmets coming off through play have created some difficult situations for officials.  Like any significant rule change, it will likely take some time before we can get clarity among most of us as to what is and is not intended to be a foul.  Rule 9-1-17 says: "A player whose helmet comes completely off during a down may not continue to participate beyond the immediate action in which he is engaged, whether or
not he puts the helmet back on during the down."  There has been and continues to be a varying of opinions as to what "participation" means.   Please view the video and then take the poll that follows. 

         Punts and the End Zone   When Team A bats their scrimmage kick that has traveled to Team B's end zone without being touched by Team B beyond the NZ, our mechanics require we drop a bean bag in the end zone.  This indicates there is a batting there by A and also means at the end of the down, Team B may be able to have that violation enforced with an awarded touchback.  It does not matter if the batting player has his feet on the ground or he is airborne.  Once he bats the ball, play continues until the ball becomes dead by rule, i.e. it hits the ground in the EZ  untouched by team B, someone falls on the ball in the field of play, Team A possesses the ball, etc.  In this video clip, although the B initially ruled incorrectly, the crew got the call right before play continued.  It is noted it would not matter if the Team A player was standing in the field of play but reached over the EZ to bat the ball.  That would still be a violation that qualifies for awarding a touchback to Team B.  (Rule 6-3-11)

      Punts and Contact on Potential Kick Returner   Most officials understand that once a scrimmage kick hits the ground, the player who was intended to be the kick returner, no longer has kick catch protection.  (Rule 6-4-1-c)  However, that does not mean it is then "open season" on that player.  He still cannot be contacted by way of a personal foul. 
 

      False Starts of the 2d Variety   In recent years we have seen more actions which used to be purely live ball fouls but which now are to be considered dead ball fouls, although they are not really fouls unless the ball is snapped.  Illegal shifts that convert to false starts are an example of this.  When Team A comes out of a huddle and never gets all 11 players set for at least 1 second at some time prior to the snap, they are to be judged to have committed a false start as soon as the ball is snapped (Rule 7-1-2-b-5)  Officials should immediately shut down the play and assess the penalty.   

      Possible Chop Block     One of the more difficult calls for officials is the chop block in interior line play.  Often there may be only 1 set of eyes looking at the action and those eyes may actually be focused elsewhere but just be picking up the possible chop block out of the corner of the eye.  In this play,  observe the left tackle and running back.  The viewer can decide if this is a chop block or not.  It appears the tackle has started to engage the defender before the running back dives in low to take out the defender's legs.  The L should have had a very good look at this action as he had no outside receivers to key on. 

    Intentional Grounding      When QB's are allowed to throw the ball away while under duress, the defense can potentially be disadvantaged even though they may have made a great defensive play.  The rules do permit QB's to legally throw the ball away under limited circumstances.  (7-3-2-h) In this play, is the passer: 1 - trying to conserve yardage, 2-throwing the ball into an area not occupied by an eligible Team A receiver, 3- outside the tackle box, and 4 -throwing the ball such that it crosses or lands beyond the NZ or NZ extended?    The passer is clearly trying to conserve yardage, he did throw the ball into an area not occupied by an eligible Team A receiver, he was not outside the tackle box AND the ball did not cross nor land beyond the NZ.  This should be a foul for intentional grounding. 

    TD and Instant Replay      This final clip is somewhat lengthy but it is a critical play in one of this past weekend's higher profile games.  As much as we always try to be in the right place at the right time, there are some situations where we just will not be able to have the view of the action we need to make the correct ruling.  Short yardage plays at the goal lines are very difficult to officiate due to huge mass of bodies that effectively prevent anyone on the crew having a perfect view of the ball carrier, the ball, and the goal line at the same moment.  We do the best we can.  With the advent of Instant Replay, we do get help at times.  But even that modern technology is no guarantee we will always have the definitive answer.