Motion through the neutral zone

[ncwingman]

Troy/Kansas State game, a WR for Troy goes in motion by running down the neutral zone/defensive side of the ball before resetting behind the line before the snap. Video Here

Outside of the entire crew freezing because they've never seen this before, is there a reason why this wouldn't be a false start or encroachment on the offense? I'm more familiar with Fed rules, so maybe there's a reason why things are different here too.

[Covid 22]

There was a similar play in the TX vs Ala game. The ball was made RFP and the play clock was counting at about 21 sec.  Alabama is on the LOS.  Either a TE or slot enters the neutral zone and moves from the left to the right side. The play was then run.  Isn't this offensive encroachment?

[GA Umpire]

There was a similar play in the TX vs Ala game. The ball was made RFP and the play clock was counting at about 21 sec.  Alabama is on the LOS.  Either a TE or slot enters the neutral zone and moves from the left to the right side. The play was then run.  Isn't this offensive encroachment?

Yes, under NFHS rules.

I do not know about NCAA.

[Kalle]

See rule 7-1-3-c. Not sure how various supervisors want this to be enforced, though.

[Grant - AR]

Disclaimer: I don't work the line of scrimmage so I could be wrong here.

Is this really considered going in motion?  It looks to me like he's getting settled into a position and looks to the sideline where the coaches tell him he's on the wrong side of the formation.  I think he might just be getting lined up.

[dammitbobby]

While I certainly don't know how coordinators would want it called (or not), from my perspective, I tend to agree with you - there was no advantage gained, so I would be ok with treating this as an early season aberration/error, more than a foul.

[TxBJ]

While I certainly don't know how coordinators would want it called (or not), from my perspective, I tend to agree with you - there was no advantage gained, so I would be ok with treating this as an early season aberration/error, more than a foul.

So are you saying no foul in week 2 but it is a foul in week 10?

[Legacy Zebra]

This is a foul. If the defense switched its strength and the DE went around the OL to get there, nobody would flinch at having a flag. But the offense does this and all of a sudden we want to make excuses for them. Just flag them.

[dammitbobby]

 

So are you saying no foul in week 2 but it is a foul in week 10?

No, I'm saying this is something I would expect to see in pee wee/youth football, not college, was unintentional, and not something you would really ever see late in the season at this level.

[Imperial Stout]

The simple case of encroachment with a WR lining up well over a yard beyond the neutral zone was flagged last Saturday in the Colorado v Nebraska game.

[Snapper]

The simple case of encroachment with a WR lining up well over a yard beyond the neutral zone was flagged last Saturday in the Colorado v Nebraska game.

Michigan got flagged for something similar for what Colorado did sometime in the first two weeks.

My guess is that the motion play everyone is discussing will be on Shaw's training tape this week.  In the meantime, I know that my bosses have instructed us to flag that.

[JDM]

The simple case of encroachment with a WR lining up well over a yard beyond the neutral zone was flagged last Saturday in the Colorado v Nebraska game.

Was it flagged as DBF?

[bossman72]

Was it flagged as DBF?

Yes