Illegal Block by the RB

[TXMike]

https://youtu.be/KQl29vhf7eE

A33

[NVFOA_Ump]

This one's a knee killer and IMO 100% illegal.  Needs to be from the front at 10-2 and it's not even close.  Contact is 9 o'clock and the helmet's in front with the shoulder on the side on the side of the knee.  IMO this one is one of the blocks that the rule was intended to remove from the game.  If 20's foot had been planted just a split second earlier he's being carried off on a stretcher.

[Legacy Zebra]

I disagree. A33 is unrestricted and the ball is still in the low blocking zone. He is allowed to block low from the side. That zone extends 5 yards beyond the neutral zone and 7 yards laterally from the snapper. On a play snapped from the hash, that puts the edge of the zone 4 yards from the top of the numbers.  In this play at the point of initial contact, the blocker is about where the tackle's outside shoulder was at the snap and the ball is just outside of him. In my opinion, they're both still within the zone. It may look bad, but I would say it's legal.

[wlemonnier]

At the time of the block the ball is still in the zone so this Team A player is still unrestricted. 

Clarification... The low blocking zone disintegrates when the ball leaves the zone... so even if the block occurs inside the low blocking zone, all 11 Team A players are now restricted.  See Definitions 2-3-7-b.  Where the block occurs is NOT part of the rule.  The rule is about restricted v. unrestricted AND whether the BALL is inside or outside the low blocking zone.

Again, agree the ball is inside the zone when the block occurs... maybe you meant the runner & the spot the tackle lined up were in the low block zone... just wanted to clarify that in case someone thinks that means where the block was made.

[TXMike]

Someone asked me to post "the last Ga So TD" as he thought there was an illegal block below the waist.  After I posted it he said this was not the play.  Still interesting discussion play.  I will go back and try to find the play he DID mean

[Legacy Zebra]

I disagree that the location of the block is not part of the rule. 9-1-6-a-1 says "The following Team A players may legally block below the waist inside this zone until the ball has left the zone" (my emphasis added). In my opinion, since this block is from the side and the ball was still in the zone, it matters where the block is. If it was from the front, I would say it doesn't.

[TXMike]

I think this is the play that had the block that was in question

https://youtu.be/qJskhpziliM

[dvasques]

on this one I think the ball is out of the LBZ and we have a foul there

[Kalle]

The first one is close, but I think the ball is still within the zone. The second one is easy, the hashes are 40 feet from each other so when the ball is snapped from one hash a block at the other hash is outside the zone. Low block from the side outside the zone, illegal.

[wlemonnier]

I disagree that the location of the block is not part of the rule. 9-1-6-a-1 says "The following Team A players may legally block below the waist inside this zone until the ball has left the zone" (my emphasis added). In my opinion, since this block is from the side and the ball was still in the zone, it matters where the block is. If it was from the front, I would say it doesn't.
« Last Edit: Today at 01:45:56 PM by Legacy Zebra »

I stand corrected... 9-1-6-a-1 & 2 would make it illegal to block outside the 10-2 zone even if the ball were still in the zone.  Appreciate the correction by Legacy Zebra.   

[BrendanP]

I disagree. A33 is unrestricted and the ball is still in the low blocking zone. He is allowed to block low from the side. That zone extends 5 yards beyond the neutral zone and 7 yards laterally from the snapper. On a play snapped from the hash, that puts the edge of the zone 4 yards from the top of the numbers.  In this play at the point of initial contact, the blocker is about where the tackle's outside shoulder was at the snap and the ball is just outside of him. In my opinion, they're both still within the zone. It may look bad, but I would say it's legal.

Well said.

[NVFOA_Ump]

The first one is close, ......

I agree with Kalle here and while close I'll throw the flag and get the feedback from my supervisor.  That block is the very type of block that is slowly taking the BBW's away from the game - defender moving laterally tracking the runner toward the sideline with the blocker moving vertically downfield.  We've been told on these that when we're in doubt to flag it.  My view of this is when contact is made the runner is close to 2/3'rds of the way out to the nines and the ball was snapped from just inside the hash - that's close enough for me.  2nd play isn't close - that block needs to be 10-2 or above the waist.