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514 Questions

Last Answer on January 23, 2021

Its 3rd and 3 on the offensive 4 yard line. The defence commits a 5 yard penalty is it a first down even tho its only half the distance to the goal?

Asked by Jason over 8 years ago

Let's change some terminology. Offense is A and defense is B. A has 3rd and 3 on the B4, so the line to brain is the B1. B commits a foul with a 5 yard penalty. But you're in an area where you can only go half the distance. Half the distance from the B4 is the B2. It's now 3rd and 1.

668 Votes

Mnn vs GB game 12/23/17. Why was play stop when GB has 12 on the field for defense, but play was allowed with Mnn having 12 on defense so GB had choice of play or penalty?

Asked by David Gattman about 8 years ago

Couple of possibilities. First, if you see the 12, you want to shut it down before the play goes off. That's the proper mechanic and the better situation. But, they simply may have still been counting (late sub, e.g.) and the ball was snapped. It's possible the player was trying to get off the field but didn't make it and the play went off. You could still shut it down but they didn't. Sometimes stuff just happens and itisn't the ideal.

668 Votes

In Saturdays LSU-Auburn game the officials called a penalty on LSU for illegal motion with 5 seconds to play. The play was nullified and brought back to the line of scrimmage and the penalty was assessed. Should the clock have been reset at 5 seconds

Asked by Rick over 9 years ago

Couple of things here. If the clock was running and the foul for illegal motion stopped the clock, then there could have been a 10 second runoff and the game would be over. If the click wasn't running, then yes you should have the clock reset to five seconds since the play never happened. But, and I'm not clear from your description, if the play was run and the foul was a live ball foul during the play, then you could have an untimed down or Auburn could decline the penalty and the game ends.

666 Votes

Can a db have his arm around a receiver (hooked) as they are running down the field and while the ball is in the air

Asked by Terry about 9 years ago

Good question. Are you an Ohio State or Michigan fan? The philosophy officials often use is "advantage/disadvantage". Did the action have a material impact on the play? Having an arm around a receiver isn't automatically a foul. Did the arm actually hook or grab the receiver and turn him away from the ball, or prevent him from reaching for the ball? Or was the arm being there just a good play, timed right? The rules today at virtually all levels - but especially the NFL - favor offense. So I return to the earlier point: Did the action have a material impact on the play? If yes, then we have a foul. And that's why those deep officials get the big bucks - for their judgment on that play.

666 Votes

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Holding occurs at the offensive five yard line while the quarterback is in the endzone preparing to throw the ball. What is the penalty enforcement?

Asked by ReggieP about 8 years ago

If you're looking for a safety, you wont find it. The foul occurs in the field of play and should be a previous spot foul.

666 Votes

Would you or could you call a delay of game penalty. The Falcons intercept Brady deep in Falcon territory. During thr runback all Patriots players give up about the 50 yard line. Alford stops before crossing the goal line to run off time off clock.

Asked by Dick E almost 9 years ago

No. It's an accepted part of the game.

665 Votes

The tackle box is the area that's from the left side offensive tackles to the right side OT and is 5 yards deep on the defense. My question is, if there's a defensive end aligned with an outside shade on the OT, would that still be considered the box

Asked by Bret almost 9 years ago

It's based on the offensive formation, not where the defense is. The DE's position is irrelevant.

664 Votes

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Football Official

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Its 3rd and 3 on the offensive 4 yard line. The defence commits a 5 yard penalty is it a first down even tho its only half the distance to the goal?

Mnn vs GB game 12/23/17. Why was play stop when GB has 12 on the field for defense, but play was allowed with Mnn having 12 on defense so GB had choice of play or penalty?

In Saturdays LSU-Auburn game the officials called a penalty on LSU for illegal motion with 5 seconds to play. The play was nullified and brought back to the line of scrimmage and the penalty was assessed. Should the clock have been reset at 5 seconds

Can a db have his arm around a receiver (hooked) as they are running down the field and while the ball is in the air

Also on Jobstr...

Holding occurs at the offensive five yard line while the quarterback is in the endzone preparing to throw the ball. What is the penalty enforcement?

Would you or could you call a delay of game penalty. The Falcons intercept Brady deep in Falcon territory. During thr runback all Patriots players give up about the 50 yard line. Alford stops before crossing the goal line to run off time off clock.

The tackle box is the area that's from the left side offensive tackles to the right side OT and is 5 yards deep on the defense. My question is, if there's a defensive end aligned with an outside shade on the OT, would that still be considered the box

Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Its 3rd and 3 on the offensive 4 yard line. The defence commits a 5 yard penalty is it a first down even tho its only half the distance to the goal?

Mnn vs GB game 12/23/17. Why was play stop when GB has 12 on the field for defense, but play was allowed with Mnn having 12 on defense so GB had choice of play or penalty?

In Saturdays LSU-Auburn game the officials called a penalty on LSU for illegal motion with 5 seconds to play. The play was nullified and brought back to the line of scrimmage and the penalty was assessed. Should the clock have been reset at 5 seconds

Can a db have his arm around a receiver (hooked) as they are running down the field and while the ball is in the air

Also on Jobstr...

Holding occurs at the offensive five yard line while the quarterback is in the endzone preparing to throw the ball. What is the penalty enforcement?

Would you or could you call a delay of game penalty. The Falcons intercept Brady deep in Falcon territory. During thr runback all Patriots players give up about the 50 yard line. Alford stops before crossing the goal line to run off time off clock.

The tackle box is the area that's from the left side offensive tackles to the right side OT and is 5 yards deep on the defense. My question is, if there's a defensive end aligned with an outside shade on the OT, would that still be considered the box

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