NCAA Fun with 9-1-6

[sj_31]

A 1/10 @ A-40. Team A is in normal splits with right tackle A77 clearly within the tackle box. At the snap, A77 takes 2-3 steps to the A-42 and blocks middle linebacker B55 below the waist back toward the original position of the ball clearly from the 10-2/front. QB A1 runs to the 50 where he is tackled. A77's block occurred while A1 was behind the LOS.

[TXMike]

Gonna be one the players and coaches have most trouble with.  Foul for illegal block below the waist.   Tackle became restricted when he went that far down field


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[sj_31]

I understand he's restricted from blocking 9-3 once he leaves the TB, but paragraph 3 states "Players not covered in Paragraph 1 above may not block below the waist toward the original position of the ball at the snap...". Well at the snap, A77 is covered by Paragraph 1 (for the purposes of Paragraph 3).

For the record I think this is (or should be) an illegal block. Posting here because in various preseason study sessions, this has often been a 50-50 split among the group. I have heard that RR is going to come out with an AR or interpretation making this illegal; I just hope that he in fact does to put it to rest.

[Hawkeye]

I hope he clears this up too.

This has been a problem with this rule since they went to the Low Blocking Zone definition and it is a really big problem now that they changed to Tackle box which includes no space beyond the NZ.  Nowhere in 9-1-6 does it state what players who are covered by paragraph 1 are allowed to do outside the tackle box (was low blocking zone) when the ball is still in the tackle box.  It doesn't actually state that those originally unrestricted (i.e. paragraph 1) players are only allowed to block 10-2 once they leave the zone with the ball still in the zone.  The way paragraph 2 is worded, paragraph 1 players are not addressed other than the "all players after the ball has left the tackle box" phrase.

Now, we're supposed to interpret that the originally unrestricted player outside the tackle box with the ball still in the tackle box is not addresses in paragraph 1, so he is now subject to paragraph 3?  Unintended consequences?  Too technical of a reading?

[sj_31]

RR BBW video released today on CFO site and still no clarification on this. Any updated word from any of the conference supers?

[TxSkyBolt]

Personally I think the rule is crystal clear. If you're a lineman and within the tackle box you're unrestricted. No other way to read the rule. RR said the same thing on the video.


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[fencewire]

What skybolt said, it is very clear, when an unrestricted player leaves the TB he becomes restricted, when the ball leaves the tackle box all become restricted.

[sj_31]

Restricted 9-3 for sure. But restricted from blocking back toward original position of ball per paragraph 3? I don't think that's as clear. I know some conferences are ruling the play in the OP as legal and others as illegal. I don't care one way or the other as long as it's clarified. Coaches are going to coach the play in the OP as legal until they are specifically told it's not. Every mention in "official" ARs and videos allude to the fact that becoming restricted by leaving the TB is in reference to not blocking 9 to 3. Is there any official CFO document or AR that specifically states that the OP is illegal?

[TxSkyBolt]

Restricted 9-3 for sure. But restricted from blocking back toward original position of ball per paragraph 3? I don't think that's as clear. I know some conferences are ruling the play in the OP as legal and others as illegal. I don't care one way or the other as long as it's clarified. Coaches are going to coach the play in the OP as legal until they are specifically told it's not. Every mention in "official" ARs and videos allude to the fact that becoming restricted by leaving the TB is in reference to not blocking 9 to 3. Is there any official CFO document or AR that specifically states that the OP is illegal?

What in paragraph 3 do you find confusing? Para 3 says:
"Players not covered in paragraph 1 (above) may not block below the waist toward the original position of the ball at the snap until the ball carrier is clearly beyond the neutral zone."

It reads players restricted at the snap may not crack back.

Regarding the OP, the player is unrestricted at the snap so he's allowed to crack back. Since he's left the tackle box, he can only block 10-2, but still may block towards the original position of the ball.

Seems clear and unambiguous to me.

[Dakota Dan]

Regarding the OP, the player is unrestricted at the snap so he's allowed to crack back. Since he's left the tackle box, he can only block 10-2, but still may block towards the original position of the ball.

Seems clear and unambiguous to me.

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I agree 100% .. legal play for A77's block ...

The intention of the "crack back" part of IBW rule is to prevent blocks that the team B player cannot see coming at them ... an offensive tackle looping around and blocking a LB in the front is not the intent of the crack back provision.   

[Fatman325]

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I agree 100% .. legal play for A77's block ...

The intention of the "crack back" part of IBW rule is to prevent blocks that the team B player cannot see coming at them ... an offensive tackle looping around and blocking a LB in the front is not the intent of the crack back provision.   

I agree that it is not part of the crack back provision.....but it should be. They can still be nasty blocks.

[TxSkyBolt]

Settled today with release of BBW video. TE is always restricted.


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[copedaddy]

any link to video? or is it classified?

[NVFOA_Ump]

Settled today with release of BBW video. TE is always restricted.

Don't we really mean that the 3rd lineman from the snapper is always restricted (think unbalanced line)?  That would leave a maximum of 5 linemen (snapper and 2 either side of the snapper unrestricted).  Also, that would in effect define the width of the "tackle box" as the area covered by those 5 linemen?  Or is that too much clarity?   

[TxSkyBolt]

Video is on ArbiterSports


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[Aussie-Zebra]

sent you a PM

[BlindZebra]

A 1/10 @ A-40. Team A is in normal splits with right tackle A77 clearly within the tackle box. At the snap, A77 takes 2-3 steps to the A-42 and blocks middle linebacker B55 below the waist back toward the original position of the ball clearly from the 10-2/front. QB A1 runs to the 50 where he is tackled. A77's block occurred while A1 was behind the LOS.

I say foul.  When he leave the tackle box he becomes restricted and once restricted, he must follow the same guidelines as restricted players.  A 1/23 @ A27.

If you go to 9:47 on the BBW video on CFO, it talks about a stationary back that leaves the tackle box and blocks low.  The narrator says that when he leaves the box, he is restricted to blocking from the front and not toward the original position of the ball and this player is covered in paragraph 1.  Since that back is covered in paragraph 1, then the lineman in the OP is no different.

[Dakota Dan]

Have heard that Redding stated that while the language may not appear clear to cover all situations, the intent is to prevent a player from leaving the tackle box and then cracking back, even if from the front until he is allowed to do so, which would now be when the ball clearly crosses the LOS.

So, moving forward I will be treating the block by the Tackle in the OP question as a foul

[JasonTX]

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[BlindZebra]

VII: Back A22 is stationary inside the tackle box at the snap. After the
snap he shoots between the tackle and the guard on his side, crosses
into Team B’s secondary and blocks low on linebacker B55 before
the ball has left the tackle box. The contact is at B55’s thigh from
the side and is directed straight ahead of A22. RULING: Illegal
block below the waist. Since A22 leaves the tackle box before
making the block, he is restricted from blocking other than with a
“10-2” block. 15-yard penalty.

This one, the back is unrestricted but this time he leaves the tackle box.  Once he or the ball leave the tackle box his block can be back toward the original position of the ball but the block must now be a 10-2 block.  No more side blocks and no more blocking back toward his own goalline.

I have attached a good breakdown that a co-official created that summarizes the rule in English.  Let me know your thoughts.  On the diagram I just noticed he has a side block on some of the restricted players away from the ball and we know that is illegal.  His written explanation he does state that those blocks would have to be in the front.

So, you are saying that an unrestricted player who leaves the tackle box may block towards the original position of the ball as long as it is 10-2?

A 1/10 @ A40.  Back A2 is stationary inside the tackle box when the ball is snapped.  A2 shoots through the gap of the right guard and right tackle and blocks B55 from the front toward the original position of the ball at the A43.  When the block occurs, runner A12 was sweeping around the right side and was at the A38.  A12 is tackled at the 50.

That is a legal block?

[Dakota Dan]

So, you are saying that an unrestricted player who leaves the tackle box may block towards the original position of the ball as long as it is 10-2?

A 1/10 @ A40.  Back A2 is stationary inside the tackle box when the ball is snapped.  A2 shoots through the gap of the right guard and right tackle and blocks B55 from the front toward the original position of the ball at the A43.  When the block occurs, runner A12 was sweeping around the right side and was at the A38.  A12 is tackled at the 50.

That is a legal block?

Once A2 leaves the 'Tackle Box' he comes "restricted" and cannot block low back toward the original position of the ball (front, side nor backside) until the ball crosses the LOS after that it can only be from the front ... therefore, A2's block is illegal since the ball was 2 yards behind the LOS at the time of the block.

[BlindZebra]

Once A2 leaves the 'Tackle Box' he comes "restricted" and cannot block low back toward the original position of the ball (front, side nor backside) until the ball crosses the LOS after that it can only be from the front ... therefore, A2's block is illegal since the ball was 2 yards behind the LOS at the time of the block.

Agree.  Just making sure we were on the same page.  What I don't agree with is making the tight end unrestricted in tight splits.  I don't think we will be consistent enough to make that call.  The simplest and most consistent way for us to call this rule is that the 3rd lineman away from the center in both directions is restricted no matter the splits.  Now, I know Rogers has said that if the TE is inside the 5 yards he is unrestricted, but my supervisors have said we are officiating it where the 3rd lineman is restricted.  Keeps consistency in the game and conference.  It also eliminates the judgement of 5 yards.

Thoughts?

[copedaddy]

Like I said earlier, way to easy that way, (3rd man restricted). It will never happen.

[JasonTX]

Agree.  Just making sure we were on the same page.  What I don't agree with is making the tight end unrestricted in tight splits.  I don't think we will be consistent enough to make that call.  The simplest and most consistent way for us to call this rule is that the 3rd lineman away from the center in both directions is restricted no matter the splits.  Now, I know Rogers has said that if the TE is inside the 5 yards he is unrestricted, but my supervisors have said we are officiating it where the 3rd lineman is restricted.  Keeps consistency in the game and conference.  It also eliminates the judgement of 5 yards.

Thoughts?

Read AR 9-1-6 VII.  An unrestricted player who leaves the tackle box loses his ability to block in the side and back toward his goalline.  He can still block 10-2 per the AR.  The "crackback" block is for those players that fall under 9-1-6-a-3.

[Dakota Dan]

Read AR 9-1-6 VII.  An unrestricted player who leaves the tackle box loses his ability to block in the side and back toward his goalline.  He can still block 10-2 per the AR.  The "crackback" block is for those players that fall under 9-1-6-a-3.

was told that Redding stated that while the language may not appear clear to cover all situations, the intent is to prevent a player from leaving the tackle box and then cracking back, even if from the front until he is allowed to do so, which would now be when the ball clearly crosses the LOS.