Question?

[sczeebra]

4th and 10 from K’s 5. K’s punt is high and comes down at K’s 18 where R42 muffs the kick and it rolls into K’s end zone where K22 recovers and is downed there. What is the result of the play?

[Ralph Damren]

Assuming the kick was still airborne when muffed, you have a safety. A new force by R cannot be added until the kick has reached earth. Treated the same as a blokced punt bouncing back into K's EZ.

[sczeebra]

This is one of the most missed questions on a lot of tests across the country. The rule which confuses myself concerning this question is 5-1-3f, which awards the team in possession a new series.

[CalhounLJ]

This is one of the most missed questions on a lot of tests across the country. The rule which confuses myself concerning this question is 5-1-3f, which awards the team in possession a new series.

Technically, it still applies. The only problem for K is the series is awarded in their own endzone..

[bama_stripes]

Assuming the kick was still airborne when muffed, you have a safety. A new force by R cannot be added until the kick has reached earth. Treated the same as a blokced punt bouncing back into K's EZ.

I’ve always had a problem with this when the muff occurs past the LOS.  K has done nothing wrong, yet is penalized for R’s misplay.

[Ralph Damren]

I’ve always had a problem with this when the muff occurs past the LOS.  K has done nothing wrong, yet is penalized for R’s misplay.

In my 30+ years on the rules Committee, I don't recall this ever coming up. Whenever I think of this play, i recall an event from daze of a 'wide-eyed' wing....

SCENE : late in an already decided game, K was punting from their own 5. The crusty ole' ref was always grumpy on a good day.

(1) Punt was blocked and bounced thru K's EZ;
(2) Ref brings ball out to K's 20 (so far so good );
(3) Ref then signals touchback  ;
(4) Ref then signals 1st & 10 for R  ;
(5) Game ends shorly thereafter  .
(6) On the way home -and after a few beers- I get up the nerve to ask ole' Ref : "Sir, why wasn't that a safety  ?".
(7)He gruffly responded : "Because I don't like to F@#$ WITH KICKOFFS  ."
(8) i HAD MY ANSWER  .

[Fatso]

I’ve always had a problem with this when the muff occurs past the LOS.  K has done nothing wrong, yet is penalized for R’s misplay.

If K would've recovered the ball before it entered the endzone it would be K ball 1st and 10.

[AlUpstateNY]

Assuming the kick was still airborne when muffed, you have a safety. A new force by R cannot be added until the kick has reached earth. Treated the same as a blokced punt bouncing back into K's EZ.

A key differential, easy to remember, thanks.

[NVFOA_Ump]

So a slight variation on the original play:

4th and 10 from K’s 5. K’s punt is high and comes down and bounces forward at K’s 18 where R42 running hard toward the bouncing ball and attempting to secure the ball on the 1st bounce, muffs the kick with the ball bouncing of his facemask and it rolls back into K’s end zone where K22 recovers and is downed there. What is the result of the play?

[Ralph Damren]

So a slight variation on the original play:

[/size]4th and 10 from K’s 5. K’s punt is high and comes down and bounces forward at K’s 18 where R42 running hard toward the bouncing ball and attempting to secure the ball on the 1st bounce, muffs the kick with the ball bouncing of his facemask and it rolls back into K’s end zone where K22 recovers and is downed there. What is the result of the play?

Touchback, R added a new force.