Ineligible down field

[robin083]

I was wondering the proper mechanic for an ineligible down field call where there is an attempted screen pass that appears to cross the neutral zone with linemen past the neutral zone. Is that the umpire's responsibility to determine whether the ball crosses or not? Or the wings'? Does 7 man or 5 man make a difference? The call for the wing would definitely being easier in 7 man mechanics. I'd just like to get everyone's opinions.

[TampaSteve]

5-man it's primary the U to determine
7-man it's H...
When in dobut flag it.. You can always waive it off...

[TampaSteve]

To clarify earlier:
5-man it's primary for U due to wings potentially being downfield with their primary keys.  Thus the mechanic for U to go to LOS upon reading pass.

7-man, H/L have the #3 receiver (back out of the backfield) so they stay home - as does U.  He does not move to LOS upon reading pass.
Although I get them confused, for 7-man,  upon reading pass:
H stays put while L moves 5 yd downfield.  (or vice-versa)

[FredFan7]

In 5-man and U takes this.

I had this exact thing happen early in my career.  I was a U and there was a screen pass.  I caught a whole mess of linemen down field and my flag flew with gusto.  I was so proud of myself for catching this foul!

As the play ended, I thought to myself, "Why was the entire line downfield?"  I asked the R, "Did that pass cross the line of scrimmage?"  When he said "no" I told him to wave my flag off.  There was no harm and no shame in waving a flag off.

At least I didn't flag it on a running play! 

[Atlanta Blue]

no shame in waving a flag off.

There is if the flag was thrown because of a brain fart!

[NorCalMike]

At least I didn't flag it on a running play! 

I through a flag for ineligible downfield one time. Go over to the ref and tell him what I have. He looks at me kind of funny. I say "What?" He says, "You know that there was no pass. The QB scrambled and was sacked."
I guess we should wave of the flag then.

[bulldogs1msu]

This call is missed often on screen passes.  I watched a ton of high school games on TV this year thanks to Fox Sports. (ohio mainly)  A screen pass that is thrown past the line of scrimmage needs to be a POE next year.   

[maven]

This call is missed often on screen passes.  I watched a ton of high school games on TV this year thanks to Fox Sports. (ohio mainly)  A screen pass that is thrown past the line of scrimmage needs to be a POE next year.   

No point. For a pass close to the LOS it's a tough foul to pick up in 5-official mechanics, and if it's that close the offense isn't getting much advantage from IED anyway.

[bossman72]

6-man (PIAA)
Primary - H (who holds the LOS in PIAA)
Secondary - U
Tertiary - L (who drifts on pass plays)

7-man (CCA)
Primary - L
Secondary - U
Tertiary - H


I'm usually the "drifting" official in both mechanics.  I find that if there is action to the opposite side of the field, the wing has a bunch of other stuff to worry about rather than IDP.  This is where the back side wing and U can help with IDP.

[VALJ]

Your mechanics may vary.  For a 5-man crew, as with everyone else, that's going to primarily be the U's call.  Our 7-man mechanics have the L holding the line, so that's his job to watch that.

On a related note, I spent most of this season downfield working B, F, or S, and had several flags for potential PI that I've thrown on screen plays.  When I've been working B or F, before I even go to the R I've been heading o the L and asking him if the pass crossed the LOS.  If not, I've been telling the R "I had contact beyond the neutral zone by A76, but the pass didn't cross the line of scrimmage.  Wave it off."  I'd rather have the flag down and wave it off than not call a clear violation.