False Start OR Illegal Shift?

[Illini_Ref]

Offensive linemen all have their hands on their knees and go into the 3-point on set. Ball is snapped while they are on the way down.

Dead-ball false start or live-ball illegal shift? What's your call?

[Adam]

I've got illegal shift.

[Ref1973]

Originally Posted by Adam

I've got illegal shift.

Ditto

[Robert Goodman]

You could as easily call it illegal motion as illegal shift. Any preference as to which violation you'd rather signal?

[BktBallRef]

It's not illegal motion. Illegal motion occurs when one player in motion does not meet the requirements in 7-2-7.

it's not a false start as players are not simulated action at the snap. Linemen go up at the snap. They don't go down into a 3 or 4 point stance.

It's an illegal shift, a violation of 7-2-8.

[Sturno]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

It's not illegal motion. Illegal motion occurs when one player in motion does not meet the requirements in 7-2-7.

it's not a false start as players are not simulated action at the snap. Linemen go up at the snap. They don't go down into a 3 or 4 point stance.

It's an illegal shift, a violation of 7-2-8.

Maybe he's got one bad elbow....?

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

It's not illegal motion. Illegal motion occurs when one player in motion does not meet the requirements in 7-2-7.

It says, "Only one A player may be in motion at the snap," so if more than 1 player is in motion, doesn't that too violate its terms?

It's an illegal shift, a violation of 7-2-8.

Well, that too. You can call one or the other.

Another reason you can prove logically that it can't be a false start (assuming no quick or jerky motion) is that that would have to be whistled before the snap -- and how can you know it won't be a legal shift, or that there won't be a time out called (or some other action intervene that would prevent play), before the ball is snapped?