North - South or Foul ? (video)

[TXMike]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5ObgAwP0Q0

[NVFOA_Ump]

Looks like a good call to me.  WR starts well outside and clearly comes back in toward the hash marks.  At the instant just before the block he's maybe "squared up" a bit to be more N/S but I read the rule to say he can block low N/S or toward his sideline based on his original position at the snap.  I don't read it to say that he can come in from the outside then square up just before the block to make it a legal N/S block.

[gfd406]

Bad call IMO-
He is facing N/S when the block happens---look at the direction of the block.

Nothing in the rule says that A cannot go in and then square up.

[mccormicw]

North South block IMO.  No penalty

[Grant - AR]

No penalty here from me.  He definitely is blocking straight up-field on this play.  The rule states "...may block below the waist only along a north-south line or toward the sideline adjacent to them at the snap."  It only says A north-south line.  It doesn't put any limitations as to where on the field that north-south line is.

[Diablo]

I don't read it to say that he can come in from the outside then square up just before the block to make it a legal N/S block.

Here is a play that appears in this preseason's NCAA powerpoint presentation on rules changes
.
EXAMPLE:  Back A22 Is Outside The Tackle Box To The Left Of The Formation. His Adjacent Sideline Is To His Left. On A Sweep To The Right Side, 11 Yards Downfield, He Blocks Below The Waist. The Direction Of The Block Is (a) Along The N-S Line; (b) Slightly Toward The Sideline To His Right; (c) Slightly Toward The Sideline To His Left.
RULING: (a) Legal. (b) Illegal Block Below The Waist. (c) Legal.

Note, by his position at the snap, A22 is restricted in his ability to BBW.  He can only legally BBW towards the left side line or parallel with the sidelines (north-south).  In scenario (a), A22 moves all the way across the formation, squares up and BBW along a N-S line.  The Ruling is LEGAL.