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Main - General MFN Discussion

Holding Penalties

By Detroit Leo
10/02/2014 5:00 am
Holding penalty seems to need adjusting. It is correct for kick returns being that the penalty yardage is taken from the spot of the ball but for the regular offense if there is a holding penalty the yardage should be from the line of scrimmage and not where the ball was when the penalty was called.

Re: Holding Penalties

By jdavidbakr - Site Admin
10/02/2014 7:31 am
Detroit Leo wrote:
Holding penalty seems to need adjusting. It is correct for kick returns being that the penalty yardage is taken from the spot of the ball but for the regular offense if there is a holding penalty the yardage should be from the line of scrimmage and not where the ball was when the penalty was called.


That is actually the correct ruling according to the official NFL rules - it is the spot of the ball unless the ball was behind the LOS, in which case it is the previous line of scrimmage.

Re: Holding Penalties

By Detroit Leo
10/02/2014 8:08 am
jdavidbakr wrote:
Detroit Leo wrote:
Holding penalty seems to need adjusting. It is correct for kick returns being that the penalty yardage is taken from the spot of the ball but for the regular offense if there is a holding penalty the yardage should be from the line of scrimmage and not where the ball was when the penalty was called.


That is actually the correct ruling according to the official NFL rules - it is the spot of the ball unless the ball was behind the LOS, in which case it is the previous line of scrimmage.


Well played. Should not be happening at the current rate in game still. I do not recall ever seeing downfield blockers getting called for holding resulting in 1st and less than 10 plays in the NFL. Also, why would my offensive lineman commit a hold after the ball was ran that far past the line of scrimmage. Maybe they should "let up" on blocking after the ball is 4+ yards beyond the LOS or something. Still a bit wonky currently.

Re: Holding Penalties

By jdavidbakr - Site Admin
10/02/2014 9:11 am
Detroit Leo wrote:
Well played. Should not be happening at the current rate in game still. I do not recall ever seeing downfield blockers getting called for holding resulting in 1st and less than 10 plays in the NFL. Also, why would my offensive lineman commit a hold after the ball was ran that far past the line of scrimmage. Maybe they should "let up" on blocking after the ball is 4+ yards beyond the LOS or something. Still a bit wonky currently.


That's a good point - I'll take a look at that.

Re: Holding Penalties

By Firefly
10/02/2014 9:29 am
It happens sometimes in the NFL. Just last week or the week before a big run, I think a TD run, was called back for a hold by the guy blocking the last man about 30 yards downfield.

What I don't think happens is holds after receptions unless, again, it's after a long catch and run. But here sometimes these holds are called nearly simultaneously with the catch. That's unheard of. That brings to mind another unrealistic element: receivers turning into effective blockers instantly after a catch is made. In the NFL -unless it's a designed screen- receivers may have their backs turned to the play or are easily shed because they do not have a good blocking angle/position. They do block of course, just not as efficiently as in the game.

Re: Holding Penalties

By jdavidbakr - Site Admin
10/02/2014 10:23 am
Firefly wrote:
That brings to mind another unrealistic element: receivers turning into effective blockers instantly after a catch is made. In the NFL -unless it's a designed screen- receivers may have their backs turned to the play or are easily shed because they do not have a good blocking angle/position. They do block of course, just not as efficiently as in the game.


That's a really good observation. I'll make a note to look at that.