Late Hit

[waltjp]

IF the runner is clearly out of bounds (2 or 3 steps) and there's contact I'll flag it, whistle or not. Of course, this will get the coach irate because the whistle hasn't blown. In this case where the runner stepped on the line or just out of bounds and hasn't given himself up as a runner the benefit of the doubt has to go to the defender.

To suggest a foul on the defense is justified as a warning is a bad idea. The defense is playing within the rules. There's enough other chipping stuff that goes on that could be used if you need to set an example. This play isn't one of them.