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LOD on 4th down
Situation: 4th and 5 for A at B's 29.5 yard line with 15 seconds left in 4th Quarter and A behind by 4 points. QB A7 roles out and runs for first down, but just before he's down he throws an incomplete IFP into the endzone at B's: A) 18 yard line, B) 22 yard line, or C) 19.5 yard line. There are 5 seconds left on the clock.
Enforcement? I think the options for A and B are fairly straight forward, but am interested in hearing about any special mechanics to help enforce the situation in C. |
Make the foul from a whole yard line. It's an approximation anyways, especially if the QB is on the run when he throws.
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I typically would use a whole yard line. I posted this way to see if there are alternatives to stepping off a 5 yard penalty, between yard lines, and then measuring for a first down for as in play C. In this case that action would dictate whether A keeps the ball for one more play, or if B takes the ball over on downs....right?
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IFP foul is enforced from the end of the run (spot of the pass), penalty is 5 yards, loss of (right to repeat) down. If the subsequent spot is beyond the LTG, 1st down for A, clock starts on the ready. If the subsequent spot remains behind the LTG, 1st down for B, clock starts on the snap.
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In case C, would you consider measuring if the end of the run was "ahead of the tape" by flipping the chains ahead by pivoting on the line to gain post? Or step off the 5 yard penalty, and then measure for a first down?
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I'm interested in the clock status. If team A winds up with first down, and a stopped clock (with a lot of time taken for administration before the RFP, even w/o the possibly tricky measurement) for the incompletion, it seems they've gained a good deal for their illegal forward pass. Consider that the passer was well beyond the neutral zone when he let fly; seems like a deliberate attempt to conserve time. Would you invoke 3-4-6 and start the clock on the RFP? Seems the least you could do in the situation.
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Concerning a measurement: If you have the privilege of working on a very well marked field (as in an artificial surface) then of course between the 20's you try to start a 1st down on a hash or yard line, then knowing if the dead ball spot has reached that hash ten yards down field you don't measure. If you start on a half yard spot it's a little trickier. The tape on the chain helps, but at best, Umpires footsteps are an imprecise science. If the covering official is on his game he will ensure the spot of the foul (even by moving his flag) is not that close either way....:-)
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Robert, I don't understand your question...what I am saying is on any spot foul there is a little wiggle room as to where the flag actually falls. What we would not want to happen is if technically its 5.0 yards exactly that still leaves the ball at or beyond the line to gain, then we don't want an umpire to step off "5 yards and 2 inches" and the ball goes over to B. or the other way around.
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As for whether it's a 1st down, or not, depends ENTIRELY on whether the subsequent spot places the ball beyond, or behind, the LTG. That depends on how that precise spot was determined. (any and all efforts (mechanics) to insure precision in making that determination are appropriate and appreciated). |
10-3-1, is the reference for the clock status.
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