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Football Officiating => National Federation Discussion => Topic started by: Curious on November 08, 2012, 06:12:33 PM
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The following question was raised on the NCAA forum; but is easily translated to the FED level:
"If the offensive team lines up in such a way that they have the center and a holder and a kicker in the middle of the field and the rest of the offensive line set up near the sideline ('swinging gate' formation), does this mean that the blocking zone never exists on the play?"
Personally, I've never thought about it before; but it is interesting...
Thoughts/Comments....
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By rule, the FBZ is 4X3 from the spot of the snap, so it still exists. However, in the swinging gate, every offensive player but the snapper is probably outside the FBZ, so they can't legally BBW, clip, or BIB.
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By rule, the FBZ is 4X3 from the spot of the snap, so it still exists. However, in the swinging gate, every offensive player but the snapper is probably outside the FBZ, so they can't legally BBW, clip, or BIB.
^good
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It is this exact reason (along with the larger than normal splits that some Offensive teams use) why people calling it a "tackle box" as opposed to a "Free blocking zone" drives me nuts!
Calling the Free Blocking Zone the Tackle Box gives everyone the impression that Tackles, Guards and the Center all have additional freedoms in how and when they can block. This is just not true.
I am not one to split hairs, so even if the tackles are relatively close to the 4 yards needed from the ball I am going to give it to them.