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Football Officiating => National Federation Discussion => Topic started by: FLAHL on May 14, 2017, 07:27:12 AM
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At the same clinic, it was very interesting to hear the college officials talk about fouls. Specifically, they said that they would never call a foul for a Ineligible downfield if a WR covered an inside receiver and both were on the line. They would rule that one of the guys was behind the other and let the play go. While that makes sense from an "advantage gained" perspective, what's the point of our very specific definitions of Linemen, Backs, "lines drawn through the waist of the snapper" and all the rest?
By that same logic, they wouldn't call a foul for a 6 man line, they would rule that one of the guys was on, and let the play go.
Thoughts?
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I can understand that philosophy in a college game, where televised games are approaching four hours in length.
I would flag those every time in HS.
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Most likely, there's no ABSOLUTE correct answer, and our response may best depend, and relate, to the specific situation we're looking at rather than some dictated degree, but whatever standard we set, we should be consistent in apply it.
When we focus on the precise letter of the rule, over consideration of the intent of the rule and how it applies to the UNIQUE situation we're observing, we can lose sight of the purpose the rule is trying to accomplish.
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Most likely, there's no ABSOLUTE correct answer, and our response may best depend, and relate, to the specific situation we're looking at rather than some dictated degree, but whatever standard we set, we should be consistent in apply it.
When we focus on the precise letter of the rule, over consideration of the intent of the rule and how it applies to the UNIQUE situation we're observing, we can lose sight of the purpose the rule is trying to accomplish.
"Blade of grass" philosophy
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While that makes sense from an "advantage gained" perspective, what's the point of our very specific definitions of Linemen, Backs, "lines drawn through the waist of the snapper" and all the rest?
You also have very specific definitions of holding and DPI, but we don't call those to the letter of the law.
You'll live a lot longer if you don't throw ticky-tack fouls. Calling a WR covered up when there is a stagger between him and the widest is a ticky-tack foul.
You said it yourself - NO ADVANTAGE GAINED. If the team isn't intentionally covering up a slot (which I see maybe 1 play per year), the defense know's he's a WR. They're going to cover him. If there is even the slightest stagger, make him a back.
Your game will be much smother if you try to make the formations legal if you can.
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You also have very specific definitions of holding and DPI, but we don't call those to the letter of the law.
You'll live a lot longer if you don't throw ticky-tack fouls. Calling a WR covered up when there is a stagger between him and the widest is a ticky-tack foul.
You said it yourself - NO ADVANTAGE GAINED. If the team isn't intentionally covering up a slot (which I see maybe 1 play per year), the defense know's he's a WR. They're going to cover him. If there is even the slightest stagger, make him a back.
Your game will be much smother if you try to make the formations legal if you can.
I have actually encountered a situation where the tight end was covered by a wide receiver and the defense noticed it before the snap. A defender yelled to his teammates that the TE was ineligible and that no one should cover him. How would the "make it legal" philosophy work out in that situation?
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^talk The job of a sports official is to keep the game fair and safe...
P_S The job of law enforcement is to keep everyone safe and sound.....
P_S ^talk These two jobs are similar in many ways......
Ask yourself before you ^flag a kid for being an inch or so on/off -in/out or whatever, that has no real baring on the game other than just adding another "notch" to your penalty flag; if you would be happy getting a speeding ticket for going 38 MPH in a 35 MPH zone.
DON'T BE A WALKING RULEBOOK WAITING TO HAPPEN!!!
tR:oLl ^flag ^flag ^flag ^flag ^flag ^flag ^flag tR:oLl
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Two wide-outs somewhat staggered I will not call it. Tight end in a 3 point and wide-out covering him, I am probably going to call it. I know when I played defense I would have noticed that the tight end was covered and ignore him as a receiver.
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I know when I played defense I would have noticed that the tight end was covered and ignore him as a receiver.
You're conceding an awful lot to the offense. Did you ever get burned?
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You're conceding an awful lot to the offense. Did you ever get burned?
I am sure I was burned a few times, but generally when it was noticed that the Tight end was covered, I would let my teammates know and with that hopefully the officials heard also and flagged appropriately.
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Hopefully? Wow! 😲
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I have actually encountered a situation where the tight end was covered by a wide receiver and the defense noticed it before the snap. A defender yelled to his teammates that the TE was ineligible and that no one should cover him. How would the "make it legal" philosophy work out in that situation?
Tight ends are a little different because teams DO intentionally cover up their tight end. In that case you can rule the tight end covered (especially if putting the WR off the line would create an illegal formation). Teams RARELY cover up their slot receivers, so always try to make them legal if at all possible.
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At the same clinic, it was very interesting to hear the college officials talk about fouls. Specifically, they said that they would never call a foul for a Ineligible downfield if a WR covered an inside receiver and both were on the line. They would rule that one of the guys was behind the other and let the play go. While that makes sense from an "advantage gained" perspective, what's the point of our very specific definitions of Linemen, Backs, "lines drawn through the waist of the snapper" and all the rest?
By that same logic, they wouldn't call a foul for a 6 man line, they would rule that one of the guys was on, and let the play go.
Thoughts?
to the point of the lines drawn through the snapper, which no one has addressed:
Linemen are different, in my opinion.
Let's say Reggie White is out there, you know that RT is going to get beat every time with this all-world DE. So to maybe help his cause, that DT will get as far back as he can get to #93 before he bloes by him.
But two WR out there, it looked like there is a blade of grass differentiating them
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At the same clinic, it was very interesting to hear the college officials talk about fouls. Specifically, they said that they would never call a foul for a Ineligible downfield if a WR covered an inside receiver and both were on the line. They would rule that one of the guys was behind the other and let the play go. While that makes sense from an "advantage gained" perspective, what's the point of our very specific definitions of Linemen, Backs, "lines drawn through the waist of the snapper" and all the rest?
By that same logic, they wouldn't call a foul for a 6 man line, they would rule that one of the guys was on, and let the play go.
Thoughts?
I think you probably took them a little too literally. Yes, in most cases you'll put them where they are supposed to be, especially if the covered guy is in a slot position and not a traditional TE spot. Teams do occasionally cover these guys intentionally though. If the covered guy would give them 7 linemen then it is most likely intentional, but I have seen teams intentionally cover someone with 8 total linemen. If the TE is obviously on the line and the wideout comes out indicating with an arm signal he's on the line, it's really hard to put one of them in the backfield.
So it's not a hard and fast philosophy. But more often than not you don't need to nitpick this. The best thing I learned as I started working small college football is to get the big stuff. I see too many HS officials that call things way too literally and it really hurts the flow of the game when a team doesn't gain an advantage. I see it on holds and PI as well. Don't be a gotcha guy!
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Preventive officiating is always best and officiating to the level of the team. If it is a C-team game, I will give a couple of warnings to the coach and player and let them know and also instruct them to step up or back if I ask them "on or off". Then, I will flag it. JV, not as lenient, but still some instruction. Varsity...it just depends. If it is a high level game with 7-10 coaches on the sideline...maybe no warning. If it is a A or AA game with 2-3 coaches on the sideline, a warning is always helpful and the coaches really appreciate it. When you do flag them at that level, especially after the warning, they will side with you more often than not on other calls during the game. Those lower level coaches do the best they can with the resources they are given.
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I have actually encountered a situation where the tight end was covered by a wide receiver and the defense noticed it before the snap.
A lot of Wing-T offenses will use an end-over unbalanced formation. It's usually a SE covering the TE, but I've seen two SE's on the same side plenty of times. The offense knows that the covered receiver is ineligible, and unless they're poorly coached the defense knows it too.
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A lot of Wing-T offenses will use an end-over unbalanced formation. It's usually a SE covering the TE, but I've seen two SE's on the same side plenty of times. The offense knows that the covered receiver is ineligible, and unless they're poorly coached the defense knows it too.
Reminds me of a quote from a youth coach back in the day when he did just this- had his slot back on the line, covered by the flanker. When I explained that the eligible receivers included the two ends, he said "I know, I had both ends on this side of the field!"
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Reminds me of a quote from a youth coach back in the day when he did just this- had his slot back on the line, covered by the flanker. When I explained that the eligible receivers included the two ends, he said "I know, I had both ends on this side of the field!"
Priceless! +1
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...or "Well, #so-and-so is SUPPOSED to be off the line." ;)