Forward or Backward Pass?

[Suudy]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by WyMike

Originally posted by mcrowder
mc, if we (wings) see it, we are instructed to punch it back to assist the WH. In a case like this, the whole crew should be concentrating on a number of things including R. R could be watching the QB for a roughing the passer call and not be able to see a quick pass to the sidelines and rely on a wing for assistance. Hence the term, crew.

Interestingly, we are told by the state not to punch back on backwards passes.

The rationale is that if it is a forward pass that falls incomplete, blow it dead once it hits the ground. If you aren't sure, don't do anything. That way if the wing punches back, but the R blows it dead incomplete, there are no mixed signals to the sidelines ("Hey! The wing said it was backwards, why did you blow the whistle?!?!"). No signal, and no whistle, should be enough to let the players know the ball is still live.