Quote:
Originally Posted by Welpe
I don't know if it was as much can't as won't. He was trailing fine for a while and then started mailing it in.
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Many wing officials accept the challenge to cross the goal line WITH the runner, no matter how long the run. However, in a 3 or 4 man configuration there's often nobody following the wing official watching what's going on behind the runner.
On a long run, the Referee and Umpire can be delayed by action around the original scrimmage line, so once the runner appears in the clear, the wing official slows down to observe the trailing action, but often that area 15 yards, or more behind the runner and a long way from the original scrimmage line is likely an expanding "no man's land" to some extent, in 3 or 4 man coverage.
The solution, of course, is adding a 4th, 5th or 6th man, which is a game management decision.