Expanded neutral zone

[phansen]

A1 drops back to throw a screen pass beyond the LOS. Offensive linemen block defenders and then let them through. Can the offensive lineman be in the expanded (2 yard) neutral zone or do they have to stay behind the LOS until the ball is thrown?

[Mike L]

They can be in the ENZ.

[MRH]

As long as the pass is completed behind the neutral zone the lineman can be in the neutral zone or beyond it.

[ajmc]

Under the NF code, offensive linemen can be in an expanded NZ (up to 2 yards) before any legal forward pass THAT CROSSES THE NZ is in flight. There is no limiting restriction on how far downfield they may go on a pass that is completed BEHIND the NZ.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by MRH

As long as the pass is completed behind the neutral zone the lineman can be in the neutral zone or beyond it.

Originally Posted by ajmc

There is no limiting restriction on how far downfield they may go on a pass that is completed BEHIND the NZ.

Fellas, re-read what he wrote.

"A1 drops back to throw a screen pass beyond the LOS."

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Fellas, re-read what he wrote.

"A1 drops back to throw a screen pass beyond the LOS."

Good catch...I mis-read that as well.

If I read the rule (7-5-12), he can be in the expanded neutral zone but not beyond it. There is an exception if he blocks B immediately after the snap, he can be in the expanded neutral zone but that doesn't really seem like an exception since the first line says he can be there anyway.

In this example, the ineligible receivers may be legally in the expanded neutral zone but not beyond it on this play.

[OverAndBack]

Here's a similar situation from a recent game:

A11 comes out wide on the left side of the formation, on the line (guy on the end, eligible receiver). A9 is ALSO a wideout, but is inside A11, where a slot would normally be, but HE'S on the line.

So A9 is ineligible by virtue of being "covered up," correct?

A9 goes downfield at the snap along with A11. A1 throws a short pass into the flat on the other side of the field that is tipped by B2 and completed to A8.

Now, do you flag A9 as soon as he goes downfield for ineligible receiver downfield?

The pass did cross the neutral zone (but just barely - it was close enough to get together and ask). If it hadn't, you'd have picked up the flag, correct?

Our WH waved off the flag because the ball was tipped by B2 (which, of course, made everybody on A eligible). Was that the right call? Does the tip "buy back" eligibility for a player who was ineligible at the snap and who went downfield (a foul)?