Offensive Pass Interference?

[Mike L]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

You just need to be careful the ball is not caught beyond the NZ. Another possible issue (although I've heard some officials let it go based on their own philosophy) is the ball goes off the hands of the receiver (who is behind the NZ) and the ball lands beyond the NZ. Thus it is a forward pass that crosses the neutral zone and you have eligible receivers blocking. Same thing applies to ineligible receivers downfield.

But does not PI restrictions end for all eligible A's once A touches a legal forward pass?

[Theisey]

Originally Posted by Mike L

But does not PI restrictions end for all eligible A's once A touches a legal forward pass?

For NCAA they end when any inbounds player touches the pass (or if touched by an officials).

For NFHS, after any of these three conditions:

a. A players, when B touches a legal forward pass.
b. Eligible A players when A touches a legal forward pass. Ineligible A
players may not touch the pass, but can use hands or arms in a legal block to ward off an opponent.

c. B players when a legal forward pass has been touched by A or B.

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by Mike L

But does not PI restrictions end for all eligible A's once A touches a legal forward pass?

Yes, but the blocks down field were taking place before the ball was touched by A. If they didn't occur until after the ball was touched, you have nothing regardless of whether the pass ends behind or beyond the NZ.

[Mike L]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

Yes, but the blocks down field were taking place before the ball was touched by A. If they didn't occur until after the ball was touched, you have nothing regardless of whether the pass ends behind or beyond the NZ.

If the blocks took place downfield, which is not at all clear in the op. Most screens do not involve early blocks downfield but rather at or near the line. And the block would have to be substantially beyond the line to deserve a call on this sort of play.