Excuse my ignorance, but what’s up with this? I don’t recall seeing it before last weekend. Half a second before the snap, an offensive lineman rapidly points forward.
Two questions:
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Is there an exception under the false start rules that makes this OK?
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Why are they doing it? To try to make the defense jump?
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In past seasons, that would have been an illegal procedure call - it would seem so - pointing is movement - you’re not supposed to be able to move on the line, before the ball is snapped.
It’s been done for a very long time.
Hey all so ya I noticed this also . And I can honestly say besides the past week or so the o line movement has grow before snap . It’s becoming a joke as all thses new rules take away from defensive end of the ball and mostly in the pass rush … not sure what the NFL has in mind but it’s looking like a show for only offense. I watch a lot of football and seen many games and this movement on the o line has to stop its getting a bit silly .
I think the NFL makes enough money so this open end gambling on games is hampering the game and my beliefs in the out come of games …
The pointing is the center declaring the Mike or making the calls for the protection. In most cases it’s the center making the line calls and the QB declaring the Mike. Last second adjustments need to be made because defenses will disguise blitz and coverages.
It could also be a cue for the snap during a silent count. It could be the guard tapping the center, the qb lifting his leg and it could be a hand signal. There are so many ways to do this and it could vary from week to week.
This is most certainly not new. They are pointing out the defensive alignment. Someone that might be blitzing. Making sure all are on the same page to cover it.
As false start goes, I think it’s fine because they come out of their stance. It’s not like they are in the stand and any flinch of shoulder jiggle could be interpreted as the snap happening.
If defense if confusing a stand and point with a snap they deserve the encroachment penalty.
They point at the cutest defender
Pointing out some aspect of the blocking usually the Mike Linebacker or a Blitzer or who they got so everyone has a starting point to where they will have to shift.
This was actually answered in “no dumb questions” on New Heights this past episode. Jason Kelce explained it as identifying the Mike or WIL for blocking assignments, but there are many other ways it’s used too
They saw a penny on the ground and thought it was important for everyone to know. Obviously the refs can’t call False Start for that
The NFL hasn’t enforced false starts since Peyton Manning brought all the movement into fashion. I don’t think there was a single play in a ten years that Jeff Saturday didn’t move something other than the ball before the snap. It’s been absurd ever since.