Before the 2011-12 book, there were different criteria for eligible and ineligible linemen; ineligible linemen had to have their shoulders parallel to the opponent's goal line, and eligible linemen (i.e., ends with eligible numbers), had to have their shoulders "approximately" parallel to their opponent's goal line (which has been interpreted as being up to 30 degree offset). The reason for the offset allowance for eligible linemen was to allow wide receivers to turn slightly to see/listen for snap count signals, since nominal crowd noise could make it difficult to hear the snap count. But, they wanted to keep ineligible linemen 'square' to the line, to keep them from getting an angular advantage when pass blocking. So, we've been bustin' our rumps for years keeping the tackles up on the line and 'square' to the line, with almost all of them pushing the envelope as much as they could get away with.
So, what does the 2011-12 book say? Hmmm. The only criteria that now appears is that linemen (with no reference to eligible or ineligible status) have to have their shoulders "approximately" parallel to their opponent's goal line. So, that means that those tackles can now legally turn out up to 30 degrees. And you know they will push that enlarged envelope even farther.
Why? What happened to prompt this rule change (not just an editorial change)? Maybe we just keep this one to ourselves, and the teams won't find out about it.
