The coach confessed!

[Welpe]

As you describe it, I certainly agree.

[Jim D.]

Originally Posted by Welpe

As you describe it, I certainly agree.

That is a false start, and should be called even if the defense doesn't jump. It's sad to hear he's been getting away with it.

So I had a similar situation on a 4th down except the A was lined up in a normal formation, not punting. Lined up with hands on knees and at a signal by the Qb the entire line quickly went into a 3pt stance. This was not something they had done at all during the game previously, it drew a defender into the neutral zone. I threw the flag and was going to call false start as I was the Line Judge and only saw the tackle and guard on my side do this. Went to my white hat and he said that the entire line did this so it was ok and we should go with the encroachment on B. Being a first year official I wasn't sure and went along with this.

Was my initial thinking correct on this or what we ended up enforcing?

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by Jerry Blum

So I had a similar situation on a 4th down except the A was lined up in a normal formation, not punting. Lined up with hands on knees and at a signal by the Qb the entire line quickly went into a 3pt stance. This was not something they had done at all during the game previously, it drew a defender into the neutral zone. I threw the flag and was going to call false start as I was the Line Judge and only saw the tackle and guard on my side do this. Went to my white hat and he said that the entire line did this so it was ok and we should go with the encroachment on B. Being a first year official I wasn't sure and went along with this.

Was my initial thinking correct on this or what we ended up enforcing?

It is a false start. It doesn't matter if they have been doing it all game or not. A legal shift must be slow and deliberate. No player can make a quick or jerky motion which simulates action at the snap. Also it is obvious that A is doing this to cause B to encroach.

[verticalStripes]

First of all, I wouldn't have one official watch game film with a coach. Allow your league commissioner (or interpreter) to do that.

I saw a coach run a shift like you described for decades and nobody called a foul against the offense.

The offense is allowed to shift when in a 2 point stance. So, the question is "how" they are shifting.

If they are poping up like they are practically making a veritical jump, then no way. Otherwise, it may be legal.

Also, most coaches will continue to "push the envelope" until this called. If you are going to flag it, make sure you point out a specific individual that made the shift illegal, like right tackle number 78. Don't tell the coach that entire offense shifted illegally (although that may be true).

[ajmc]

As has been said, "you can paint a picture of a beautiful woman, but you can't f.........(make love to) it." A coach can describe something he intends to be close to the line, but that doesn't mean it will turn out exactly like he planned.