Being A Back Judge Questions

[Mike L]

Originally Posted by Ed Hickland

1) On a run up the middle what do you look for?

2) How deep a cushion do you keep between the deepest receiver and you?

3) If the runner goes into a side zone how to you position yourself to cover and what do you look for?

4) When the runner goes out of bounds do you go to the sideline to assist the wingman?

Let's start with the idea when I was BJ, I was the primary inside-out wideview. I'd rarely be in close to the play. While the play is alive I'd most likely never be outside the hashes.
Around here the first read is the TE. If there is no TE, should be looking at the most challenged inside eligible. After the snap....

1) reading run up the middle, the BJ should focus on blocks against the LBs or any DBs that are up in front of the point of attack. A hold against one of these guys, usually by your TE key or a lead RB, is what can turn a small gain into a big one. The U and the HL/LJ should be taking the blocking at the line, so unless it's outrageously huge, you shouldn't be looking for that.

2) until the ball is thrown, I try to maintain my initial cushion of 18-20 yards. Realistically, an 18 old year can run a whole lot faster going forward than I can backpedalling, so that cushion is going to drop as we both run. When I do have to turn and run (cushion down to 10 yds), I make sure I'm still looking at my coverage responsibility by widening away rather than just getting into a race to the goal line. If I'm beat, I'm beat, but I still have to officiate (but I don't want to get beat). Once the ball is in the air I'll close to where I think the ball is going but I still want to maintain no less than a 7-10 yd cushion to view the play/catch. If the receiver has beaten the defender on a deep throw, I'll stay with trying to maintain the cushion rather than closing. On a long pass it's ok for me to pick up progress.

3) run into the sidezone is much the same as up the middle but I'm going to be even more aware of wideouts holding those DBs trying to come up. And around here, the BJ also has responsibility to make sure the defense is not cutting any lead blockers on a sweep.

4) when the runner goes OOB, it depends on the yardage gained. Around here they want the BJ going into the sideline if the gain is more than 3 yrds & the R if it's less, but that's a rule of thumb. Some R's are more mobile and might want to take a little more. Some are not as mobile and might take less. If you do go in, you go in fast and loud and find the player that's on the wrong sideline and get him out of there.