OK-Bama

[Willis]

For Alabama's second touchdown, the team lined up, got set, then looked to the sideline for a play change.  Before the line settled/got reset, the ball was snapped catching the defense unready. Is this legal or should it have been a false start or illegal procedure for the line not being set for 1 second prior to the snap? 

I can't post video, but the linemen were still standing straight up, pointing out blocking assignments when the ball was snapped.

[DallasStripes]

There is no prohibition againt linemen standing upright - the interior linemen are not required to be crouched in a 2 or down in a 3-pt stance. All of the linemen including WR have their shoulders square to the line. I'd say the play is flirting with legality when it comes to just how still the upper bodies of the interior linemen are, but there's nothing sudden or abrupt that simulates the start of play before the ball moves.

[Kalle]

The description sounds to me to be flirting with A.R. 9-2-2-VIII. Without the video it is difficult to give a reasoned opinion, but personally I'd be inclined to flag any such action than to allow it to go unpenalized.

[Imperial Stout]

Trick play, so zero tolerance or leeway should be given. With all the pointing by the linemen, another thing to be mindful of is if even a fingertip entered the neutral zone at any time after the snapper touched the ball. As this is not a scrimmage kick formation, exemption (2) in 7-3-c to encroachment does not apply.

[Willis]

Here is a like to the video:  https://youtu.be/8ymi-9X0wGg?si=J0ipyHwrHYg3iP2c

The play occurs at about 6:38

[dammitbobby]

Here's a clip of that, just showing the play in question: https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxJK4E5F6syWuZuvMILCYRUsOXR_4cD-Ap?si=h_UN9HNo-LT0IMc3

[dammitbobby]

I don't see anyone moving, as a wing I would the line is set, they aren't required to be in a stance... this to me looks like snapper just jumped the gun, I don't think any deception was intended.

[ElvisLives]

I only get hundreds of YouTube links to music, fails, and all kinds of non-football stuff.

[Kalle]

The clip starts a bit late to my taste but based on it I don't have a problem with it. Like dammitbobby said, I think the snapper was early with the snap.

[bossman72]

Agree.  I'm not calling arm movement a shift.

[NVFOA_Ump]

How about the fact that none of the interior lineman are legally "on the line" since they are all standing up and not breaking the line thru the waist of the snapper?  Isn't that a problem?  I was always taught that for any kind of "trick plays" we're to be guided 100% by the letter of the rule(s).

[dammitbobby]

I wouldn't classify this as a trick play, just  that the ball was snapped early.

[NVFOA_Ump]

I wouldn't classify this as a trick play, just  that the ball was snapped early.

Snapped early by design?  What about the positioning of the offensive linemen?

[dammitbobby]

Snapped early by design?  What about the positioning of the offensive linemen?

No, I think he just snapped it early, not by design. T and TE at the top reacted quick enough to the snap but they clearly (to me at least) weren't fully ready for it.

[NVFOA_Ump]

No, I think he just snapped it early, not by design. T and TE at the top reacted quick enough to the snap but they clearly (to me at least) weren't fully ready for it.

But the QB was more than ready.  That to me is a clear indication that this was a planned play.  But answer the question, was the O-line legal here???

[Etref]

Depends on what your supervisor wants!

[DallasLJ]

I got nothing  here.  I just don't see any advantage for the offense here.

[dammitbobby]

But the QB was more than ready.  That to me is a clear indication that this was a planned play.  But answer the question, was the O-line legal here???

I'm not flagging this. Like others have said, there is no advantage to this. QB might have been ready but the line IMO was not and I'm not splitting hairs on a play like this.

Maybe that's why I'm not a D1 official, . But I don't have a foul here.

[ncwingman]

Agree.  I'm not calling arm movement a shift.

By rule, all offensive players must be stationary "without movement of the feet, body, head or arms". Obviously, this isn't enforced as you see this happen all the time.

However, I always wonder when they're pointing across the neutral zone, at what point does it become an issue? In this particular case, because they were standing up and slightly off the line, I don't think they were in the neutral zone (hard to see right at the snap on the replay), but I know I've seen plays where multiple O-line players had their hands well beyond the ball while pointing out coverages like this.