Looking for rules interp. here as a Coach...the team we played last weekend ran a full-house backfield...the QB would fake a hand-off to the fullback up the middle, and then come down the line running an option with one of the tailbacks...two different times, he did hand-off to the FB, and then came down the line faking the option. On both occasions, our D-End tackled the QB thinking he still had the ball...on both occasions, the White Hat threw a flag for UNR on the D-End...in our minds, since the QB is still faking that he has the ball, he is still part of the play and fair game...what's the ruling on something like that?

If you're trying to look like a ball carrier, you're fair game. There is an obligation to lay off players who are <i>obviously</i> out of the play, but that's definitely not the case here. I can dig up the rule reference when I get home.

Absurd call. Unless it was obvious to DE that QB didn't have the ball, there's no basis for calling UNR.

That's kinda what we thought...the QB was "hunched over" (for lack of a better phrase) and acting like he still had the ball...the fact that our D-end is 240 lbs and hit the kid pretty hard might have had something to do with it (nothing illelegal, just a good solid hit both time)...anyway, we were pretty confused...

And if your in Texas, we use NCAA rules and the defintion of runner is the player in possession of a live ball or simulating possession of a live ball. The doesn't eliminate the possibility that he may have been speared or some type of helmet to helmet contact. If that's the case then it would be a foul.

I would be very hard pressed to throw a flag in this situation the first time without telling the DE that if it is obvious the QB doesn't have the ball he should not hit him. Now if it was very late, and obvious, maybe a flag right away, but I will often tell the defense to not hit him if after he has handed the ball off. I think they think they can take him down even when they know he handed it off.

Not so fast.
 

I have seen the defense hit the QB regardless of whether they have the ball or not on purpose. Of course this is completely a judgment call, but I have seen where the defensive players just hit the QB to "loosen him up." Of course if the QB looks like a runner, but they better not just hit the QB every time the option is run.

Peace