Our Defensive Line: Free Play versus Play Stop?

Looked in all the rules but couldn't find a satisfactory answer: when is it a free play (a la Bennett), and when does the play get whistled to a stop (which seems to be all we ever get from opponents defensive lines)?

tdlabrie":2fatg57g said:

Looked in all the rules but couldn't find a satisfactory answer: when is it a free play (a la Bennett), and when does the play get whistled to a stop (which seems to be all we ever get from opponents defensive lines)?

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Stoppage only happens in three cases:

1. Contact made in the neutral zone/backfield
2. Unabated path to the QB.
3. Offensive player aligned on the line of scrimmage moves presnap.


In this case, if the OL doesn't move and the ball is snapped, the play goes on unless Bennett is so far upfield that there is a risk to the QB.

You do see a lot of teams trying to get a guy to jump offsides and then the OL moves to ensure a penalty is called. His presnap movement ends the play. He's trying to prevent the player from moving back and is playing for a free 5 yard encroachment penalty.

Now you are seeing DL coached get smarter. By aligning rushers slightly off the line, if they move first -- there is a likelihood that they don't enter the neutral zone. When the OL sees the movement and intentionally moves to end the play in hopes of getting an encroachment penalty -- the DL is now duping OL into false starts. I've seen this no less than 6 times this season in just the first two weeks.

What you were seeing last night was the Packers trying to get us to jump, for the purposes of the free play, not the five yards. Recall Wilson did this in the NFCCG against the niners to pull ahead late.

Also understand the difference between aligned on the line of scrimmage part. It's why you sometimes get false starts on wide receivers (on the line of scrimmage), versus illegal shift/illegal movement penalties when not on the line of scrimmage. In the event of the former, play is blown dead. In the latter, the play goes on.

If a DL jumps, then an OL moves before the hike does that mean the play is called dead or do they play on? The rule seems to imply that the play would be dead.

Play called dead.

At that point, there is a discussion. Was a defensive player in the neutral zone at the time of the offensive player movement. If yes, then it's encroachment. If not, it's a false start.

Any time an offensive player aligned on the line of scrimmage simulates a play once set will result in a play blown dead.

Attyla the Hawk":2q783gau said:

Play called dead.

At that point, there is a discussion. Was a defensive player in the neutral zone at the time of the offensive player movement. If yes, then it's encroachment. If not, it's a false start.

Any time an offensive player aligned on the line of scrimmage simulates a play once set will result in a play blown dead.

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Unless its felatio-king aaron Rodgers.

I called out Bennett for quitting play after he jumped off sides but Tony Dungy said by rule the play should have been blown dead.

This is exactly what I discussed in another forum post.

The second half offsides call where Richard Sherman got flagged for PI shouldn't have happened. The Dlineman (forget if it was Bennett but I think it was) moved and barely got over the line of scrimmage, the Olineman then stood up and pointed at him. After this happened the ball gets snapped and they throw it for a free play. However, it shouldn't have been a free play it should have been blown dead because the Olineman stood up and started dancing and pointing at the Dlineman well before the ball was snapped.

This irked me when it happened and well after, it's unfair to not stop the play here because the Dline stops trying as does most of the Defense because they see the Olineman do what he does, the play is supposed to be blown dead.