Rules question regarding a play Colorado ran against us

Submitted by Fieldy'sNuts on

Colorado failed to convert on this 4th and 1 pass with 9:45 left in the 4th Quarter. The targeted receiver on the play was lined up as the right tackle though, which I thought made him an ineligible receiver. But it's apparent from the video our defense realized they needed to account for him (and did), and no flag was thrown for an ineligible receiver downfield, so apparently it was a legal play. I just don't understand why. Can any MGoFootballRulesExperts explain what's going on here? The play occurs at 2:06:05 in the Youtube link below. Thanks. 

https://youtu.be/k-KpNblOcqc?t=2h6m5s

 

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PopeLando

September 20th, 2016 at 1:45 PM ^

2014 I believe, or something similar. Completely legal at the time, and not even the first time a pro team had done it that year. It worked, the Ravens flipped out, and then I think the rules were changed to prohibit certain things like this. Patriot factor once again... Of course, if Michigan had done something like this and it had worked, we would have undoubtedly been flagged for intent to deceive. Edit: tackle eligible plays are still legal in the pros.

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hunterjoe

September 20th, 2016 at 1:29 PM ^

Not even sure he had to do that.  It looks like his # is 81.  So as long as they don't send too many guys lined up on the line out for the pass, I think they're ok.  I'm no expert, but you could possibly line up 4 guys left of the center and the RG could go out for a pass if he's reported or wears an appropriate #.  

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Yo_Blue

September 20th, 2016 at 4:41 PM ^

Even with a lineman's number he only has to check in with the Umpire as eligible.  The ref will then announce that the player is eligible.  That negates the "trickiness" that the Colorado play provides.

The way Colorado ran the play, the TE (hiding as the RT) pushes off big time and then slides into the flat.  A better throw would have resulted in a first down.

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BeatIt

September 21st, 2016 at 12:39 PM ^

I believe all tou have to do is have 7 players lined up pn the line of scrimmage and no more than 4 in rhe backfield. Thats why you see 5 OL and a wr on each side lined up on the LOS. After that you can do whatever you want.rules are different in the nfl and the tackle eligible receiver has to report to the refs.so

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charblue.

September 20th, 2016 at 1:47 PM ^

The only reason an illegal formation penalty is ever called is to protect the defense from intentional deception either by substitution or alignment. And if you notice in the presnap look, there are two Colorado players on the right side of the formation who are a step back from the others at the LOS, and neither are coveing up anyone else.

What is really curious about this play is the way defense is aligned to counter the call because it is really unclear the way it is lned up who has what responsibility in the secondary.

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Michigan Marshmallow

September 20th, 2016 at 1:28 PM ^

As far as I can tell, he is an eligible receiver because there aren't any other receivers outside of him. The other two "receivers" lined up to the right of him are technically in the backfield. Contrast this to the left side of the line where you have one guy on the edge who splits out as a receiver. The lineman on the inside cannot be an eligible receiver.

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JClay

September 20th, 2016 at 1:28 PM ^

IIRC, you can faintly hear with sound  the referee announce over the speakers that person reported as an eligible reciever. The TV announcers talked over him but you can hear it in the background.

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creelymonk10

September 20th, 2016 at 1:28 PM ^

The end man lined up along the line of scrimmage is eligible. So with 7 on the LOS, the 5 inside are ineligible, usually the offensive line. Colorado ran a tackle-over here, so the lineman lined up as a TE on the left side in ineligible with the WR lined up outside of him on the LOS.

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UMBSnMBA

September 20th, 2016 at 1:29 PM ^

He is wearing a wide receiver number.  The notification rule only applies when you are wearing a typically non-eligible number (maybe?)  Something in the 50's-60's-70's would require notification.  In this case, he is lined up as the last player on the line of scrimmage on that side and is sporting an eligible number so shame on the defense if they don't pick that up.

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MGoManBall

September 20th, 2016 at 1:49 PM ^

He is an eligible receiver based on both his number as well as being on the end of the line (He's not covered up by either wide receiver to the top of the screen). 

There is also a TE to the bottom of the screen but he is covered by the WR, therefore, THAT TE is not an eligible receiver. 

 

EDIT: This is what is commonly called an "unbalanced" formation. Meaning there are only 2 people on the line of scrimmage on one side of the center and there are 4 on other side. It's often done to give one side of the center a numbers advantage if the D doesn't recognize and slide a man over (Making the LG in this situation the hypothetical "center." Hoke's teams would do this often to run to that side.

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Brimley

September 20th, 2016 at 1:55 PM ^

You can see Thomas pointing to him.  Probably he's noting that he's eligible, then he covers him (until getting bumped back).  Niiiiice blitz (McCray).  OT, but that guy is having himself a season.

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mvp

September 20th, 2016 at 2:01 PM ^

On a similar question I had some years ago, this was explained to me (here) in a way that has helped me understand ever since:

On the line of scrimmage:

  • There must be 7 and exactly 7
  • The two ends are eligible receivers
  • Anyone inside an end is "covered" and therefore ineligible

Behind the line of scrimmage:

  • There must be 4 and exactly 4
  • All 4 are eligible receivers

Once you understand those principles, it becomes much easier.  Note that a lineman is considered "on" if he is slightly behind the player closer to the center (I think of it as head not behind the shoulders of the guy next to him).

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Ali G Bomaye

September 20th, 2016 at 2:04 PM ^

One nitpick: I believe you can have more than seven men on the line of scrimmage if you want to. But the eligible receiver rules are the same, so if you put more than seven on the line you're sacrificing eligible receivers - only the guys on the end, and the backs, are eligible.

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Alton

September 20th, 2016 at 2:08 PM ^

There can be anywhere from 1 to 11 (!) players on the line of scrimmage at the snap.  There is no minimum or maximum. 

There can be anywhere from 0 to 4 players in the backfield at the snap.  There is no minimum, but there is a maximum of 4.

6 on the line & 4 in the backfield?  Legal.

10 on the line & 1 in the backfield?  Legal.

They changed this rule about 5 years ago (it used to be minimum 7 on the line) because refs actually only counted backfield players & were caught making mistakes when the offense only had 10 players on the field.

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Alton

September 20th, 2016 at 3:10 PM ^

I guess I'm only talking about what is permitted and what is forbidden in the rule book.  Obviously no sane coach would have their team line up without anybody to receive the snap.  No, the center has to snap it to somebody other than himself (or, I guess, to nobody at all).

I'm going to have to amend my post, though.  A team has to have 5 players on the line minimum, because the rules require that they have 5 players numbered 50-79 on the line of scrimmage.

So...minimum 5 players on the line, and maximum 4 players in the backfield.

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stephenrjking

September 20th, 2016 at 5:05 PM ^

Actually, if I correctly recall the way that play is designed, the center hikes it to the quarterback, who touches the ball; the ball is then "fumbled" by the center replacing the ball on the ground, where it is then picked up by an OL. I believe the quarterback does briefly make contact with the ball to receive the "snap."

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