Obstruction / Malicious Contact

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by Ref Ump Welsch
Mike, with the way the new rule is written that a defensive player must have the ball in order to be in the runner's path, does the runner still have the obligation to go around the defender in this situation? The way I read the rule and read this situation, it's obstruction all the way. Speaking ASA of course.

It does not make a defender without the ball fair game. Dumb move on behalf of the defender, yes; right to be used as a tackling dummy, no. All players have an obligation to avoid a collision, if possible.

There is no rule forbidding a defender from being in the runner's path. The rule forbids impeding the progress of a runner without the ball.