Another Baffling "Trick" Play

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

If the QB never lost control, and a lineman gathered it near the LTG, then by definition if the ball reaches the LTG, then don't you have a forward hand-off pass beyond the LS?

That was my thought. For illegal forward handing they'll get 5 yards and LOD (7-3-2), so they won't do that again on 4th down!

If the ball was loose it wasn't illegal forward handing, but probably would be an illegal planned loose ball (7-2-8), which is 5 yards but no LOD.

[gene2112]

Good points, felllas. I think it should have been enforced as an illegal planned loose ball.

Rule 7-2-8 states:
Any A player on his line of scrimmage may not advance a planned loose
ball in the vicinity of the snapper.

But, then on the other hand, their intention was to "push" the ball forward past the marker and then jump on it. Therefore that rule doesn't apply, right?

This concerns me. In other words, if they adjust this trick play into a
planned muff, we have not found any evidence in the rules book that
makes this play illegal.

My hunch is that it is not a play common to the game of football.

Please send me your thoughts/feedback.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by gene2112

Good points, felllas. I think it should have been enforced as an illegal planned loose ball.

Agreed.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by gene2112

But, then on the other hand, their intention was to "push" the ball forward past the marker and then jump on it. Therefore that rule doesn't apply, right?

This concerns me. In other words, if they adjust this trick play into a
planned muff, we have not found any evidence in the rules book that
makes this play illegal.

My hunch is that it is not a play common to the game of football.

Please send me your thoughts/feedback.

Pushing the ball would be illegal batting.

If there is a planned loose ball and A ends up past the LOS, isn't that advancing a planned loose ball? It would be in my game.