Illegal Forward Pass Situation

[Bob M.]

Originally Posted by JS63

Just a question that has an answer I am just not sure what it is. Why bag a backward pass? Wouldn't it continue to be part of the run and therefore not a basic spot?

REPLY: That's exactly the reason that you do bag it, because it can be the basic spot. The interval between the time of the backward pass until it is either (1.) possessed again, or (2.) dead by rule is part of the previous running play. Therefore any fouls that occur during this interval, or the run that preceded it, use the spot of the pass (i.e. end of the run) as the basic spot. Consider this play for illustration:
PLAY: 3-10 from midfield. A10 runs to B's 40 where he pitches the ball backwards to A12. During A10's run, B34 grabbed and twisted his facemask at B's 48. A12 catches the pass and runs to B's 35 where he is tackled. RULING: The foul by B34 occurred during A10's run. The basic spot for enforcement of a foul that occurs during a running play is the end of the run. A10's run ended at B's 40 where he threw the backward pass. Enforcement will be from that spot. Result: A, 1-10 from B's 25. If you hadn't bagged the spot of the backward pass, you could not have enforced correctly.

This is exactly the same thing as if A10 fumbled at B's 40.