No. Its not the simple. It depends on what the offensive player is doing. If he's deemed to be a receiver ie running a route and not attempting to block, he cannot be hit even if the ball is not in the air.

 

In your example, one could interpret the following as legal:

 

A TE crossing the middle and looking back at the qb gets decked before the ball is in the air.

 

A WR running a fly pattern looking back to see if the ball is coming getting decked by the safety before the ball is in the air.

 

Neither are legal.

Yes if he is running over the middle and the ball has not been throwin he can be hit.

The rule is that the reciver can be jammed untill the ball is in the air.

True, defensive pass interference restrictions do not begin until the ball leaves the passer's hand. But your description of "jamming the receiver" is suspect and may lead to a defensive holding call or an illegal block by the defense. See Vangelis' post earlier in this thread.

True, defensive pass interference restrictions do not begin until the ball leaves the passer's hand. But your description of "jamming the receiver" is suspect and may lead to a defensive holding call or an illegal block by the defense. See Vangelis' post earlier in this thread.

 

OK. I think my scenario is illegal use of hands in the TE across the middle scenario. I lump them all into PI.

Yes if he is running over the middle and the ball has not been throwin he can be hit.

He can be hit. And a flag can be thrown.

Yes if he is running over the middle and the ball has not been throwin he can be hit.

 

Not true.

He never raised his hands or anything. As I said this receiver was wide open due to a blown coverage, and the QB just threw it nice and high to get it to the receiver since he was wide open. So while the ball was in the air the defender who was like 15 yards away just came running full speed and was just running to get to the guy so when he caught it he could tackle him, and he got there the same time as the ball and it hit him in the back of the helmet...So it wasn't even like the defender was guarding him, the guy was just wide open and the defender was just running over to get to the guy...

Definitely not faceguarding, but an excellent example of the defender "not making a bona fide attempt to catch or bat the pass". He was called for interference because he was playing the receiver (getting in position to make a tackle) and not playing the ball.

Definitely not faceguarding, but an excellent example of the defender "not making a bona fide attempt to catch or bat the pass". He was called for interference because he was playing the receiver (getting in position to make a tackle) and not playing the ball.

 

See I dont agree with that call then, because the defender is not getting any advantage over the receiver at all in that case. The receiver was pretty much fielding that ball like an outfielder on a pop up just waiting for the ball to get there. So the receiver was already in his spot, so its not like the defender stopped the offensive guy from having the chance to get the ball. I mean if anything the defender not turning around just helped the offense cause it could have been picked then. So I dont agree with how the offense gets a break not only with the defended not turning around to pick it, but also gets to gain yards on it also...

See I dont agree with that call then, because the defender is not getting any advantage over the receiver at all in that case. The receiver was pretty much fielding that ball like an outfielder on a pop up just waiting for the ball to get there. So the receiver was already in his spot, so its not like the defender stopped the offensive guy from having the chance to get the ball. I mean if anything the defender not turning around just helped the offense cause it could have been picked then. So I dont agree with how the offense gets a break not only with the defended not turning around to pick it, but also gets to gain yards on it also...

As a future coach you need to know that this is how this situation is going to be called whether it's your defense that gets the flag, or it's your offense that benefits from the call:

 

If the defender is not playing the ball, he's a suspect. When the ball hit him in the back of the helmet while he was initiating contact with the intended receiver, he interfered with the receiver's ability to "move toward, catch or bat the pass".

 

Even though the defender may have timed it perfectly, we are going to call interference on him because he was not looking to make a play on the ball. In the future, please coach your players to a) not let defenders get behind them , and b) look for the ball in the air.

Jamming a receiver acrossed the middle can and does happen with out a pentaly unless the QB has started to throw the ball. Now on the outside it will be called more likely defensive holding but he can have contact until the ball is thrown that is the rule.

We have conflicting interpretations of "chucking" a receiver downfield on this thread.

 

Who knows for sure?

As a future coach you need to know that this is how this situation is going to be called whether it's your defense that gets the flag, or it's your offense that benefits from the call:

 

If the defender is not playing the ball, he's a suspect. When the ball hit him in the back of the helmet while he was initiating contact with the intended receiver, he interfered with the receiver's ability to "move toward, catch or bat the pass".

Even though the defender may have timed it perfectly, we are going to call interference on him because he was not looking to make a play on the ball. In the future, please coach your players to a) not let defenders get behind them , and b) look for the ball in the air.

 

I already know that the offense would benefit from the call, and that happens, but as I said its something I dont agree with. If the defender while running to try to catch up with the receiver standing there was waving his arms while not looking then I could see it being called...Also on that play the receiver had all day to move towards the ball if he wanted to, or bat the pass, because all it takes is one little side step when your just standing there and the guy is running right at you. In most all cases I agree with faceguarding but instances like this I do not...The whole receiver had all day and could have done anything to make the play on the ball, and the defender definitely didn't stop him from making a play on it...

 

Also for your little comment on how to coach my players, trust me I would coach them right...

In the CCH game against Scott, A1 was called for PI against B1 AND B1 was called for PI against A1 on the same play.

 

Possible?

YES...PI on offense starts at snap of ball..PI on defense starts when ball is in air

Jamming a receiver acrossed the middle can and does happen with out a pentaly unless the QB has started to throw the ball. Now on the outside it will be called more likely defensive holding but he can have contact until the ball is thrown that is the rule.

 

If it happens without penalty, a)it wasn't seen or b)the receiver is not clearly running a route. I've talked to one of the top white hats in NKY about this specific rule because it was being taught as legal by a team's defensive coaches. Its illegal.

 

If the player is not blocking nor attempting to block and is clearly running a route (especially across the middle with his head looking back at the qb) he cannot be hit at ANY TIME.

 

With that said, I see it often without being called.

BTW, one that many do not know is that there cannot be PI on a receiver who is behind the line of scrimmage. So a back getting ready to receive a screen pass who is behind the LOS can be hit before the ball gets there.

also...can you clarify the illegal man downfield call on screens for me. I think the rule is linemen can be downfield as long as the pass is recieved behind the line of scrimmage. True or False?

also...can you clarify the illegal man downfield call on screens for me. I think the rule is linemen can be downfield as long as the pass is recieved behind the line of scrimmage. True or False?

That is true!