Illegal Forward Pass??

[jal-81]

QB rolls out and goes 5 yards beyond the LOS. He then retreats behind the line and throws a forward pass down field. All O lineman are on their side of the LOS when the pass is thrown.
Legal??

[jTheUmp]

Depends on what ruleset the game is being played under.

This would be legal in NFHS (high school), and illegal in NCAA. Not sure about NFL, but I would guess it would be illegal in the code.

[Rich]

Of course this presumes that the linemen were not illegally downfield at anytime before that pass. Once downfield, the linemen cannot correct their position by retreating.

[jal-81]

Rich ~ where in the Rule Book does it state lineman cannot retreat?

Thanks

[Rich]

Originally Posted by jal-81

Rich ~ where in the Rule Book does it state lineman cannot retreat?

Thanks

7.5.12 SITUATION A: At the snap, interior lineman A1 moves about 3 yards downfield and finding no one to block, retreats behind the neutral zone and blocks for A2 who eventually throws a forward pass which crosses the neutral zone. RULING: A1 is an ineligible illegally downfield. The prohibition against ineligibles downfield for A starts at the snap, and the fact A1 was no longer downfield when the pass was thrown has no bearing on the ruling.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Rich

Of course this presumes that the linemen were not illegally downfield at anytime before that pass. Once downfield, the linemen cannot correct their position by retreating.

Right, but if a pass is thrown forward to a point beyond the neutral zone, their being illegally downfield is an infraction in itself that doesn't affect the legality of the pass.

[jal-81]

High School ~ thanks