TE Covered

[DaBigStiller]

What is the proper mechanic and penalty for the covered TE who goes out for a pass?  I suspect the wing official eyes up the TE at the snap and post snap turns his attention to the closest wide receiver.  The back judge would position himself on the TE (Strong Side) but would eye up the slot receiver.  Who is responsible for the TE?  If he goes out for a pass it is a penalty but does the back judge work with the flank official to make the call?  Is this a dead ball treated as a live ball penalty for illegal formation?  Should the play be blown dead at  the snap? As the Head linesman on a 3 man crew,  I informed the HC before the snap that his TE was covered and is illegal. He said that's ok and I realized his response was because he had a running play called. I started to wonder if he should have been flagged anyway for illegal formation.

[Kalle]

The foul is an ineligible receiver downfield, 7-3-10, a live-ball foul. If there is no (legal) forward pass, there is no foul.

[Rulesman]

I informed the HC before the snap that his TE was covered and is illegal. He said that's ok and I realized his response was because he had a running play called. I started to wonder if he should have been flagged anyway for illegal formation.

Why would you think this is an illegal formation?

[HoustonUmp]

My guess is that he has heard on Sundays that it is an illegal formation if an eligible receiver is covered up.  Of course that is not the rule set that we use.

[texref]

Hey Boys. Everything I have seen from "DaBigStiller" or whatever is designed to irritate the rest of us. Don't know about you but I'd rather discuss the intelligent questions that actually happen to all of us.

Let'er Rip DaBig...

[DallasLJ]

Hey Boys. Everything I have seen from "DaBigStiller" or whatever is designed to irritate the rest of us. Don't know about you but I'd rather discuss the intelligent questions that actually happen to all of us.

Let'er Rip DaBig...

 I am getting the same sense.  Started thinking that last week -- multiple posts on several topics on at least 3 different boards -- with unusual questions / comments.

[DaBigStiller]

Didn't mean to bore you or irritate you.  These situations are real.  I am a first year official and am trying to learn.  I am ok if you ignore my queries.  No harm done. 

[Rulesman]

Didn't mean to bore you or irritate you.  These situations are real.  I am a first year official and am trying to learn.  I am ok if you ignore my queries.  No harm done.

OK, but you still haven't answered the question why you thought covering a TE was an illegal formation? We are all here to learn. We'll help guide you, but we've first got to understand your thought process.

[backjudge85]

Didn't mean to bore you or irritate you.  These situations are real.  I am a first year official and am trying to learn.  I am ok if you ignore my queries.  No harm done.

Might I ask you if you are a first year official, you say in an earlier post that you worked the flank this year in a Varsity game between Chisolm Trail and Saginaw here in Texas.  Is that a true statement?  If so, I know both officials that worked the flanks in that game and neither are first year officials.  You have really peaked my curiosity, especially since in an unrelated post you called out an official by name for working a State Championship game this year.  I too, like Dallas LJ and some others wonder about your intentions.....