Rules Question
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Something I've thought about before, but came up again last night in the Packers-Falcons game, is linemen reporting as eligible receivers. Normally they're not, so they can't go downfield on passing plays (as I understand it?). Yet, they report eligible and they can go where they like and catch passes.
So the question is, why don't all linemen report as eligible?
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When they report as eligible receivers they are lining up as an actual receiver position ... tight end, etc. They notify the defense because otherwise they might see ol #66 out there and not cover him. You can't just call yourself eligible and catch a pass from the center position, you have to be lined up at a regular eligible receiver position (te, wr, rb)
Z
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OK that makes sense. Is there some way to determine what a receiving position is, in terms of where they're standing? Like, outside the hash marks, or 10 yards from the center, something else?
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You can line up anywhere that any back or wr lines up.
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Typically it would be the last linemen on the line as long as there is a Tackle already there. Essentially the TE position on the line, or further out.
Typically it would be the last linemen on the line as long as there is a Tackle already there. Essentially the TE position on the line, or further out.
... or nearer as in the case of an unbalanced line. Then a player actually in an OT slot could be eligible, if he "reported".
The key is being uncovered on the end of the line by a player wearing an "eligible number".
"In the NFL running backs must wear numbers 20 to 49, tight ends must wear numbers 80 to 89 (or 40 to 49 if the numbers 80 to 89 have been exhausted), and wide receivers must wear numbers 10 to 19 or 80 to 89."
Occasionally you'll see an illegal formation call where a wide receiver was unintentionally not on the line leaving the Tackle on his end in the line uncovered... "5-yard penalty; replay the down."
Conversely you occasionally see a legit TE covered mistakenly by a WR rendering the TE ineligible for that play... only an issue if he goes downfield on a pass play downfield...
Clear as mud?
Now about Cricket... WTF?
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Typically it would be the last linemen on the line as long as there is a Tackle already there. Essentially the TE position on the line, or further out.
... or nearer as in the case of an unbalanced line. Then a player actually in an OT slot could be eligible, if he "reported".
The key is being uncovered on the end of the line by a player wearing an "eligible number".
"In the NFL running backs must wear numbers 20 to 49, tight ends must wear numbers 80 to 89 (or 40 to 49 if the numbers 80 to 89 have been exhausted), and wide receivers must wear numbers 10 to 19 or 80 to 89."
Occasionally you'll see an illegal formation call where a wide receiver was unintentionally not on the line leaving the Tackle on his end in the line uncovered... "5-yard penalty; replay the down."
Conversely you occasionally see a legit TE covered mistakenly by a WR rendering the TE ineligible for that play... only an issue if he goes downfield on a pass play downfield...
Clear as mud?
Now about Cricket... WTF?
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