BBW -- Again

[Joe Stack]

We may have covered this, so if we did just link to the thread I missed.

9-1-6-a-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." (Para 1 defines unrestricted players.)

To me, that says unrestricted players may bbw toward the original position of the ball even if outside the tackle box. If you disagree, why would the rules specify who can not do something, leave out someone but still suggest that those left out can't do it either?

However, Redding's BBW FAQ says, "The  crackback  block  is  a  block  below  the  waist  directed  toward  the  line  that runs lengthwise through the original position of the ball at the snap.  This block is illegal unless the ball carrier is clearly beyond the neutral zone." Nothing about restricted/unrestricted even though the rule talking about crackbacks (above) DOES mention (and seem to exclude) unrestricted players. (Edit: Redding MAY be assuming everyone understands crackback to mean a player who is lined up clearly outside the tackles and comes back in -- hence an unrestricted player).

Saw a play last night where an unrestricted back comes out to the area around where the slot receiver would line up and BBW against a defender. It was a 10-2 block and it was a pass caught behind the NZ. The block sprang the runner.

Legal or illegal and why?

[ChicagoZebra]

Illegal, per the exact rule you posted.

Is the player unrestricted or restricted? He is restricted is he lined up as a slot receiver.

Because he is restricted, he cannot block below the waist back towards the original position of the ball until the ball is clearly beyond the neutral zone. The fact that the block is a 10-2 block is irrelevant.

[Joe Stack]

He is restricted is he lined up as a slot receiver.

He didn't line up as a slot receiver. He came out to the area where the slot receiver might be AFTER the play had started. He was an unrestricted back at the snap. I understand that slot receivers and other unrestricted players can not make this block.

[Birddog]

In the Oklahoma State v West Virginia game there was a foul for IBBW where receiver went back toward original position and blocked 10-2 and ball was clearly beyond the LOS.

[ChicagoZebra]

He didn't line up as a slot receiver. He came out to the area where the slot receiver might be AFTER the play had started. He was an unrestricted back at the snap. I understand that slot receivers and other unrestricted players can not make this block.

I apologize, I mis-read.  Still, by definition in rule 9-1-6-a-1, all players become restricted once they leave the tackle box.

The rule is confusing. I saw a suggestion somewhere (likely here) that the rule should be re-worked to first define restricted and unrestricted players, and then explain what they can do. That would reduce a lot of the verbal confusion here.

[copedaddy]

Unrestricted players become restricted when they leave the tackle box.

[NVFOA_Ump]

To me, that says unrestricted players may bbw toward the original position of the ball even if outside the tackle box. If you disagree, why would the rules specify who can not do something, leave out someone but still suggest that those left out can't do it either?

Legal or illegal and why?

The only "unrestricted players" covered in paragraph 1 are those players who:

   1. Start stationary inside the tackle box and
   2. Remain inside the tackle box while
   3. The ball is still in the tackle box

If any one of those three conditions is not met, the player is restricted.  They remain  restricted until the ball carrier is downfield "clearly beyond the line of scrimmage".  We've been given guidance that "clearly beyond the line of scrimmage" should be in the 2-3 yard range.