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I have obstruction BEFORE the tag - he blocked the plate without possession of the ball.
However, if he had the ball before contact occurred (thus no OBS at that point), and then dropped the ball during contact, then what matters is what happens next. Blocking the plate now would only be obstruction if he prevented R1 from attaining the plate ... which requires some sort of effort by the runner. If runner just sat there (either stunned, confused, or assuming he was already touching the plate), then there is no effort to be obstructed with, and we have an out on the tag. If runner made ANY attempt to get to the plate, and that effort was blocked by the catcher without possession of the ball, we have OBS.
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"Many baseball fans look upon an umpire as a sort of necessary evil to the luxury of baseball, like the odor that follows an automobile." - Hall of Fame Pitcher Christy Mathewson
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