Flag or no flag?

[simpson]

To answer your questions:
1) if you are 40 yards away and the HL and BJ are close, it's probably not your flag.
2) I wouldn't recommend throwing your flag after conferencing with the other officials, although I'd be interested in what the others have to say.
3) A late flag after conferencing is probably not a good idea, a late flag several seconds after the foul as you are getting closer to the play may not be so bad. had to be there for that.
4) I have no problem with BJ calling taunting. And USCs are always succeeding spot enforcement whether it is live ball or not. As R, I'd take the penalty of the guy who threw the flag.

I'm more concerned about your mechanics on the TD. You don't need to be at the team box on a TD to control the sideline. I've never heard of such a mechanic. What would you have done if the receiver cut all the way across the field and got tackled at the pylon? Yes, you should be trailing the play in this situation and cleaning up behind it, but R and U are also doing that. You still have a potential goal line / sideline coverage. If you are at the 10-15 yard line when the player scores, you'll be around the 5-10 when the takedown happens and you don't have a problem throwing your flag for the DB PF. If you throw the flag there, you don't have any other problems.

[Daryl H. Long]

Originally Posted by simpson

To answer your questions:
1) if you are 40 yards away and the HL and BJ are close, it's probably not your flag.
2) I wouldn't recommend throwing your flag after conferencing with the other officials, although I'd be interested in what the others have to say.
3) A late flag after conferencing is probably not a good idea, a late flag several seconds after the foul as you are getting closer to the play may not be so bad. had to be there for that.
4) I have no problem with BJ calling taunting. And USCs are always succeeding spot enforcement whether it is live ball or not. As R, I'd take the penalty of the guy who threw the flag.

I'm more concerned about your mechanics on the TD. You don't need to be at the team box on a TD to control the sideline. I've never heard of such a mechanic. What would you have done if the receiver cut all the way across the field and got tackled at the pylon? Yes, you should be trailing the play in this situation and cleaning up behind it, but R and U are also doing that. You still have a potential goal line / sideline coverage. If you are at the 10-15 yard line when the player scores, you'll be around the 5-10 when the takedown happens and you don't have a problem throwing your flag for the DB PF. If you throw the flag there, you don't have any other problems.

Without seeing the play I may be inclined to question mechanics as you did. The lone back on the play went in motion to my side. At the snap he ran down my sideline about 15 yards. The tight end ran out about 5 yards and cut straight toward my sideline. The defense adjusted but when the pass went over middle and then ran toward L side of field the R was cleaning up down the L's sideline. U was cleaning up the middle. I was forced to view the blocking by TE and back on my sideline. I maintained them in my sight while also viewing the entire sideline which was possible because I had already established the sideline decorum I expected and the coaches were great to keep players back in the team box even though they surged toward the opposite end.

I disagree with your point of who covers goalline. In this situation it is the BJ responsibility. As LJ my only responsibility was the players in my side zone, the sideline, and bench decorum. The A Player crossed the goal line right in the middle of the field so the pylon on my sideline is a nonfactor. I can only react to what happens and if to adjust but always within my primary coverage area.

[simpson]

Originally Posted by Daryl H. Long

Without seeing the play I may be inclined to question mechanics as you did. The lone back on the play went in motion to my side. At the snap he ran down my sideline about 15 yards. The tight end ran out about 5 yards and cut straight toward my sideline. The defense adjusted but when the pass went over middle and then ran toward L side of field the R was cleaning up down the L's sideline. U was cleaning up the middle. I was forced to view the blocking by TE and back on my sideline.

Fair enough, but 4 players 40 yards behind the play are probably just watching while your crew clearly missed a PF where the action was. This isn't a 7 man crew, you're not going to be able to see everything. But, a DB PF on the ball carrier who scores needs to be called a lot more than a little chicken fighting 40 yds behind the play or even a sideline warning. You're a lot more valuable to your crew on this play at the 10-15 yard line than you are at the 30. Just my opinion of course, but U and R can and most likely will see anything really bad back there.

Originally Posted by Daryl H. Long

I disagree with your point of who covers goalline. In this situation it is the BJ responsibility. As LJ my only responsibility was the players in my side zone, the sideline, and bench decorum. The A Player crossed the goal line right in the middle of the field so the pylon on my sideline is a nonfactor. I can only react to what happens and if to adjust but always within my primary coverage area.

Sure the BJ has goal line on a 70 yard play, but he can't cover both sidelines as well. The kid cut across the field at the end of the play. Your BJ was probably standing on the GL in the middle of the field. Your HL had his sideline and was close so he could help the BJ. What would have happened if the kid cuts across the field and dives at your pylon? Who helps the BJ? You're 30 yards away, was he in or out? Sideline decorum shouldn't matter / nor should any surge because you should be closer to the play.