Interesting Crackback Block

[TXMike]

Just when you thought you understood the rules...

today's accountability video from dave parry leads off with the original play in this thread.  parry calls it an excellent call.  I give up!@

[Kalle]

Excellent call? 

Should we expect a rule change next year?

[TXMike]

Wheewwww...that was close!!! I am coming back in off the ledge now.     Just received this:

Mike:
 
You are right.  Block is legal.
 
Nice going!  Sharp eye!
 
 
We were too focused on 10 yards from LOS and overlooked #23 being lined up inside the tackle box.
 
Thanks for input.
 
David Parry, National Coordinator

 

[Kalle]

Good thing Parry reads his email - but I wonder, don't the top level guys read Rom's stuff?

Anyway, kudos to TXMike for setting Parry straight!

[Birddog]

Way to go Mike!!

[ref6983]

Excellent call? 

Should we expect a rule change next year?

I believe the answer will be "yes" to this question. I understand that all aspects of blocking below the waist will be thoroughly examined and this is one of those aspects since the original location of the blocker seems to be irrelevant with respect to whether this action is safety-related.

[TXMike]

I heard Dr Redding speak late this Summer and if he has anything to do with it, there will be some major changes to the blocking below the waist rules.  He makes a great point in that they have gotten so convoluted over the years that they are increasingly very hard to officiate and lead to situations exactly like this play.  A hit  that probably should be illegal is technically not.

[Diablo]

A hit  that probably should be illegal is technically not.

Why do you say the hit should be illegal?   The blockee can easily see the blocker coming and the block was in front.

[TXMike]

Should have used " " for "should".  under the current rules, this hit would have been illegal had #23 been lined up as a flanker.  The hit he would have made from that position is no less dangerous or violent than the hit he made from the position where he did line up.  I say "should' be illegal just because that is the way the rule as written would suggest "should" be a foul. 

[KB]

I had something very similar happen to me twice, once as a R when I made the wrong call  and once when I was the R in a game where a wing called it, possibly making a wrong call.

Mine had a lineman come out and then blocking back towards the middle. Went to the coach at halftime and apologized.

The other one was in a game of Juniors (19 years and below), where the TE came out and blocked towards the middle. Since it was possible, that (under the rules back then) he was allowed to do that if he was close enough to the snapper, it could have been a bad call. I still told the (Hungarian and rather fresh) wing that I found his call OK because of the safety aspect.

[NTXRef]

I had to wave one off this past week, when my B threw a "crack back" on #55 who was the T.   But, as pointed out earlier in the thread, what is really different from a safety perspective than a lineman or back peeling back and doing this vs. the guy started from the outside doing it.   It will be interesting to see how this evolves over the next couple of years.

[Diablo]

what is really different from a safety perspective than a lineman or back peeling back and doing this vs. the guy started from the outside doing it.   

Generally, I think the outside guy going back in, i.e. the current illegal block, occurs earlier in the play, and the blockee does not have a chance to see the block coming; hence, can not try to avoid it or brace himself.

On the other hand, the lineman/back peeling back, i.e. current legal block, occurs later in plays, after a scrambling QB reverses direction.  And the block is usually thrown against a defender in pursuit, who can see the block coming; hence, not blind sided.

BTW:  How is the block on the video different from a tailback blocking low and in front on a defensive tackle rushing a dropback QB?  Are do y'all think that block should be illegal as well?
 

[TXMike]

I don't really care if they outlaw low blocks or not except for the fact it would be MUCH easier to officiate if it were aLl outlawed.  All the low blocks aRE  potentially dangerous wheter they see it coming or not

[Birddog]

I don't really care if they outlaw low blocks or not except for the fact it would be MUCH easier to officiate if it were aLl outlawed.  All the low blocks aRE  potentially dangerous wheter they see it coming or not

If they went to that exteme, that would really hurt the option offenses like Ga Tech and Navy run as well as all the HS teams who still run it.  They may be put out of business, if not sure make it different to block! 

[Welpe]

There are plenty of high schools under NFHS that run the option and run it well.  They will just need to adjust.  I'd be all for a rule change to mirror the NFHS.

[Birddog]

There are plenty of high schools under NFHS that run the option and run it well.  They will just need to adjust.  I'd be all for a rule change to mirror the NFHS.

Good point Welpe, I am in my own little world here in Texas, with HS and college using the same (NCAA) rules.  I know the HS coaches would have a fit but...

[Welpe]

Good point Welpe, I am in my own little world here in Texas, with HS and college using the same (NCAA) rules.  I know the HS coaches would have a fit but...

I hear you.  I came from a Federation state so I am still trying to get it out of my blood.

The coaches might as well adjust now because regardless if the NCAA changes the rule or not, we're all going to be under NFHS rules in a couple of years anyways.  Oh shoot there I go again.