In the second video (the one that I posted), the first angle is not as good as the second angle.
Using the second angle, my opinion is this timeline:
- @ -0:16
- first touch of the ball with left hand
- ball hits facemask
- ball hits left hand again
- @ -0:15
- ball is loose
- ball is bobbled between right and left hands
- @ -0:14
- ball brought down to his gut area
- initial contact by B
- @ -0:13
- ball firmly grasped by both hands in gut area
- first step with possession using left leg
- @ -0:12
- second step with possession using right leg
- third step with possession using left leg
- ball is in right hand, not being bobbled or coming out
- @ -0:11
The ball comes loose after that. During all the steps, I do not see a loss of possession, or any bobbling. In my opinion, 3 steps is adequate for possession, even if he does momentarily use his body to help secure control.
Forward progress philosophies often mention surviving contact with the ground or with a player. Since A stepped twice with contact from B, he established this contact survival.
After initial contact by B, A still maintained an upright position while stepping. After another 2 steps, he started to go down on his own, in my opinion, due to the superior position by the defensive player. At that point, forward progress is stopped. I believe that A has lost voluntary use of his legs because B is clearly pushing A backwards and to the ground. I stopped the video at -0:12 to get this view:
The ball carrier is not getting out of that position. Even if B releases his grip on A, A's momentum will carry him to the ground.
IMHO, you either have a fumble or forward progress stopped situation.
If A were to break free (and question our knowledge of physics
), I would not be bothered by having already blown forward progress down, since I am consistent with my rulings.