SITE MENU
Registered Members experience this forum ad and noise-free.
CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.If the offense substitutes in players, the defense has a right to do the same. If the punt team was on the field and suddenly realigned to under center, the defense would not have been allowed to hold it up. Since they switched players ( all 11), the defense had a right to do the same.For what it's worth, and i take it with a grain of salt, the announcers, Simms and Nantz, said that the refs hold up the snap so the defense can get set? I don't know, I cant stand them at all so I'm not sure if it its true or not.
It is true. When the offense substitutes the defense is not only given the right to substitute but the right to have the time to get set.
2013 Rulebook Rule 5 Section 2 Article 10 said:DEFENSIVE MATCHUPS FOLLOWING SUBSTITUTIONS
Article 10 If a substitution is made by the offense, the offense shall not be permitted to snap the ball until the defense has been permitted to respond with its substitutions. While in the process of a substitution (or simulated substitution), the offense is prohibited from rushing quickly to the line of scrimmage and snapping the ball in an obvious attempt to cause a defensive foul (i.e., too many men on the field). If, in the judgment of the officials, this occurs, the following procedure will apply:
(a) The Umpire will stand over the ball until the Referee deems that the defense has had a reasonable time to complete its substitutions.
(b) If a play takes place and a defensive foul for too many players on the field results, no penalties will be enforced, except for personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct, and the down will be replayed. At this time, the Referee will notify the head coach that any further use of this tactic will result in a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Note: The quick-snap rule does not apply after the two-minute warning of either half, or if there is not a substitution by the offense.
(c) On a fourth-down punting situation, the Referee and the Umpire will not allow a quick snap that prevents the defense from having a reasonable time to complete its substitutions. This applies throughout the entire game.
(d) If the play clock expires before the defense has completed its substitution, it is delay of game by the offense.
It's just kind of tricky because the rules don't specify if you have to allow time for multiple substitutions on the same play. When our punt team went on, Denver had time to substitute their punt return team on. Which satisifies the rule. Now when we substitute a second time does the defense get a second chance ? Evidently so but it's not clear in the rules if that rules applies multiple times per play.From the 2013 official rule book:
Note item "(c)".
I just feel that if the Pats were going for it then they should have just snapped it to the upback and ran up the middle for the 1st down. The broncos had their smaller rushers for the punt and it would have been an "easier" opportunity than bringing the offense back on the field allowing Denver to bring in their big run stuffers.