VIDEO REQUEST - OU/WV - Blocking Call - 2nd Half, 5:59 remaining

[Da Official]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

One thing this angle doesn't and can't reveal is whether the defender leaned to the side an into the shooter or not. That question could be seen clearly form the position of the C or the T...but not the trail (or this camera angle).

Some angles are better than others. Regardless of what position an official takes relative to the players, there is always one blind spot like this. When judging plays like this, the best position is not looking directly between the players as is the case in this video but is actually a straighlined position. That will show very clearly whether the defender leaned into the path or not. Of course, you give up the view of a lot of other possibilities which makes the straightlined position bad. The best position for a single official is thus one that is a diagonal look through the play....again not what we have in the video.

It would take unobstructed views from two angles on every block/charge similar to this play to know with certainty whether the defender was legal or not....one to judge forward movement (looking from the side) and one to judge lateral movement (looking from the back/front). If the defender satisfies both, then they are legal. But you sometimes can't see both from one spot.

Good points CR.....These 50/50...60/40 block charges are never cut and dry. I often catch the defender leaning into the offensive player (who is trying to slide by without creating contact ) effectively becoming illegal and becoming responsible for the contact. A lot of officials however still go Charge on those plays....but its hard for me to do so. Yep I'm THAT guy.