Illegal Leaping

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gtmg

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Leaping - a defender running forward and leaping in an attempt to block a field goal or a point-after try lands on other players on either team. The penalty is not called if the defender was within one yard of the line of scrimmage at the time of the snap.[4]


Hmmm not sure that was the right call not that it matters. I cannot believe this is a penalty.
 
It is because the play is extremely dangerous. There is usually a bunch of dudes on the ground at the center of the line. Now imagine some big 200-250 pound dude running, leaping, and landing on said pile.

I didn't see the play, so I can't comment on this specific instance.
 
ASimPerson said:
It is because the play is extremely dangerous. There is usually a bunch of dudes on the ground at the center of the line. Now imagine some big 200-250 pound dude running, leaping, and landing on said pile.

I didn't see the play, so I can't comment on this specific instance.
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How is it any more dangerous than when the offense has the ball on the goal line, hands off to the tailback and he dives up and over the pile? I have no answer to that.

As for MJ's leap...it looked like he jumped up but landed on some fat guys rolling around under him. This is a ridiculous penalty in my opinion.
 
gtmg said:
Leaping - a defender running forward and leaping in an attempt to block a field goal or a point-after try lands on other players on either team. The penalty is not called if the defender was within one yard of the line of scrimmage at the time of the snap.[4]


Hmmm not sure that was the right call not that it matters. I cannot believe this is a penalty.
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A player was paralyzed on a similar play 6 or 7 years ago.
 
gtmg said:
The penalty is not called if the defender was within one yard of the line of scrimmage at the time of the snap.[4]
.
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Did someone show that part to the refs? Is MJ playing safety on kick block?
 
ASimPerson said:
It is because the play is extremely dangerous. There is usually a bunch of dudes on the ground at the center of the line. Now imagine some big 200-250 pound dude running, leaping, and landing on said pile.

I didn't see the play, so I can't comment on this specific instance.
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Yeah, kinda like hurdling.:woot:
 
ramblinwise1 said:
Did someone show that part to the refs? Is MJ playing safety on kick block?
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Actually, he is...he does not line up on the line, but behind it ready to leap. Was not at the game, so cannot comment on him being a yard back or not -- but in the MSU game, I know he did not line up on the line.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...ree/cs-031008markbreitanswers,0,7499023.story

This is the penalty that was called in the Auburn LSU in 2004 game that gave Auburn a 2nd try at a missed xp -- Auburn won that game, and was undefeated that year.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/20/sports/ncaafootball/20calls.html (Last part of this story is the part about Auburn LSU)
 
I was there watching Michael Johnson to see if he would block it. He did pretty much like he always does. Lined up right behind the defensive line up close. I did not see him do anything different than all the other times he has done it. I did not see a replay. I don't think they replayed it since it was a penalty.
 
How is it any more dangerous than when the offense has the ball on the goal line, hands off to the tailback and he dives up and over the pile? I have no answer to that.
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I'd love it if someone would answer this for me.
 
grgt96 said:
How is it any more dangerous than when the offense has the ball on the goal line, hands off to the tailback and he dives up and over the pile? I have no answer to that.
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Generally, the rules allow the ball carrier and those attempting to stop the ball carrier more leeway. I honestly can't say if it's any less dangerous, but generally the ball carrier in that situation is attempting to jump over the pile instead of landing on it. Note leaping is only a foul if you land on someone.

Also, here is the actual text of the rule.
No defensive player, in an attempt to gain an advantage, may step, jump or stand on an opponent. No defensive player who runs forward from beyond the neutral zone and leaps from beyond the neutral zone in an obvious attempt to block a field goal or try may land on any player(s). It is not a foul if the leaping player was aligned in a stationary position within one yard of the line of scrimmage when the ball was snapped.
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Again, I did not see the play. It could have simply been a bad call, but since this is the second time this year it has been called on MJ I think before the game the coaches should talk to the officials and MJ about where he is lined up. (IIRC, the coaches talk to the officials before the game anyway to tell them about trick plays and whatnot, so it's not like they'll have to go out of their way.)

As for "hurdling", it is legal for the ball carrier to hurdle an opponent who is on their feet, and illegal for everyone else. It is okay for you to jump over a player on the ground if you are not the ball carrier, though.
 
I was in the north end zone watching said FG attempt. I don't agree with the rule, but MJ clearly landed on other players. As soon as I saw the flag, I knew they were going to call leaping. I don't like it one bit, but what happened was a clear violation of the rule. Go back and watch the MSU game; MJ lands on his own two feet after blocking the FG. In the game yesterday, he landed on top of our defensive line. I hate it just as much as the rest of you, but it happened.

Pivotal foul to allow GW back in the game, but I think this is just one of those defensive fouls that happens from time to time when a defensive player is giving it their all. IMO, it's the last thing I worry about when I look back on yesterday's game. Not that I'm too worried about our team, just glad that the letdown game of the year came against an FCS school and we managed to win.
 
Just home from the weekend at Bobby Dodd Stadium, and the Sunday paper here in Raleigh claims the referees called the leaping infraction because Johnson jumped before the snap. I can't help but think they threw the flag and then had to try to explain it somehow. If he jumps and comes down on an opponent, or if he uses a teammate or opponent to gain height in jumping, it is a penalty. But, if Johnson came down on his own players there should not have been a foul. I can not believe he jumped before the snap, if so, he should have been penalized for illegal levitation. He was at the height of his jump when the ball soared by him wide left.
 
theShaft said:
Before the last field goal attempt, I believe.
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No, before gw's first field goal attempt. They missed it, but the personal foul gave them a first down, and they subsequently scored their td. From where I sit in the uw, I couldn't see the whether MJ came down on somebody or not. This was another in what's turning into a long series of personal fouls being called against us at critical times in the game.
 
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