Downing a punt...tell me why...

[Appleegg1]

How come, as happened in the cards game, on punt coverage, if you touch the punt at the 3 yard line, and your momentum carries into the end zone, it's a touchback. However if you touch the punt at the 13 yard line, then momentum carries you to the 10, they go and mark it where you first touched it (13 yard line) ???

Any refs care to tell me the deal?

 

[jkitsune]

AFAIK the idea is just that the touchback trumps the spot of the ball in the field of play. IMO the purpose is to prevent the covering team from 'guiding' the ball to the 1 yard line by kicking it, etc. If you touch it, it's down, and if it still goes into the endzone, it's a touchback.

 

[pocketprotector]

It is because as a member of the punting team, being the first to touch the ball is actually a penalty. The penalty carries no yardage with it, but the receiving team can choose to take the ball where it was first illegally touched, or they can choose the result of the play as it is carried through.

If you watch carefully, you will notice that if a punt team member touches the ball and leaves it laying there, Golden Tate will make a charge at the ball. This is because he could pick it up and run with it, and even in the worst case of a fumble, the Seahawks could take the ball where it was first illegally touched.

 

[Tech Worlds]

I dunno dude but you are really on a roll! 4 new threads created in like 8 min. Outstanding!

 

[sutz]

It is because as a member of the punting team, being the first to touch the ball is actually a penalty. The penalty carries no yardage with it, but the receiving team can choose to take the ball where it was first illegally touched, or they can choose the result of the play as it is carried through.

If you watch carefully, you will notice that if a punt team member touches the ball and leaves it laying there, Golden Tate will make a charge at the ball. This is because he could pick it up and run with it, and even in the worst case of a fumble, the Seahawks could take the ball where it was first illegally touched.

Uh, no. It isn't a penalty for the punting team to touch the ball, unless the player had voluntarily left the field of play and returned and was the first to touch it. In fact, players will actually try to run down and catch the ball while still in the air at the five yard line and down it there. Perfectly legal.

And in the second scenario, no again. If a player of the receiving team touches the ball in any way, and does not take full possession of it, it becomes a live ball-called a 'muff'- and the punting team can recover it like a fumble.

As to the OP, I'm not quite sure how that happens, assuming it happens the way you describe. I do know that if the downing player even scrapes his toenail along the goal line while in contact with the ball it's a TB.

 

[400WattHPSHawk]

I dunno dude but you are really on a roll! 4 new threads created in like 8 min. Outstanding!

The man has questions and damn it he needs answers. To which I have none.

Carry on then...

 

[Tech Worlds]

I dunno dude but you are really on a roll! 4 new threads created in like 8 min. Outstanding!

The man has questions and damn it he needs answers. To which I have none.

Carry on then...

I WANT THE TRUTH!!

 

[400WattHPSHawk]

I dunno dude but you are really on a roll! 4 new threads created in like 8 min. Outstanding!

The man has questions and damn it he needs answers. To which I have none.

Carry on then...

I WANT THE TRUTH!!

I think, no, I know, sometimes it's just better to not know the truth. Why did I ever ask her if she was doing her boss? :34853_doh:

 

[blkhwk]

It is because as a member of the punting team, being the first to touch the ball is actually a penalty. The penalty carries no yardage with it, but the receiving team can choose to take the ball where it was first illegally touched, or they can choose the result of the play as it is carried through.

If you watch carefully, you will notice that if a punt team member touches the ball and leaves it laying there, Golden Tate will make a charge at the ball. This is because he could pick it up and run with it, and even in the worst case of a fumble, the Seahawks could take the ball where it was first illegally touched.

Yes, this is the rule, pretty much straight out of any rule book (HS, college, pro). If the punting team touches the ball, the return team essentially has a free attempt at a return. In the 80's & 90's when the punting team would surround a rolling punt, it was not uncommon to see the return team attempt to push one of the surrounding guys into the ball trying to get them to touch the ball, then try and advance the ball.

I saw it first hand, my team punted, and one of our guys downed the rolling punt by picking the ball up and immediately dropping it. The return team then pick the ball up, returned it, fumbled, my team recovered. The return team got to keep the ball due to our first touching the ball.

That is why when the punting team downs the ball, they hold onto it until the refs blow the whistle or they give the ball to the refs.

 

[VivaEfrenHerrera]

It is because as a member of the punting team, being the first to touch the ball is actually a penalty. The penalty carries no yardage with it, but the receiving team can choose to take the ball where it was first illegally touched, or they can choose the result of the play as it is carried through.

If you watch carefully, you will notice that if a punt team member touches the ball and leaves it laying there, Golden Tate will make a charge at the ball. This is because he could pick it up and run with it, and even in the worst case of a fumble, the Seahawks could take the ball where it was first illegally touched.

Uh, no. It isn't a penalty for the punting team to touch the ball, unless the player had voluntarily left the field of play and returned and was the first to touch it. In fact, players will actually try to run down and catch the ball while still in the air at the five yard line and down it there. Perfectly legal.

Looks like pocketprotector has the right of it.

Rule 9, section 2, article 2 calls first touching by the kicking team a "violation".

FIRST TOUCHING BEYOND THE LINE
Article 2
“First touching” is when a player of the kicking team touches a scrimmage kick that is beyond the line of scrimmage before it has been touched by a player of the receiving team beyond the line. If the ball is first touched by a player of the kicking team, it remains in play. First touching is a violation, and the receivers shall have the option of taking possession of the ball at the spot of first touching, provided no penalty is accepted on the play, or at the spot where the ball is dead. First touching does not offset a foul by the receivers. Note: If the receiving team gains possession, subsequently loses possession, and fouls after the kicking team gains possession, the spot of first touching is disregarded, and the kicking team retains possession. See Rule 14, Section 3, Article 1, Exception 5.

 

[Starrman44]

Now that we've focused on this, some bizarre play is probably going to happen with this scenario. I honestly never knew this. I am ashamed...

 

[400WattHPSHawk]

Now that we've focused on this, some bizarre play is probably going to happen with this scenario. I honestly never knew this. I am ashamed...

Stop freakin' and call beakin'

 

[Starrman44]

Now that we've focused on this, some bizarre play is probably going to happen with this scenario. I honestly never knew this. I am ashamed...

Stop freakin' and call beakin'

Marshawn is that you? Tell us, did you flip off Coach Bevell?

 

[400WattHPSHawk]

Now that we've focused on this, some bizarre play is probably going to happen with this scenario. I honestly never knew this. I am ashamed...

Stop freakin' and call beakin'

Marshawn is that you? Tell us, did you flip off Coach Bevell?

Fetch me up some skittles and I'll tell you a story.

 

[Kakaww]

Now that that is settled, I have a follow up question. If the ball lands at the five and bounces across the goal line, can't a kicking team player leap before the end zone line, in to the end zone and knock the ball back out in the field so long as they or the ball don't touch inside? I could be imagining seeing this many times throughout the years... But it doesn't gel with other rules concerning the ball crossing the goal line.

 

[dontbelikethat]

Now that that is settled, I have a follow up question. If the ball lands at the five and bounces across the goal line, can't a kicking team player leap before the end zone line, in to the end zone and knock the ball back out in the field so long as they or the ball don't touch inside? I could be imagining seeing this many times throughout the years... But it doesn't gel with other rules concerning the ball crossing the goal line.

Yes you can as long as the ball doesn't touch the endzone or the player while he is simultaneously touching the ball.