Fed Question

[Ed Hickland]

[QUOTE=JasonTX]These questions comes from a Fed coach.

1. Ok we have put no huddle into our offense this past off-season and have decided to use it for our next upcoming game which will be a big one for us (a meeting between two 2-0 teams). My question is when I run no-huddle and decide I want to have a TE set can I just send my TE in and pull my slot out? Is there some type of rule with this or am I good since there won't be 12 in the huddle or 12 on the field at any time?

/QUOTE]

Huddle or no-huddle all eleven players that participate in the play MUST come inside the numbers or the nine-yard mark AFTER the ready for play.

This year's rule book does a good job of defining players and substitutes. When a substitute comes on the field his intent is to replace one of the eleven players and the general guideline is the replaced player must leave in 3 to 5 seconds.

If you have 12 or more players on the field in defensive formation that must be flagged as you gain an advantage. Imagine, you are on offense and trying to match up when the defense has 12 players.

You can't!

Or, you have twelve men in defensive formation when the offense breaks the huddle and you run off the 12th man depending upon their offensive formation. You have the choice of going with a certain defensive package. That is an advantage.

The defense gains the advantage of delaying their decision as to what defensive alignment to use.

That would give the defense an advantage, even if, the 12th man exits the field before the snap.