NFL closes loophole used by Rams and 49ers receivers last year

[bileever]

Rams and 49ers can no longer use "cheat motion". Any receiver on the line of scrimmage who steps back now has to come to a complete stop before the snap.

NFL shuts down rulebook loophole that Dolphins, 49ers and Rams were exploiting during 2023 season

The league is trying to slow down the speedsters

www.google.com

 

[GeekHawk]

The fact that nobody else picked up on that last year indicates a sorry lack of due diligence on the part of OCs around the league (including us).

 

[rcaido]

Nice, now they need to be more consistent w/ the pick/rub plays that these teams get away with.

 

[Scout]

The NFL seems more consistent this year looking for things like this . For example the refs called out the Pats OL in a pre season game this year for not lining up on the line and too far back from the line.

Many NFL teams look for a competitive edge if given an opportunity.

 

[PhxPhin]

Can they put an emphasis on defensive lineman lining up every play deep in the neutral zone?

If not, can Seattle start having their lineman start doing it??

 

[chris98251]

Can they put an emphasis on defensive lineman lining up every play deep in the neutral zone?

If not, can Seattle start having their lineman start doing it??

We did, but Bennett kept getting calls for offsides so we stopped doing it.

 

[MORGULON]

Nice, now they need to be more consistent w/ the pick/rub plays that these teams get away with.

That depends on which NFL darling team is doing it .

 

[MORGULON]

The NFL seems more consistent this year looking for things like this . For example the refs called out the Pats OL in a pre season game this year for not lining up on the line and too far back from the line.

Many NFL teams look for a competitive edge if given an opportunity.

That drives me crazy .

 

[Jegpeg]

There is a difference between finding a loophole in the rules and exploiting it and breaking the rules in to hope that the officials will not penalise it.

The Dolphins came up with the cheat motion in week 1 last year, and after seeing it the Rams and 49ers copied it from week 2, I am surprised other teams didn't but last year it was a totally legal play.

Teams repeatedly doing things against the rules and not getting called up for it I find really annoying, if the officials think the infraction is so minor it shouldn't be called then the play should be legal.