WR - false start vs. illegal motion vs. illegal shift

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

What your white hat is probably confused about is the running back who rocks out of his set position a little early and it could have been considered the beginning of shift if not for the snap. There are differing opinions on whether that should be a false start or illegal motion.

I agree that the white hat is confused. As for this sitch, a RB rocking forward could be FS or IM but not both, and it shouldn't be a matter of opinion but of judgment. Perhaps that's what you mean.

If the covering official judges that the rocking simulates motion at the snap, then it's a FS; if not, then it's IM for moving toward the LOS at the snap. It's also possible for him to reset and be legal. Usually it a false start.

As for the OP, the covering official actually has 3 choices: FS will be the most common, I imagine, though IM is also possible. If the receiver moved forward without simulating the snap and the ball was not snapped, encroachment is also possible.