I agree with this entirely. the Rule, imo, is misused from its intent…it is grey. I only give my take on it from hands on experience and how it was always explained to me.
and yes, most receivers are not beyond the LOS…but some are
Where does it say that rule only applies to players on the LOS? It applies to all offensive players except the centre.
It is rather implied. If you are not on the LOS you are in the backfield. Pretty tough for a backfield player to line up anything but behind the LOS, unless it is a player in forward motion and they draw illegal procedure. The noted penalty for the above mentioned “Article 3 – Offside At The Snap” is offside, not procedure. An offensive player accelerating across the line early is procedure, not offside. Offside is a taking formation in an illegal position (breaching the LOS).
The exemption is for offside and applies only the center…as he obviously needs to get over top of the ball.
Article 2 – Line & Backfield
Players of Team A who are within one yard of and on their own side of the line of
scrimmage and are formed in a single line when the ball is put in play, shall be
considered scrimmage line, or line players. A player, whose head and shoulders are
within one yard of the line of scrimmage, shall be deemed to be a line player.
A player of Team A is considered to be in the backfield if such player is clearly back
of the line when the ball is put in play. This will also include the player occupying the
position of quarterback.
No player of Team A shall be in a position that will create doubt as to being on the line
or in the backfield, when the ball is put in play.
It sounds like we are in total agreement on everything except whether the linesmen are actually allowing receivers to cross the line of scrimmage before the snap as long as it’s by less than a yard. From what I have seen whenever I rewatched frame-by-frame what I thought for sure was an offside, the receiver has always been onside. Granted, I have not rewatched every close call, so it’s possible that the linesmen may have missed a few, which is why I said it happens occasionally (in fact, it might not). But I think that’s down to human error rather than them giving the receivers leeway.
Hands on experience? I have none, so I’m just going by what I see in the games and what I read in the rule book. If you have experience as an official, player, or coach, that would be an interesting perspective.
The only position that lines up nose to nose is the centre, all the other offensive linemen are behind him about a yard :roll:
So its pretty much the same
Watching NFL today, man that field is small compared with ours.
great games though.
passing plays are usually more crisp in NFL
I think you are right. I would like to hear the take of a lineman who has played in both codes on this though. Do American linemen in American football smell more on average?
I bet at the very least, due to the increased proximity of even a few inches, that it is harder in American football to play against any given player who had a very good or very bad high protein or Southwest-themed breakfast or lunch.
On the other hand, does such a stink bring out rougher and improved play by any given lineman who has to smell it down after down?
You sure don’t want to make any of those guys angrier than they probably are already, and any given meal with a lot of beans and onions in it that does not digest well on any given day might do the trick.
Matt Dunigan has commented about it at times that you really don’t want to be down there like on any given short yardage sneak.
Linesman do not allow that. The rule interpretation that has been given is that the “snap” is determined to occur as soon as the centre BEGINS the snapping motion, not when the ball leaves his hands, which then affects other rules interpretations including offside by both defense and offense (particularly slot-backs in motion). That may give the appearance of offside on occasion.
Where I think they are letting things slide a bit is when backfield players in motion get to the line, stop on the line (because of bad timing or an audible play change), and do not back-off again to re-start their motion prior to the snap, which could presumably make their eligibility as a receiver questionable - but I think the intent of the rule is so that eligible receivers are clearly known to the defense and officials - on the other hand, rules should be precise. Stopping motion at the line as above really negates the receivers motion advantage so I don’t know that a somewhat sloppy enforcement at that point really gives the offense any advantage.
Exactly rob, we as fans don't know, but players and coaches do know. Something as fans we'll probably never know. But I do know the NFL offense looks static, and lulls me to sleep but still I like watching NFL as static as the game comes across to me.
Really good background Xvys. Nicely done.
Really? on what evidence
Watch the average snap, but then again how much NFL football do you watch now compared to years ago when I don’t think you watched much?
On many passing plays, the QB has his steps and throw figured out well before the snap of the ball. There is more time on the play clock to do so after all. One example is the back-shoulder throw on many a play.
This does not mean every pass is crisp, but many of the scripted plays are at the very least and then of course there are all those great quick throws and catches.
Also you definitely don’t see near as many those hovering long balls run down by a receiver as you do in the CFL. Many a CFL safety has no business playing too for that matter. Such a luxury does not exist amongst safeties in the NFL.
my eyes for starters.