2012 Season Week 6 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:
Week 5's poll featured a play where a player was flagged for continued participation without his helmet. Of those 163 who voted, 72% said 'No Foul", while 28% said foul. To view narrative responses submitted, Click Here .
Catch and TD or Incomplete ? The S in this play appears to have very good position and is far enough away from the action to rule on the catch/no-catch. He ruled incomplete. What say you? Please view the video and then take the poll that follows
Incomplete or Catch and TD ? This is another very tight play at the sideline in the end zone. The viewers can decide for themselves if the receiver demonstrated firm grasp and control of the ball while touching ground inbounds. (2-4-3) Over the years, the unofficial definition of a "catch" has morphed to a point where the receiver who falls to ground out of bounds is expected to maintain that firm grasp and control in order to be awarded the catch. Did that occur in this play?
Late Hit (Possible Ejection ) With all the emphasis on illegally using the helmet to contact an opponent, the late hit in this play seems to be a clear violation. (9-1-3 and 9-1-4) . It was flagged but the offender could easily have been ejected and that ejection would have been supported by rule, and hopefully by most coordinators.
New Variety KCI on KO This year we saw a rule change which gives extended kick catch interference protection on kickoffs when the ball is kicked off immediately into the ground and takes 1 hop before being played by the receivers. (6-4-1-f) In this play, the officials correctly flagged Team A for kick catch interference. It appears the Team A coach is arguing the "legitimacy" of the receiver's "signal." Officials know that there need not even have been a signal for the receiver to gain this extra protection.
New Variety of Illegal Block Below the Waist One rule change this season which officials knew would cause great issues for them to properly officiate was the change related to Team A players blocking below the waist back towards their own line of scrimmage when they were beyond the line of scrimmage (9-1-6-a-1). This is not a block officials have been accustomed to seeing as a foul so it may take some time before it is routinely correctly officiated. Observe the block of A18 (receiver at top of screen). This block could have been seen by multiple officials but was unflagged.
DPI Penalty Enforcement Close to GL Defensive pass interference penalty enforcement near the goal line can get confusing. When the ball is snapped outside the B-2 and the foul takes place on or inside the 2 (to include in the end zone) the penalty will place the ball at the 2. (7-3-8 PENALTY) There is an exception for PAT plays when snap is at the 3. In the video play, the TV line makes it appear the ball was snapped at the 3 on a regular scrimmage down. The foul took place in the EZ. Some officials may have been surprised when the R announced the penalty as "half the distance" if they had relied on the TV line as the correct line of scrimmage. In reality, the ball was snapped at the 2 so "half the distance" was the correct enforcement.
2d Variety of Intentional Grounding All officials are likely aware of the 2011 change which limited the ability of certain team A players to legally throw the ball away in order to conserve yardage. (7-3-2-h Exception) Only the player who receives the snap may do this. The passer must be (or have been) outside the tackle box and he must throw the ball so that it crosses or lands beyond the NZ or NZ extended. This change limits the ability of a 2d Team A player , to legally throw the ball away. Even before the change this was likely a very seldom seen event. In this play, a 2d Team A player earns great kudos from the broadcasters for his "heads up" play. However, the player actually fouled and was correctly flagged.
Punts and the Bean Bag The B does a good job of keeping his wits about him (with one notable exception) even though he gets caught up in the middle of the action. What is the purpose of the bean bag here? Perhaps it is an automatic response? There are some who advocate NOT working with a bean bag in hand on kicks precisely because they fear the automatic response of deploying it, even though it should not be. Proper reasons for the bag to be used in situations like this would be when the kick ends or when the kick is illegally touched by Team A or when the ball is fumbled. None of those apply to this play. Using it other times can cause confusion among crewmates who may think the bag was used for 1 of the legitimate reasons and officiate accordingly. It can also cause issues during film review as some coaches might argue the use of the bag here implies Team B DID have possession but lost it.