??? Is this true?

I've only seen someone report as eligible once and then he was not a down-lineman.

Illegal man downfield is not particularly frequent. I've only seen it once. Hilariously, one time last season from guard I pulled on a passing play. This led to me being ridiculously downfield. I actually lead blocked for the WR who ran in the TD! Madness!

You see holding far more than illegal man downfield. Any time you see a flag in the offensive backfield it is almost certainly offensive holding.

Or a false start

Are there certain players who cna't go forward then? :confused:

I notice how it is the Dolphins fans who know all the penalties committed by offensive linemen. :bash:
Yes, but it is not the easiest thing to explain quickly and I can't find a link that at the moment. The most important thing to remember is that on pass plays offensive linemen can't go more than a yard beyond the line of scrimmage... erm, until I'm not quite sure when. It isn't normally an issue because on those plays they're back quite a way protecting the quarterback.

It gets even more confusing on punts. Only two players can be downfield prior to the actual kick.

On pass plays, the entire line (of 5 men) has to stay behind the L.O.S until the ball has been thrown (incidently, if the pass doesn't cross the line of scrimmage, they don't have to be). If they go forward it is "Illegal man downfield"

On punt, 2 people can run forward on the snap of the ball, but everyone else must wait for the kick before they can proceed.


When I finish my degree, I'm writing to the NFL to officially apply for the draft as a longsnapper. Going to make tapes and give my stats etc. I'm desperate for a written reply back!

Fascinating sport from what I know so far, all about tactics at the end of the day. Some of the hits these guys take is immense. Not sure I could handle the pain!

It happens sometimes on goalline situations when you don't have any wide recievers.

Do you have to report as eligible?
Do you line up as a guard or someone in the backfield?

Yep, Jason Taylor's done it for the Dolphins before. All to do with the numbering system (another thing I don't have a link for at the moment).

I'm off to see the 49ers and Vikings in San Fran in 2 weeks time. Will be my second game of the season after I saw Reggie's debut for the Saints in Cleveland.

For anyone with access, watch the College Football on Saturdays - way more exciting than NFL... although the past few weeks has been crazy with last minute big plays - 62 yard field goal? You're having a laugh :D

Nope.

Taylor doesn't need to report as eligible (wearing 99). It's assumed.

Only 50-79 need to report.

JT frequently comes in on goal line (TE I think)

Ah, Brady Quinn. Promised so much but playing in a team which Charlie Weiss just can't get playing consistently.

Should be a BCS Bowl team with their programme but they'll be lucky to be ranked in the top 5 come the season end.

Quinn isn't even in the same league as Young and Leinart.

What are your opinions on Colt McCoy? He looks like he's going to fit into Young's shoes quite nicely...

So there is a reasoning behind the numbering?

I always thought there was but then when you look at the TE's round the league their numbers seem to vary so much (Shockey is 80, which is what a WR would usually be).

Could never see a particular, fixed pattern.

TE or lead blocker I think.

More important question - if he's practising against the Dolphins OL every day how come they never learn anything? Honestly, I think you could put JT against the entire Fins OL and they wouldn't be able to block him.

Article on numbering - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL_Num...niform_numbers - not sure it is altogether correct, as it doesn't explain why Kellen Winslow Jr wears 11 when he's a tight end.

Jim Otto 00.

My mate Dan has petitioned BCAFL to let him wear 00

It could be a triple tight end set with two tight ends on one side (one of them being the number not eligible)... the person not eligible will go to the referee and report eligible... and the referee will announce that number eligible.

But you can't do that in any college football (or NFLE)

I don't know for sure... but I assume the rules are the rules... and you can do it whenever you want... it's part of the game....

Shock of the season... Bill Simmons didn't use his bye week covering against a poor team in regard to the Dolphins. :eek: