[SoGARef]

Mike,
You are approaching this just like a lawyer would. In law school we were trained to use the IRAC method of evaluation. You seem to be using the RIAC method.

IRAC means Issue, Rules, Analysis, and Conclusion. So let’s do it the ole law school way.

Issue - Can a defensive player use his hand on the helmet of opponent in order to move his opponent out of his way?

Rule - 2-3-5. A defensive player may use unlocked hands, hand or arm to ward off an opponent who is blocking him or is attempting to block him. Push, pull or ward off an opponent in an actual attempt to get at the runner or a loose ball if such contact is not pass interference, a personal foul or illegal use of hands.

2-3-6. When a player on defense uses a hand or arm, the hand must be in advance of the elbow at the time of the contact and at the shoulder or below unless the opponent squats, ducks or submarines.

2-3-2b4. At or below the shoulders of the blocker and the opponent, except when the opponent squats, ducks or submarines during the block or after the blocker is committed to his charge.

Analysis - Rules allow a defender to use unlocked hands on an opponent who is blocking or attempting to block him. The defender may pull an opponent in an actual attempt to get at the runner if the contact is not illegal use of hands. However, the defender must make the contact at or below the shoulder, except after the blocker is committed to his charge.

Conclusion - Here the blocker is probably committed to his charge as the ball has been snapped. If the ball had not been snapped there would have been a dead ball foul for encroachment by the defender. The blocking technique is key to ruling on this play. If the blocker is charging from a three point stance in a closed hand technique chances are he would have his head ducked to make contact with his shoulder. If the blocker is charging from a three point stance in a open hand technique chances are he would have his head up to make contact with his open hands. Therefore, if the blocker is using the closed hand technique in all probability the defender could use his open hand to the helmet to pull the blocker away in an actual attempt to get at the runner and there would be no foul; however, if the blocker is using the open handed technique it is likely the defend could not use his open hand to the blocker’s helmet as this would be above the shoulder of the blocker who is not squatting, ducking or submarining and would like be a personal foul. Therefore, it would have been necessary for the observing official to have seen the complete action to make the proper ruling.