Touchback ??

[PaulJak]

I was a wasn't sure about if OOB beyond the line was considered dead in the end zone. That makes sense.

So in the case of the large pile of guys going after a grounded fumble near the goal line we do need to determine which person was the last to touch it before it entered the end zone or is the scrum not considered a new force?

I'm just struggling with trying to determine which of the diving bodies was the last to reach out and knock the ball across the line. That's why I wouldn't think that force would come into play. I would think force is somebody trying to do something "routine" like recover a kick or pick up a fumble with nobody near them. When its a pile going after it and its bouncing around, unless somebody bats it I wouldn't consider the act of diving and trying to recover it a new force.

Can only one new force be applied to a grounded fumble or can multiple new forces be applied? i.e., B muffs it (diving), then A muffs it (diving), then B muffs it again (diving) - are those 3 new forces applied or is it just the initial new force that we are concerned with?

Thanks