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Football Officiating => General Discussion => Topic started by: defcoach on October 13, 2011, 09:40:54 AM
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Can a play that begins as defensive holding be changed to defensive pass interference, if the holding is still occurring on the receiver when the ball is released? Had a crew say that since they threw the flag before the ball was thrown it was defensive holding and a 10 yard penalty, I disagreed, saying that once the ball leaves the QB's hand and contact is still being made, it should become a PI, and should be 15 yards and 1st down...
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Good question, and not one AFAIK that receives a clear answer in the rules or cases.
IMO a defensive holding foul that continues into the pass has become DPI. To insist otherwise would reward the defense for starting their foul early. I would probably flag both (it is in fact 2 fouls), and then enforce the DPI.
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Rule 7-3-8 is pretty specific about what constitutes pass interference. 7-9-e (contact interference) says that when PI includes an act that is a personal foul, either the UNR or DPI may be enforced. The implication is that no foul other than a personal foul trumps pass interference. So if there is a hold that continue after the ball is thrown, it is DPI rather than holding, even if the 10 yard penalty is greater than the penalty for DPI.
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"Coach, that was a 5 yard incidental facemask foul"
"But he yanked his head around!?"
"Well, yeah but when I threw the flag, he was just grasping it."
:!#