OPI Away from Play

[TxSkyBolt]

Extra Point Try, ball snapped from the left hash.  TE A99 is lined up on the left side of the formation, enters EZ (about midway deep) and begins blocking team B players.  Pass is thrown and caught by A81 in the right corner of the EZ for the apparent two point conversion.  A99 flagged for OPI.  Legitimate?

[mishatx]

By rule, yes. But the prevailing philosophy is to only call this foul in the same third of the field as the pass.

[Kalle]

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But the prevailing philosophy is to only call this foul in the same third of the field as the pass.

So if a safety or a line backer reads run when a receiver starts blocking beyond the NZ and gives up pass coverage, this is a good play from the offense? I thought that contact before the pass is thrown is OPI anywhere on the field, the third of the field philosophy applies to the contact after the pass is thrown.

[mishatx]

I was told that defenses don't play that way anymore, or something.  At any rate, the big boys don't seem to think the offense gets an advantage by causing a backside DB to read run based on a block.