Illegal forward pass much different between college and NFL

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Titans309fan
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Illegal forward pass much different between college and NFL

Post by Titans309fan »

It is a rare penalty, but it is interesting that the college rules and the pro rules are very different. It should have come up twice in the Titans-Texans games, but the refs only made one call.

In college football, all illegal forward passes are treated the same.

1. It is thrown by a Team A player whose entire body is beyond the neutral zone when he releases the ball.
2. It is thrown by a Team B player.
3. It is thrown after team possession has changed during the down.
4. It is the second forward pass during the same down.
5. It is thrown from in or behind the neutral zone after a ball carrier’s entire body and the ball have gone beyond the neutral zone.

The penalty for all of them is 5 yards from the spot of the foul, plus loss of down unless it was on a turnover.

In the NFL, the first three situations are treated the same as college. But the 4th and 5th are just 5 yard penalties from the line of scrimmage with no loss of down.

During the game winning drive by the Titans, Gabbert had a pass knocked back into his hands well behind the line of scrimmage. So instead of taking a big loss of yards, he just threw it again. 2nd and 12 was much better than 3rd and 15 or worse (and could be considered better than 3rd and 7 (if he just doesn't catch it) in that situation trying to run the clock down). The Titans still made a first down the next play and eventually kicked the game winning field goal.

Gabbert would have been foolish to do that under the college rules, which would have been a big loss of yards (5 yards from the spot of the 2nd throw), plus loss of down. Luckily, he had done it earlier in his career, so he knew it was a good play.

On the very last play of the game, Watson of the Texans clearly crossed the line of scrimmage before returning back and passing it. That should have been a five yard penalty, though its possible the Titans could have declined it to run the clock out.

In college, the refs missed a double pass in the Houston-Texas Tech game. Houston clearly made two passes, and the second set up a tying TD. Luckily, Texas Tech won, or that officiating error would have really stood out. https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... exas-tech/