Illegal Motion or False Start

[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.