Picking at the scab..

[MTaylorJ1]

It doesn't matter. If Brown blocks him, it's offensive pass interference.

I was always under the impression that a defensive player was allowed to "jam" a WR under 5 yards, and that an offensive player was allowed to push off of that jam under 5 yards.

Is this incorrect?

 

[Seymour93]

It doesn't matter. If Brown blocks him, it's offensive pass interference.

He didn't block him. The DB ran right into him and they both pushed each other simultaneously.

 

[Johnny Mac]

The defender clearly initiates the contact. He side-steps and jumps up to shove Brown. Brown reacted. If he had simply maintained his position, and Brown ran into him, then it should be PI on Brown. That's a terrible call to make in a championship game.

 

[Seymour93]

The defender clearly initiates the contact. He side-steps and jumps up to shove Brown. Brown reacted. If he had simply maintained his position, and Brown ran into him, then it should be PI on Brown. That's a terrible call to make in a championship game.

It almost reminds me of Graham's instinctive reaction to Drayton Florence's headbutt. What Brown did is what anyone would do.

 

[AdamJT13]

He didn't block him. The DB ran right into him and they both pushed each other simultaneously.

An offensive player "pushing" a defensive player is called ... blocking.

Offensive players aren't allowed to block past the line of scrimmage on a pass play until after the ball is caught. If Brown had been trying to avoid the defender, it wouldn't have been a penalty. But Brown CLEARLY pushed back at the defender, which is illegal on that play.

 

[Seymour93]

An offensive player "pushing" a defensive player is called ... blocking.

Offensive players aren't allowed to block past the line of scrimmage on a pass play until after the ball is caught. If Brown had been trying to avoid the defender, it wouldn't have been a penalty. But Brown CLEARLY pushed back at the defender, which is illegal on that play.

Ok, so it's allowed for the DB to push, but not the WR to push within 5 yards. Maybe we should b*tch to the Competition Committee about it. Hey, it worked for NaPolian.

 

[AdamJT13]

I was always under the impression that a defensive player was allowed to "jam" a WR under 5 yards, and that an offensive player was allowed to push off of that jam under 5 yards.

Is this incorrect?

If he pushed off the jam to create separation for a catch, that's illegal. If he pushed off the jam to block for another receiver, that's illegal.

It's just like a defensive player being allowed to jam a receiver within 5 yards -- unless the ball is in the air. Then it's pass interference.

 

[upstater1]

An offensive player "pushing" a defensive player is called ... blocking.

Offensive players aren't allowed to block past the line of scrimmage on a pass play until after the ball is caught. If Brown had been trying to avoid the defender, it wouldn't have been a penalty. But Brown CLEARLY pushed back at the defender, which is illegal on that play.

Illegal, but NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER called in the NFL.

 

[Johnny Mac]

An offensive player "pushing" a defensive player is called ... blocking.

Offensive players aren't allowed to block past the line of scrimmage on a pass play until after the ball is caught. If Brown had been trying to avoid the defender, it wouldn't have been a penalty. But Brown CLEARLY pushed back at the defender, which is illegal on that play.

I don't think that constitutes a block whatsoever.

 

[BelichickFan]

If he pushed off the jam to create separation for a catch, that's illegal. If he pushed off the jam to block for another receiver, that's illegal.

It's just like a defensive player being allowed to jam a receiver within 5 yards -- unless the ball is in the air. Then it's pass interference.

I don't understand the difference between this and a CB jamming a WR at the line. Surely you aren't saying that the CB can hit the WR (within 5 yards) but the WR can't push off on the CB to break free of that jam. If so against a big, physical CB it would be next to impossible for a WR to get off the line if he can't push the DB back.

 

[Michigan Dave]

I don't understand the difference between this and a CB jamming a WR at the line. Surely you aren't saying that the CB can hit the WR (within 5 yards) but the WR can't push off on the CB to break free of that jam. If so against a big, physical CB it would be next to impossible for a WR to get off the line if he can't push the DB back.

WRs have legal techniques that they can use to get off of a jam. They can rip, swim, and spar. The difference is that a jam tends not to be lengthy- a DB isn't going to sit at the line and jam a receiver the entire play, because odds are he has another assignment as well. The receiver wants to get off the jam quickly because the DB can get beat because he's got to adjust his weight and turn to run with the WR. As a QB, if you see a WR work off a quick jam, you can usually give him a nicely timed pass over the top. Conversely, the WR doesn't want to sit and fight with the DB, because it will effect the safety coverage. Brown's play was minor, but by the rules, really was a PI call. Precedent could be used to argue how weak it was, however, as Indy did something similar on their last drive.

 

[Whatarunweareon...]

Just found the rule book, for OPI the time for the penalty starts at the snap:

Quote: Offensive pass interference rules apply from the time the ball is snapped until the ball is touched. Defensive pass interference rules apply from the time the ball is thrown until the ball is touched.

Combined with:
Quote: Actions that constitute offensive pass interference include but are not limited to:

(a) Blocking downfield by an offensive player prior to the ball being touched.

(b) Initiating contact with a defender by shoving or pushing off thus creating a separation in an attempt to catch a pass.

(c) Driving through a defender who has established a position on the field.

So still not too clear, seems ticky tack. Receivers off the ball can be drilled but responding is a penalty on the offense. How the hell does TO ever complete a play?

 

[BelichickFan]

J
Quote: Actions that constitute offensive pass interference include but are not limited to:

(a) Blocking downfield by an offensive player prior to the ball being touched.

(b) Initiating contact with a defender by shoving or pushing off thus creating a separation in an attempt to catch a pass.

(c) Driving through a defender who has established a position on the field.

So still not too clear, seems ticky tack. Receivers off the ball can be drilled but responding is a penalty on the offense. How the hell does TO ever complete a play?

Well it's not (b) because he wasn't trying to catch the ball. And it's not (c) because the defender clearly didn't have an established position.

I guess it depends on the definition of blocking. I wouldn't think it was "blocking" because Brown was pushing him out of the way to try to get past him; logically to me blocking would be trying to get in the way of someone's intended path . . . wouldn't it ?