The Pigskin Page  

"Upon Further Review"

2014 Season  Clips (4)

                TECHNICAL NOTE:  For those not aware, when viewing these videos in the You Tube window, you can adjust the resolution for a sharper view.  Notice in the lower right hand corner of the video player window a setting icon that looks like a gear.  Click on that and you can adjust the setting up to 360p, 480p or even 720p in some cases.  This will give you a sharper image.

                Send your clip or play suggestions to videos@romgilbert.us.  Apologies to everyone for the excessive delay in getting this edition of the "Video Review" published. Every attempt will be made to get back on a consistent schedule since we know how much all of us love consistency!

                The video page will continue bringing you clips which are good learning material as we all work together to understand and enforce the sometimes complicated NCAA football rules.  The videos are not meant to demean or belittle any official.  They are used so that ALL officials can learn from the situations and issues other officials encounter in their games.  No official has ever completed a career error-free.  But by sharing our errors with others we help them avoid the same pitfalls.  NCAA football officials at all levels exhibit incredible rule knowledge week in and week out.  We can always get better and this page hopes to serve in that effort.                   

Our last poll featured a play where one foul was caught but there may have been a second (a chop block) that was missed.  The "crew"  set a record for consistency.  90% of us ruled the block to be an illegal chop block.  A few of those who said no foul ruled that he "low block" actually started high and went low. If that were the case then it would not have been a low block and no foul.     

DPI? 

In order to have a defensive pass interference foul the pass must be catchable.  Officials typically will communicate with each other after a flag is dropped for possible DPI. During the conversation, an official who was somewhat further away from the action is often able to provide information to the flag thrower regarding the pass catchability.  There did not appear to be any such communication in this play.  How would you rule on this play?  Is there a catchable forward pass?    Please view this play video and take the poll.   (Please remember to scroll down and click on the DONE button after making your choice.)

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.
 

Gotta Get That Spot

Officials are taught to be willing to give up the dead ball spot when necessary to deal with extracurricular.  It is important that we try to prevent an escalation so we do not insist officials stand fast on the dead ball spot.  But....some creative genius invented a tool we carry in our arsenal that helps us keep the dead ball spot while also dealing with the extracurricular.  Over the years they have changed colors more frequently than a chameleon but their function has remained.  Drop that bean bag at the dead ball spot and go break up the bar fight Deputy.  In this play, there appeared to be several failures to "get that spot."  The runner's forward progress was clearly stopped at the B-34, 4 yards behind the line of scrimmage. He was driven back 8 more yards to the B-42 and brought to the ground.  Both flanks and the R share responsibility for getting the dead ball spot.  After penalty enforcement for the dead ball personal foul, the ball was put in play at the B-27 which means they enforced the 15 yard penalty from the B-42.  These plays where a runner is met behind the line and driven backwards aggressively frequently carry the possibility of extracurricular so officials have to be wary of that.  But they must also make sure they know the spot of forward progress and have that marked.

It Takes Two, Baby

Like Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston said back in 1965, "It Takes Two."  Most recently the NCAA Football Rules Editor has repeated the statement multiple times, even if not as musically as Marvin and Kim.  A chop block is a 2-player foul.  Therefore, officials must report the numbers of both involved blockers and Referees must announce both numbers.  This crew does a good job of recognizing the foul, catching the numbers, reporting them, and then announcing.

Your Guess Is Good As Mine

The Clipper stumbles across plays once in awhile that are truly perplexing.  This play is one of them.  Perhaps someone who was there can shed some light on what happened.  There was an illegal block in the back by the receiving team which caused the "gunner" to hit the potential punt receiver.  Because the block caused the contact, there was no foul for kick catch interference.   Furthermore, the player blocked was struck by the kick as it came down.  Since he would be deemed to have been blocked into the ball, that touching is ignored.   The kicking team then appeared to pick up the loose ball at the B-9.  That would be the end of the kick spot for post-scrimmage kick enforcement of the block in the back foul.  Unfortunately, even thought there was a plethora of yellow hankies on the ground, there did not appear to be even one little black bean bag down.  The end of kick spot is typically the responsibility of the B, even if he also has to deploy a flag.  Perhaps this B was ruling kick catch interference and and assumed the end of kick spot would not be critical.  This play makes it clear just how important it is that we get that spot.  Team B should have started their possession at the 4 1/2.  Your observer still does not know how they enforced half the distance to the 1. 

Forward vs Backward Pass

This play seemed to stump not only the on-field crew but got the replay official and conference coordinator also.  Rule 2-19-2 defines forward and backward passes.  Normally,  if the pass touches something (player, ground, official, or anything else) that is in advance of where the ball was released, it is ruled a forward pass.  However, 2-19-2-b says that if the passer is firmly holding the ball to pass it forward and starts his arm forward, if he is contacted by an opponent after starting his arm forward, it is ruled a forward pass, even if it goes backward.  That seems to be what happened here although it was ruled a backward pass on the field.  Instant Replay did not stop the game for a review (but may have reviewed without stopping the game).  The coordinator's comments also seemed to ignore 2-19-2-b. There is no way that QB intended to throw the pass backward.  You can say it was knocked loose before he passed it but then it would be a fumble and not a backward pass.  Perhaps that is what the Replay Official determined, the ball had actually been fumbled and since the impetus would be charged to Team A, result of the play would still be a safety.  From this worn old leather recliner where the Clipper sits, it sure looked like a pass.  Perhaps we will re-surface this play down the road as a poll play.


Rom Gilbert / rom.gilbert@sfcollege.edu/ October 12, 2014