Inelligible Receiver Rules on Punts

[Zurp]

I tried a search for this, but couldn't find anything. Maybe someone knows where I can find this.

Anyway, I've noticed recently that on punting plays, teams sometimes set up both of the "gunners" on the same side of the ball, right on the line of scrimmage. It's my understanding that the inside guy, then, is an inelligible receiver, and can't be down-field at the time of the punt. But, just like the legal receiver, he's 10+ yards downfield at the time of the punt. How is that legal?

Maybe I'm mistaken in that the rules for punts are different for passes. Anyone see the error of my understanding of the rules?

 

[coxew]

The inside guy is probably off the line of scrimmage or he is on and the outside guy is off. It's probably the same as being the end man on the line of scrimmage on a pass play.

 

[osugrad21]

Anyway, I've noticed recently that on punting plays, teams sometimes set up both of the "gunners" on the same side of the ball, right on the line of scrimmage. It's my understanding that the inside guy, then, is an inelligible receiver, and can't be down-field at the time of the punt. But, just like the legal receiver, he's 10+ yards downfield at the time of the punt. How is that legal?

Anyone can go downfield at any time...it is when you attempt a forward pass that it becomes an issue. Example: The OL will already be downfield when the back catches a screen, but the back must be behind the LOS so it is not a forward pass.

 

[Zurp]

I thought the rules for a punt were the same as for a pass. I'm probably wrong, though.

Thanks.

 

[osugrad21]

I thought the rules for a punt were the same as for a pass. I'm probably wrong, though.

Thanks.

Ah, hold on I misunderstood your question...

I see what you are asking now...besides the snapper and ends everyone else must wait for the kick.

At least that is the HS rules...not sure about higher levels.

 

[tones3778]

From the 2005 NCAA Football Rule Book found here:

http://www.ncaa.org/library/rules/2005/2005_football_rules.pdf


Rule 6 Section 3 (Scrimmage Kicks) makes no reference to any ineligible players downfield. The only place I found this penalty was in Rule 7 Section 3 Article 10 (Ineligibles Downfield). This penalty only occurs during a Forward Pass.

Disclaimer: The above ruling is based on a quick scan of the rule book. No guarantees of the accuracy of the above statements should be implied.

 

[Zurp]

I didn't feel like making a new thread, so I'll post my question here.

Did they change the rule recently on inelligible receivers downfield on a forward pass? I'm not talking about a punt, anymore. When Toledo scored their 2-point conversion, it appeared that they had several players downfield at the time of the pass. But it was tough to tell on TV. And now I'm watching the Browns vs. Bengals game, and I've seen a couple of plays for both teams that appear to include inelligible receivers downfield. Perhaps my perception is wrong, and the ball isn't crossing the line-of-scrimmage. Oh well. But I wasn't aware of any rule changes.

 

[jwinslow]

Did it look like the ball crossed the line of scrimmage? If not, that's fine.

 

[Zurp]

Did it look like the ball crossed the line of scrimmage? If not, that's fine.

It definitely did in the 2-point conversion. The pass went into the end zone. But maybe the players got back onside before the pass was thrown.

As for the Browns-Bengals game today, like I said, my perspective may have been off, but I thought it crossed the line of scrimmage. I'm probably wrong, since there were probably 3 plays that I thought it should have been called.

I'm not doing anything. I'm going to go back and check the 2-pt conversion again.

Edit - Ok, not nearly as bad as I had remembered. I had remembered that there were inelligible receivers running around in the end zone, pretending to be elligible. However, #78 is at the 1 when the ball is thrown.