Rules Question - defensive player advancing ball carrier (1 Viewer)

[JAA]

I’m sure this has been asked before, but as I was watching the closing moments of the Phi Dal game, I was wondering …

Can a defensive player hold onto the ball carrier and advance them forward? The purpose here is to prolong the time a play takes.

Hypothetically, if a defensive player could hold onto the ball carrier such that the ball carrier is unable to go to the ground, and thus advance them forward, such that forward progress continues, would the play thus continue?

I’m hypothetically asking if a defensive player could help run off 5-10 additional seconds off the play clock. In the Phi/Dal game this could have been used to run out the game clock and end the half.

 

[the moops]

Holding up a player for 5-10 seconds seems unlikely. I do not know the rule though. Good hypo

 

[JAA]

bump

 

[sushinsky4tsar]

I've always wondered when we're going to see the first defense carry the ball carrier into the endzone in the closing minute so they can get their offense the ball back, rather than wait for the imminent chip shot field goal at the buzzer.

I have to think that if the carrier can't get to their knees while being propelled forward, they gotta let the play go, right? At least, I hope so. It would be cool to see. A defensive answer to the RB that slides down in front of the endzone.

 

[JAA]

I've always wondered when we're going to see the first defense carry the ball carrier into the endzone in the closing minute so they can get their offense the ball back, rather than wait for the imminent chip shot field goal at the buzzer.

I have to think that if the carrier can't get to their knees while being propelled forward, they gotta let the play go, right? At least, I hope so. It would be cool to see. A defensive answer to the RB that slides down in front of the endzone.

It would need to be the perfect context and the perfect player combination, but for a split second in the Phi game I thought it could happen.

 

[renesauz]

Yes....and no I think. Players are allowed to give themselves up. If a player is obviously and actively trying to go to the ground I'm pretty sure the ref could and should stop it....but not so sure this would be obvious and easy to do if you're said ref