Questionable offensive formation

[Pudlugger]

In the second play of the game with Yoakum the Bulldogs scored on a 90 yard pass play. They confused our secondary by splitting a guard wide with his head and shoulders pointing down so his numbers were not visible to the cornerback or Refs. Then they put a man in motion to draw the safety out. On the snap the wide-out "guard" moved laterally towards the flat but apparently not going downfield much, drawing the cornerback with him and leaving the middle wide open for a guy who slipped in from the backfield. Result: 25 yard completion plus 65 yards after reception and a TD providing Yoakum with momentum and ultimate margin of victory. Question for those who know the rules: Is this legal? Sure is sneaky anyway. Watch out for this if you play Yoakum! :confused:

<small>[ September 02, 2003, 05:38 PM: Message edited by: Pudlugger ]</small>

[Bulldog92]

Sounds pretty crafty to me. That coach is a freakin' genius whether it's legal or not because it slipped by the refs...even if it's just for that single game. Besides, it'll show up on the game tape and it'll be hard to sneak in again.

[crzyjournalist03]

I've seen some weird formations in the NFL on fake punts and other situations, and from what I've heard, it's perfectly legal. The positioning has to do with whether the player is on the line of scrimmage or not, not where he is on the line.

[zeke]

PUDLUGER, Be a little more descriptive about where the other offensive receivers were located as well as offensive back set. Assuming the lineman was a lineman.. you know a lineman(with lineman #) can report to a ref that he is checking in as receiver..the ref must notify defense. Wasn't the free safety or linebacker still available to cover the back coming out of the backfield.

[TXMike]

1st things 1st..in our game (Texas HS football) the rules do NOT permit a lineman to "report in" and become eligible. That is a NFL rule. In our game in a normal play from scrimmage , the team must have 7 players on the line of scrimmage and 5 of them must wear numbers 50 - 79. They can be anywhere on the line but they will NEVER be eligible. If a player with a lineman's number goes downfield and the pass is caught beyond the line of scrimmage, that is a foul for ineligible downfield. There is an exception if a lineman is blocking at the line of scrimmage and his contact takes him no more than 3 yards downfield. If that happens he must stay at that spot until pass
is thrown.

[holdem]

Zeke-
reporting to the ref is an NFL rule not a NCAA rule. Players wearing 50-79 are ineligible to receive a forward pass in Texas since they go by NCAA rules (they can catch a lateral, though).

The fact that your defender covered a lineman is not illegal. If he went beyond the line of scrimmage wearing 50-79, then it should be an ineligible receiver downfield. There also should have been at least 7 men on the line of scrimmage.

[sinton66]

Thanks, Mike. Didn't there use to be a "tackle elgible" deal at one time? I seem to remember something foggy about that.

<small>[ September 02, 2003, 09:27 PM: Message edited by: sinton66 ]</small>

[LG05]

That play was not legal because we watched it on film and the refs missed the call. Oh well though.

[TXMike]

Sinton66 -
There is a play that some call "tackle eligible" that is legal. A team will line up in an unbalanced formation several times during the game. The line might look like this:

(#50 is the snapper)

76 66 50 52 78 88 80

There are 7 on the line but only # 80 is eligible. They will usually run to the strong side. But then they will "sneakily" change it to:

88 66 50 52 78 76 80

Now #88 is in the normal tackle position (next to the guard) but he is last player on the line and has an eligible # so he becomes eligible. they will fake the run to the strong side and then throw a little dump to #88 who is typically ignored.

[sinton66]

Wow, now it sounds a little more familiar. Thanks.

[super1]

LG05:
That play was not legal because we watched it on film and the refs missed the call. Oh well though.Why was it illegal? I'm curious.

What did Yoakum do wrong on the play?

[big69]

The only way it could be illegal is if the lineman was more than three past the line of scrimmage, if he wasn't than that was a heck of a trick play!