Team A attempting Try from the B-3. They are not trying a kick and are instead going for a 2-point play. The TE is covered up by the wideout. After the snap, the TE is running at the GL when the QB throws a pass toward the TE that sails over the TE heads and lands close tot he end line. At the end of the play, the TE was a few yards in the end zone.
Do we have a foul here for ineligible downfield given the TE was covered at the snap by the wideout? I say no since the TE was not more than 3 yds beyond the LOS when the pass was released. But a few of my fellow officials said that didn't matter since the ball was thrown to him and should have been a foul. I would agree this would have been a foul if the TE would have touched the pass but he did not and the pass was overthrown and not close.
Thoughts?
If the ineligible player had no part of his body more than three yards beyond the NZ when the pass was released, no foul. But, if the location of the ineligible player is in question, the fact that the ball was thrown toward him is a compelling reason to rule that he was illegally downfield. Barring an offsetting foul, Team B will decline this penalty anyway. But, since this would offset a Team B foul, the foul should be called, if there is question regarding the ineligible player's location, or he is clearly more than 3 yards beyond the NZ.
This is why we process plays, and make our rulings once we have processed everything relevant. I could easily see passing on this call, altogether, if I see no other foul, since Team B will decline, anyway. An NCAA coordinator would give you a good score, I believe, if you report that you saw this action, but chose to pass on the call, since it had no effect on the outcome of the play (in the absence of an offsetting foul).
Robert
Robert
