FSU - Clem: roughing kicker

[The Ref Thats Lef]

I've had this call twice in my career.

The first time I did not call it and was told in no uncertain terms by a mentor I was being too technical. Here is the rational and the rules are above. If a player strikes the ball with his foot that is a kick and the player becomes a kicker.

No defensive player can hit the kicker while he is kicking or recovering.

Nowhere does it say that if the contact started before he kicked the ball this allows the contact to be legal after he became the kicker. So if you hit him but he still gets his foot on the ball while you are hitting him he is the kicker and you contact is illegal.

As this is a safety issue I thought that made good sense. The next time it happened I flagged it.

On that basis I believe this is RTK and a correct call.

[chymechowder]

agreed. my guess is that the would be punt blocker just took the wrong path and whiffed on the ball.

but even if he was trying to make a flying tackle on the punter, nothing illegal about that---unless the punter somehow manages to get the kick off.

 you can't rough the kicker if you in fact prevent him from kicking it.  you could still have  a personal foul, of course. but  I dont believe this hit--had it been a punt preventing tackle-- would've qualified as PF.  (defender didn't launch himself into the ball carrier's head; didn't lead with a forearm, etc)