Illegal Motion or False Start

[DesertZebra]

Originally Posted by MJT

so I'd have illegal motion on this play.

Illegal shift

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by DesertZebra

Illegal shift

Could have had IM too (instead), as the motion man was moving forward at the snap.

[MJT]

Originally Posted by DesertZebra

Illegal shift

This would not be an illegal shift because of the definition of a shift. See case play 7.2.7 for a similar explanation of the difference between IM and IS, similar to this play.

[TXMike]

What I was trying to assess was the legality of what the motion man was doing assuming the RB who had lurched forward had done nothing. Make believe that RB had not moved at all and all we had was what the motion man was doing....false start or illegal motion?

[MJT]

Originally Posted by TXMike

What I was trying to assess was the legality of what the motion man was doing assuming the RB who had lurched forward had done nothing. Make believe that RB had not moved at all and all we had was what the motion man was doing....false start or illegal motion?

Well if that is what you are discussing, that is a classic example of IM cuz he is moving towards the LOS at the snap. It would not be a FS in this case. It would be a FS if he was going sideways, or slightly backwards and then turned quickly up field before the snap cuz that quick turn would be simulating the start of the play.

[ljdave]

Live ball foul, since it's not a foul until the snap. If he'd adjusted his motion to a path that was parallel to the LOS before the snap, we'd have nothing (That is, ignoring the obvious false start by the RB).

[DesertZebra]

Originally Posted by MJT

This would not be an illegal shift because of the definition of a shift. See case play 7.2.7 for a similar explanation of the difference between IM and IS, similar to this play.

Not the same thing. This was not a QB in motion.

[MJT]

Originally Posted by DesertZebra

Not the same thing. This was not a QB in motion.

True, but the fact is it does not meet the definition of a shift, so it cannot be an illegal shift.

SECTION 39 SHIFT
A shift is the action of one or more offensive players who, after a huddle or after taking set positions, move to a new set position before the ensuing snap.

The back does not move to a new set position, he just leans, so it cannot be an IS. It is pretty much semantics to say IS or IM anyway cuz they are treated exactly the same way, but they are different rules.