It was a rivalry game, and the stands were packed. The visiting team had a “dual threat” quarterback who could gain significant yardage with his legs when flushed out of the pocket. I thought I was a “hot shot” linesman…hubris always leads to nemesis.
Play 1 – As I moved downfield with my passing play key, the quarterback ran out of the pocket to my side (away from the referee) and was grabbed and spun out of bounds a yard short of the line-to-gain. I marked forward progress as closely as possible and gave the stop-the-clock signal. The referee said, “Don’t stop the clock. His forward progress was stopped inbounds.” Oops, you are correct…wind the clock.
Very Next Play – Almost an identical play. I followed my key downfield. The quarterback eluded the rushing linemen and ran to my sideline. He was tackled right at the line to gain. I retraced my steps, picked a spot that I thought was forward progress (short of the line-to-gain), and got an earful from my sideline. I guess I was off by a yard (or two)?
And the Very Next Play – For the third consecutive time, the quarterback scrambled and ran toward my sideline. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice (or a third time), shame on me. I was determined to be at the line-to-gain when the quarterback arrived so I could precisely rule on the ball’s location when he was downed. So I abandoned watching my receiver, stared at the quarterback as he approached, and planted myself at the line-to-gain. To my horror, one yard short of the neutral zone, he threw the ball 30 yards downfield to a receiver who caught the ball near the sideline. To add to my horror, the entire sideline surged into the restricted area to get a better view of the catch, completely obstructing my view (I was too ashamed to throw a flag for multiple players being in the restricted area while the ball was live). As I ran down the sideline without signaling, I tried to gauge the reaction of the receiver and defender (no help). I looked at the back judge to see if he had a ruling (blank stare). My ruling was 100% fabricated. I ruled the receiver had caught the ball.
For many years I wondered how a wing official is supposed to perfectly perform two separate tasks: follow and watch passing keys far downfield and rule on a scrambling quarterback’s exact position when he’s tackled near the line to gain. Two words: You can’t. The wings on a 5-person crew will “by definition” not be able to perfectly perform both tasks. A compromise is necessary.
Anticipate a legal pass before the quarterback crosses the neutral zone instead of convincing yourself he’ll tuck the ball and run. The consequences of ignoring an eligible receiver downfield are more significant than missing the quarterback’s forward progress by a yard (or two).
The wings must prioritize focusing on their key(s). They must occasionally “check in” with the quarterback by glancing quickly into the backfield. The quarterback is Priority #2.
In fact, the wings should never laser-focus on the quarterback, even when he crosses the neutral zone with the ball. (The wings must then shift their focus to blockers ahead of the runner.)
I’m sure I moved too far downfield while watching my assigned receiver. In the first two plays, if I had correctly moved to stay approximately 10 yards from my receiver, I would not have been so far downfield when the quarterback was tackled. Stay on the line of scrimmage until you must move, then move only far enough to stay connected to your receiver. Staying on/near the line of scrimmage when your assigned receiver is within 10-15 yards of the line of scrimmage makes it easier to visually check in with the quarterback with a quick glance. But just a glance…your priority is still the assigned receiver(s).
The referee can help with the quarterback’s forward progress spot, especially if the run is to the referee’s side. If the run is opposite the referee, then just do the best you can to mark forward progress.
Quiz
Read the quiz stem and then choose the best answer(s). (Choose all that apply.)
4/5 from the R-20. Team K is in a legal scrimmage kick formation with K21 as the snapper, K10 as the holder, and K23 standing 3 yards behind in position to kick the ball. Only four players on the line are numbered 50-79. Before the snap, K23 goes in motion parallel to the line of scrimmage. At the snap, R55 charges directly into K21. K10 receives the snap on the R-27, and with a knee on the ground, throws a backward pass to K23. K23 throws the ball from behind the line of scrimmage to eligible receiver K22 who walks into the end zone.
- Touchdown
- Roughing the snapper
- Illegal numbering
- 1/10 for Team R from the R-27
- 1/10 for Team R from the R-32
- Enforce Team R’s penalty from the try or the subsequent kickoff
- Penalties will offset, replay the down
Review Rules 2-14-2a, 4-2-2a, 7-2-5b, 7-2-5 EXCEPTION 2, 9-4-6