Is this holding?

[voiceoflg]

Is the FSU player on the right (background) holding the Auburn player?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by voiceoflg

Is the FSU player on the right (background) holding the Auburn player?

Doesn't look like it to me based on just that still shot.

[HLin NC]

Holding him from what?

[voiceoflg]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

Holding him from what?

There is a debate on one of the message boards about the FSU player's right hand grabbing under the shoulder pads of the Auburn player. Some say it is holding, others say it is not. I don't know, so that is why I asked here.

[JRutledge]

Is he being taken down?

Is he prevented from movement?

Is it a material restriction?

Does the offensive player have stronger legs (driving the opponent backwards)?

Who knows, you cannot tell anything by a still pitcher.

Peace

[HLin NC]

Nothing to debate LG. It may be holding using the dictionary definition but what is the defender being prevented from doing? Think advantage/disadvantage. This is why fans don't understand officiating and think we all suck.

What is the play? Where is the ball? What is he being prevented from doing?
He ain't sacking the QB, he ain't defending the pass. He sure ain't gonna get the pick.

I'm not sure why he is still blocking. The others have turned to watch.

[Mike L]

Originally Posted by voiceoflg

There is a debate on one of the message boards about the FSU player's right hand grabbing under the shoulder pads of the Auburn player. Some say it is holding, others say it is not. I don't know, so that is why I asked here.

At the point in time of the photo the action in question is at the 5 yd line, the ball has already been thrown and appears to be 3-4 yds deep into the endzone. What advantage is being gained to make anyone want to call that?

[Ianr]

even if it is holding (which as stated above is impossible to tell with one still shot), it is not at the point of attack, nor does it seem to be a safety hazard, no flag.

[CT1]

Absolutely not. He has his entire body between the defender and the QB, & isn't beaten.

[bisonlj]

This is an example where someone who says "you could call holding on any play". There could have been a hold before this picture but by this point holding isn't possible at the LOS.

[JugglingReferee]

I think it's holding. I'm launching a lawsuit.

[Texas Aggie]

The ball is in the receiver's hands. We are WELL past the point of attack.

[bob jenkins]

I'm not a FB official, but I know enough to know that the actions aren't holding on this play.

But, what if it had been a running play and at the time of the picture, the running back was at about the 5-yard line and the hash marks -- just behind the FSU lineman. Does this action now qualify as holding? (With the usual caveats that you can't always tell from a still photo)

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I'm not a FB official, but I know enough to know that the actions aren't holding on this play.

But, what if it had been a running play and at the time of the picture, the running back was at about the 5-yard line and the hash marks -- just behind the FSU lineman. Does this action now qualify as holding? (With the usual caveats that you can't always tell from a still photo)

Not yet, but potentially. The caveat you've quoted is actually way more than one might think. The majority of the things you need to see to judge holding are not in existence in an instant - they require movement. Restriction of movement is impossible to see when there's no movement.

If the defender is trying to move toward the OL at the moment of this photo, this is not holding. If he's trying to move laterally or away from the OL, and the OL lets go before he prevents him from moving laterally or away - it's not holding.

And generally, if the hands are within the frame of the OL, it's not going to be holding in any case.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

And generally, if the hands are within the frame of the OL, it's not going to be holding in any case.

Are these hands "within the frame of the OL"?