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Old Wed Oct 13, 2004, 02:23pm
Bob M. Bob M. is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Clinton Township, NJ
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bob Proctor
Just a couple of thoughts to share. We always ask the quarterback if he is taking a knee, most officials pretty much know when this is appropriate. If the Q says he is taking a knee we tell the defense and tell them to stay off their blocks "IF" he takes a knee. If he says he isn't, we tell the defense nothing and the play goes like any other. In the very very rare occurance that the Q doesn't take a knee after telling the referee he will, we flag that as unsportsmanlike. If you say it to me it had better be the truth. That way we almost totally avoid any dangerous play ... and isn't safety our most important business?
REPLY: We have a slightly different approach. We all tighten up to the line of scrimmage. We tell both teams, "Play ball and protect yourselves!" As soon as the QB has shown control of the ball and goes down, we blow and jump in. Some questions about your technique:
1. How do you handle a situation where the defense has relaxed because of what you tell them and the QB muffs the snap? Can you defend what you've told the defense in such a case?
2. In the rare event that the QB 'fakes' going to a knee, runs for a TD, and you call it USC, how do you enforce since USC is by rule enforced from the succeeding spot?
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