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The "Free Play" Defense Offside Rule (1 Viewer)

Western_77

Footballguy
Anyone know the official rule on when a defensive player goes offside and it's whistled down immediately vs the play being allowed to continue and the QB can launch it downfield because it's a "free play"? It used to be that it would only be whistled down if the defensive player made contact with someone or if he had an "unimpeded path to the QB". Now it seems that the play is rarely allowed to continue even if there's no contact or open path to QB.....then everyone looks confused as to why they stopped the play. Then there are times when they do let the play continue, but I don't know what's different between that play and a play that they blow the whistle.
 
If there is no contact with an opposing player, the play will go on. If the defensive player makes contact, the play is ruled dead and the penalty assessed. The play will also be called dead if the offsides player is unabated to the quarterback.

If an offensive player moves pre-snap while a defensive player is offsides, the play is dead and the refs will assess the penalty for neutral zone infraction
 
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If there is no contact with an opposing player, the play will go on. If the defensive player makes contact, the play is ruled dead and the penalty assessed.

If an offensive player moves pre-snap while a defensive player is offsides, the play is dead and the refs will assess the penalty for neutral zone infraction
Yeah, you'd think, but that's not happening. Maybe it depends more on which crew is officiating as to how they call it.
 
If there is no contact with an opposing player, the play will go on. If the defensive player makes contact, the play is ruled dead and the penalty assessed.

If an offensive player moves pre-snap while a defensive player is offsides, the play is dead and the refs will assess the penalty for neutral zone infraction
I think there is also some consideration in whether or not he has a free path to the QB. At least that's how I remember them calling it in the past.
 
If there is no contact with an opposing player, the play will go on. If the defensive player makes contact, the play is ruled dead and the penalty assessed.

If an offensive player moves pre-snap while a defensive player is offsides, the play is dead and the refs will assess the penalty for neutral zone infraction
I think there is also some consideration in whether or not he has a free path to the QB. At least that's how I remember them calling it in the past.
That's what I understood was the referee judgement call on those plays; if they are worried a defender is running "unabated" to the QB, especially from a blind angle, they will blow the play dead.
 
If there is no contact with an opposing player, the play will go on. If the defensive player makes contact, the play is ruled dead and the penalty assessed.

If an offensive player moves pre-snap while a defensive player is offsides, the play is dead and the refs will assess the penalty for neutral zone infraction
I think there is also some consideration in whether or not he has a free path to the QB. At least that's how I remember them calling it in the past.
I will add that.
 
I think the biggest change is how offensive players have been trained to react, so now you get a ton of neutral zone infractions instead of of them staying still and trying to get the free play.
 

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