Enforcement on the punt return that never was

[InsideTheStripe]

NFL Videos: The punt return that never was

Can anyone explain the enforcement of the hold called on Corey Graham during the punt return in the video?

Assuming one is willing to concede that he grabbed Bush inside the shirt/pads and gave him a tug that took him off stride and effected his ability to cover the punt (which I am), I'm scratching my head at the enforcement spot and the placement of the ball to start the series. The hold took place at around the 37 and the ball was caught at the 11. The flag landed at the 18 or so and the enforcement seemed to be half the distance from there?!?

I don't have the 2011 NFL rule book, but something doesn't seem to add up.

[APG]

If you listen to the announcement, the penalty was announced as a hold that occurred during the return. In that case, it would have been a spot enforcement using the 3 and 1 philosophy. Looking back at the play-by-play on NFL.com, the "hold" occurred at the 20 and the new series started on the 10.

Now if they were actually calling the hold for the contact which you refer to, it would have been a post-possession foul and penalized half the distance to the goal from the end of the kick, first and 10 at the 5.5.

[InsideTheStripe]

Originally Posted by AllPurposeGamer

If you listen to the announcement, the penalty was announced as a hold that occurred during the return. In that case, it would have been a spot enforcement using the 3 and 1 philosophy. Looking back at the play-by-play on NFL.com, the "hold" occurred at the 20 and the new series started on the 10.

Now if they were actually calling the hold for the contact which you refer to, it would have been a post-possession foul and penalized half the distance to the goal from the end of the kick, first and 10 at the 5.5.

I'm just confused by the whole thing. I heard the announcement, but the flag was in the air before Knox caught the ball. It COULDN'T have been thrown for a foul that occurred "during the return". The only player engaged with an opponent around the 20 yard line was Zack Bowman who was outside the opposite hash. It seems unlikely that the side judge would flag that (especially before it occurred).

[Forksref]

Even at the HS level I would have a problem throwing a flag on a foul that was not at the point of attack.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Forksref

Even at the HS level I would have a problem throwing a flag on a foul that was not at the point of attack.

Except that it was on a gunner -- how do you know if he's going to be able to make a play a few seconds later?

I have no idea how it was enforced, but I assumed it was (in my vernacular) a PSK foul. I guess it wasn't enforced that way based on this thread.

[RadioBlue]

Video: Hester fakes punt return while Knox fields it 30 yards away - Shutdown Corner - NFLBlog - Yahoo! Sports
If you look just under and to the left of the FoxBox the moment the kick occurs, you can see the hold. It was clearly not during the return. Also, the flag gets nowhere near the foul and is thrown by the official at the GL pylon.

The hold was there, but I'm having some difficulty with how it was enforced, as well.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Except that it was on a gunner -- how do you know if he's going to be able to make a play a few seconds later?

I have no idea how it was enforced, but I assumed it was (in my vernacular) a PSK foul. I guess it wasn't enforced that way based on this thread.

Hold the flag and throw if it later affects the play.

If the left gunner is held, but the punt goes down the middle and is tackled right away, how does the hold affect the play?

I (as the Referee) picked up this flag earlier this year: QB is sacked for a 6-yard loss. Just before I killed the play, my U had a flag. Turns out it is for a hold 1 yard behind the line. How exactly does this hold matter when the QB was sacked by someone else 5 yards behind the hold? A: it doesn't!

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Forksref

Even at the HS level I would have a problem throwing a flag on a foul that was not at the point of attack.

While the punt is in the air, you have to assume that ANY hold is going to affect the run.