Illegal Formation Penalty?

**denmyster** · 09-03-2010, 10:18 AM

Who can explain what happened on that call? I paused the picture of the line on that play. The only one I can see who may have been off was the Right Tackle as he was back a little further than the LT.

Seems like it is the typical "ghost" call that ISU tends to get.

Anyone?

**jdoggivjc** · 09-03-2010, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by denmyster

Who can explain what happened on that call? I paused the picture of the line on that play. The only one I can see who may have been off was the Right Tackle as he was back a little further than the LT.

Seems like it is the typical "ghost" call that ISU tends to get.

Anyone?

You realize that's enough, right? You need 7 men on the line of scrimmage for a legal formation. If the RT was off just a little bit, it means there's only 6 men on the line, which is an illegal formation. Why do you think WRs are instructed to ask the official nearest them if they are on the line or not? Because if they are the slightest bit off the line, they can get flagged for illegal formation.

While there might have been some bad calls in the game, some Cyclone fans really need to take themselves off their crosses in regards to whining about every single "bad" call, especially when the ref made the correct call.

**CyLoboClone** · 09-03-2010, 10:28 AM

anyone got a pic?

**nrg4isu** · 09-03-2010, 10:30 AM

I noticed some of our WR playing WAY off the line after that call. Like more than a Yard back. How far off is off the line?

I'll go with coach on this one (and the offensive pass interference calls). If CPR is upset at the player, it's likely a good call. If CPR is upset at the officials (like he was on the phantom illegal formation call) then I'm going to go with him and say it was a bad call. I'll pull it up on the DVR tonight, but I'm not expecting to see anything illegal about that formation.

**MookInLincoln** · 09-03-2010, 10:31 AM

they called it on the RT, no doubt ... the angle of the right side of the line was pretty severe

it wasn't a bad call, but it was pretty nit-picky... and obviously ill-timed

**2020cy** · 09-03-2010, 10:33 AM

It was really ticky tack kind of a call. Should have warranted a warning 1st. Maybe he had been warned.

**jdoggivjc** · 09-03-2010, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by nrg4isu

I noticed some of our WR playing WAY off the line after that call. Like more than a Yard back. How far off is off the line?

I'll go with coach on this one (and the offensive pass interference calls). If CPR is upset at the player, it's likely a good call. If CPR is upset at the officials (like he was on the phantom illegal formation call) then I'm going to go with him and say it was a bad call. I'll pull it up on the DVR tonight, but I'm not expecting to see anything illegal about that formation.

Keep in mind we only have two players in the backfield - typically Arnaud and ARob. We also tend to run sets with a TE - that's automatically 6 players on the line of scrimmage. Only one of the other 3 receivers - the one opposite of the TE - at that point can be on the line of scrimmage. Otherwise the outside receivers "cover up" the inside receivers and the inside receivers end up becoming ineligible players (get flagged for ineligible man downfield).

**ruxCYtable** · 09-03-2010, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by nrg4isu

I noticed some of our WR playing WAY off the line after that call. Like more than a Yard back. How far off is off the line?

I'll go with coach on this one (and the offensive pass interference calls). If CPR is upset at the player, it's likely a good call. If CPR is upset at the officials (like he was on the phantom illegal formation call) then I'm going to go with him and say it was a bad call. I'll pull it up on the DVR tonight, but I'm not expecting to see anything illegal about that formation.

The coach was upset in the heat of the moment, but after the game he said it was the correct call. At first, I hated the call, but I watched the play again and our right tackle was WAY off the line.

As an official (not football) I can tell you the guy who threw the flag was probably like "oh s----" when he saw AA break free. You never want to take away a great play if it can be avoided, especially when that penalty really had nothing to do with springing the play. I'm guessing he wishes he'd have held off an extra second, gotten to the player and said,"Hey, don't do that again, I could have called that one back."

But it is what it is.

**wxman1** · 09-03-2010, 11:42 AM

The only problem I have with the call is how late it was thrown...wasn't all that impressed with that crew last night.

**clonehenge** · 09-03-2010, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by MookInLincoln

they called it on the RT, no doubt ... the angle of the right side of the line was pretty severe

This.

The RT was a good yard off the ball...pretty hard not to call it.

The RG was a tad bit off too, which was probably why the T ended up so far back.

**Cycsk** · 09-03-2010, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by wxman1

The only problem I have with the call is how late it was thrown...wasn't all that impressed with that crew last night.

So, why is it so hard for a lineman to line up on the line?

**wxman1** · 09-03-2010, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by Cycsk

So, why is it so hard for a lineman to line up on the line?

losing focus

**Erik4Cy** · 09-03-2010, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by wxman1

The only problem I have with the call is how late it was thrown...wasn't all that impressed with that crew last night.

This! I HATE when refs wait almost the entire play to call something they could have thrown a flag for the SECOND the ball is snapped.

**cyhiphopp** · 09-03-2010, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by Erik4Cy

This! I HATE when refs wait almost the entire play to call something they could have thrown a flag for the SECOND the ball is snapped.

As a non-football official (part time umpire) I usually use the following guidelines when making a call.

DON'T make the call too quickly. As some may remember in the botched MLB perfect game earlier this year, a moment of contemplation can lead you to make a better call.

However:
DON'T wait too long to make a call. This tells EVERYONE that you had to think about. If you have to think about it for too long, then you are probably overthinking it and it is probably a trivial judgment call.

You should make a call based on your initial reaction to it, with a slight pause to make sure you are correct.

There is a rythm to it so you know you are taking the right amount of time to make the call. The refs are probably getting back into that rythm in the first game of the year.

**jdoggivjc** · 09-03-2010, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by Cycsk

So, why is it so hard for a lineman to line up on the line?

Because the tackles aren't exactly on the line - the O-line forms more of a ) shape. The key is you have to be within a certain distance of the line, and if the guard is off in his alignment, it's going to throw the tackle's positioning off. That being said, the tackle has to be situationally aware.