OL "Check with me" & DL jumping

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Sonofanump

It all comes down to this. If they are doing it all game and all of sudden the defense jumps, you have a foul on B.

I disagree. Your principle would give the offense and unfair advantage, for example when it was 4th and 3, and they did their check a little louder and quicker in order to cause encroachment.

No, the covering officials must judge each time whether the offense is simulating the start of the play. That's the same, consistent principle that applies to "hard counts" and QB head bobs.

[MD Longhorn]

I agree that the fact they were doing this all game doesn't affect the call. But the defender jumping should not be your trigger. If YOU thought they were simulating the start of the play, it's on the offense... WHETHER THE DEFENSE JUMPS OR NOT. So if you weren't going to call it if the defender DIDN'T jump, then don't call it if they do.

[Sonofanump]

Originally Posted by mbyron

I disagree. Your principle would give the offense and unfair advantage, for example when it was 4th and 3, and they did their check a little louder and quicker in order to cause encroachment.

Then that is different then the same thing all game.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Sonofanump

Then that is different then the same thing all game.

You didn't say the "same thing," whatever that means. You said "doing it all game." My point was that there's doing it and doing it. Which is to say, there's a way to do it legally and a way to do it illegally, and that calls for judgment on every play.

Your statement reminds me of the coach who's flagged for a false start and responds, "we've been doing it all game!"