NCAA rule change to outlaw hurry up offenses

Submitted by Cold War on

...The committee also recommended a rules change that will allow defensive units to substitute within the first 10 seconds of the 40-second play clock, with the exception of the final two minutes of each half, starting with the 2014 season.

“This rules change is being made to enhance student-athlete safety by guaranteeing a small window for both teams to substitute,” said Calhoun. “As the average number of plays per game has increased, this issue has been discussed with greater frequency by the committee in recent years and we felt like it was time to act in the interests of protecting our student-athletes.”

Under this rule proposal, the offense will not be allowed to snap the ball until the play clock reaches 29 seconds or less. If the offense snaps the ball before the play clock reaches 29 seconds, a 5-yard, delay-of-game penalty will be assessed. Under current rules, defensive players are not guaranteed an opportunity to substitute unless the offense substitutes first. This part of the rule will remain in place in scenarios where the play clock starts at 25 seconds...

http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/football-rules-co…

ToDefyTheFrizzleFry

February 12th, 2014 at 10:54 PM ^

I don't believe there is a special rule, but rather that the intentional grounding rule requires that there be pressure from the defense being applied on the QB which causes the QB to the throw the errant pass. When the QB spikes the ball there is no pressure from a defensive player, and therefore not intentional grounding. It's something along those lines. 

I Bleed Maize N Blue

February 12th, 2014 at 11:04 PM ^

See p.79 of the NCAA rulebook, Rule 7, Section 3, Illegal Forward Pass, Article 2:

f. The passer to conserve time throws the ball directly to the ground (1) after the ball has already touched the ground; or (2) not immediately after controlling the ball.

So if the ball has not already touched the ground, and the passer throws the ball directly to the ground after controlling it, it's not illegal.

KSmooth

February 12th, 2014 at 8:45 PM ^

No, but there's no requirement that you huddle or that you wait more than ten seconds after the ball is set.  You can still run your offense pretty quickly, you just can't go full turbo for the whole game.

Personally, I like the rule.  By all means let defenses put in regular subs.

RockinLoud

February 12th, 2014 at 6:28 PM ^

Yeah, those 18.3 seconds are from snap to snap, so that includes play time as well, not just the time from the point at which the play ends and the next snap occurs. Last I remember the average play length was something like 5 seconds, so it's more like 13 seconds between plays. So really your point stands and this is likely to effect very few teams, generally speaking.

Matt S

February 12th, 2014 at 6:36 PM ^

The rule change affects all hurry-up offenses, even the ones that essentially never snap the ball during the first 10s, because it removes their threat to do so.  By lining up immediately, the offense holds the defense hostage in bad or exhausted packages.  If the defense tried to substitute, the offense could quick snap with them out of position.

FreddieMercuryHayes

February 12th, 2014 at 6:45 PM ^

Exactly.  A lot of hurry up offenses run to the line really fast, the do that fake snap count and look to the sideline for the play call.  It doesn't matter if they don't snap the ball immediately when they get to the line; the threat is always there and the D has to respect it.  With the new rule, the D players to rotate out can immediately run off and new players run in without having to worry about anything.  Gives the D more time to get into their set as well without worry.

megalomanick

February 12th, 2014 at 6:54 PM ^

Does there have to be? I don't know that an exhausting study needs to be done, it seems like a logical conclusion to me. On every play there is a chance of a player being injured. More plays, more chances. Isn't it that simple or am I missing something here?

Seth

February 12th, 2014 at 6:15 PM ^

I hope they don't. Fast-paced offenses are cool to watch, take practice time to implement, and allow teams to come back from deficits. I'd like to see those data on player injuries.

FreddieMercuryHayes

February 12th, 2014 at 6:23 PM ^

Yeah, but UM isn't a fast paced offense, and seemingly will never be under Hoke, they give our D fits, and UM never uses the fast offense unless they're under two minutes anyway, no matter how much they're down.  So why wouldn't you want this?  Only seems to help UM.  I support this.  Until UM gets a coach that wants to run a fast paced offense.