Hard Knocks

[Deadskins]

I watched Hard Knocks Wednesday night, to catch the Jets response to being beaten by the Skins, and was mystified by something that happened during a play in the game. Just before the snap a ref came up behind one of the Jets' D-linemen and shoved him over into the next lineman. I'm guessing he did it so he could see better, but I can't imagine the NFL allows that. The lineman was pissed because he thought it was one of the LBs behind him, but when he found out it was the ref, he calmed right down and was all apologetic, as if this was normal behavior. What gives?

[cvillehog]

I watched Hard Knocks Wednesday night, to catch the Jets response to being beaten by the Skins, and was mystified by something that happened during a play in the game. Just before the snap a ref came up behind one of the Jets' D-linemen and shoved him over into the next lineman. I'm guessing he did it so he could see better, but I can't imagine the NFL allows that. The lineman was pissed because he thought it was one of the LBs behind him, but when he found out it was the ref, he calmed right down and was all apologetic, as if this was normal behavior. What gives?

I had the same question. Seemed like it was some kind of rule about where they line up? I didn't think the defense had such regulations, like covering the center or whatever.

[Deadskins]

Defense has no regulations about where they can line up, other than being in the neutral zone (offsides). But the refs can't warn players or reposition them; that wouldn't be fair. To make matters worse, this occurred when we were down near the goal line. Maybe the ref was a Skins fan.

[Deadskins]

OK, I just found this on the Jets' site message board:

The reason the ref was trying to move Jenkins was because it looked like a kicking play I assume. You cannot line up head on to the center on FG's and PATs and often if the guy on the nose is not giving enough room the ref swats his rump to let him know he has to move.

So I guess I was wrong about defense not lining up correctly, if it's a kicking play.

[TeeterSalad]

OK, I just found this on the Jets' site message board:

The reason the ref was trying to move Jenkins was because it looked like a kicking play I assume. You cannot line up head on to the center on FG's and PATs and often if the guy on the nose is not giving enough room the ref swats his rump to let him know he has to move.

So I guess I was wrong about defense not lining up correctly, if it's a kicking play.

Wow, I never knew this kind of thing went on. That's pretty cool though for the ref to give them a heads up instead of just waiting and throwing a flag.

[frankcal20]

I was just going to say that it's a kicking play. Can't cover up the center on that.

[Irn-Bru]

OK, I just found this on the Jets' site message board:

The reason the ref was trying to move Jenkins was because it looked like a kicking play I assume. You cannot line up head on to the center on FG's and PATs and often if the guy on the nose is not giving enough room the ref swats his rump to let him know he has to move.

So I guess I was wrong about defense not lining up correctly, if it's a kicking play.

That was one of the rule changes for this year. It used to be that your helmet couldn't be overlapping the C's body, but they made it stronger to say that your body can't be overlapping the C's body.

My guess is that the ref was giving him a warning because it was preseason and because this rule in particular is new. In the regular season I think that just gets a flag.