Quote:
Originally Posted by Reffing Rev.
Interesting...
i was told by the MO state interpreter at a clinic a couple of years ago that the COP part of RTP refers to when the COP occurs before there is a run beyond the NZ by team A. In other words if Team A does not have a run beyond the NZ then it would be previous spot enforcement. I know this because the play I posted is exactly what happened on the field, and what you say is exactly how we enforced it, but the clinician and interpreter told us we were wrong.
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End-of-run enforcement applies, as the rule plainly says, when the "last run ends beyond the neutral zone AND there has been no change of team possession." By that rule, we should use previous spot enforcement if EITHER (a) the last run ended in or behind the NZ OR (b) there is a change of possession. Since your play involves a COP, it should be previous spot enforcement.
Perhaps your experts were thinking of this case play:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Case Book
9.4.4 SITUATION C: A1’s pass on fourth and 15 from A’s 40 is complete to A2
at midfield. During the pass, A1 is roughed by B1. A2 advances to B’s 30 where
he fumbles the ball out of bounds at B’s: (a) 28-, or (b) 32-yard line. RULING: In
both (a) and (b), if the penalty is accepted, it is administered from the end of A2’s
run which is B’s 30-yard line.
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The difference here is that this play involves no COP: hence end-of-run enforcement. The rule does not mention that enforcement depends on where a COP occurs -- your experts seem to have made that up. Given the details of your play, I still conclude that you got the enforcement correct, your experts' opinions notwithstanding.
The rule also seems fair to me: if the offense completes the pass despite RTP and doesn't turn the ball over, end-of-run enforcement provides additional disincentive for RTP; if, however, they complete the pass only to turn it over, take that failure into account and enforce from the previous spot.