Neutral Zone Violation

[thebandit27]

The old rule was that it was offsides if the defender made contact or was across the line when the football is snapped. Much better and easy to tell who was at fault without a 45 second ref huddle.

 

Is there a difference between encroachment, offsides, and a neutral zone violation? or do refs just get to make up their own names for penalties?

Encroachment is when a defender contacts an offensive player across the LOS before the snap

 

Offsides is when a defender crosses the LOS without touching a defender, but does not get back before the snap

 

NZI is the same as offsides, except that instead of the snap being what catches the defender before he gets back, it's the movement of an offensive player

[Tuco]

 

So, how is it any different now? The same thing applies.

 

 

Before they came up with the neutral zone infraction - yes it was a long time ago - offensive linemen were not allowed to move at all once they were set at the line, or it was a false start, plain and simple. And by not moving at all that meant no twitching, twinging or anything. If a defender moving caused the offensive lineman to move it was a false start on the offensive lineman. The rule was straightforward and simple and offensive linemen were trained not to move a muscle until the snap. Knowing the snap count was considered all the advantage they needed.

 

Then they changed the rule to say if the defender crossing into the neutral zone caused the O lineman to move the penalty was on the defender (they turned a cut and dried rule into a judgement call). That rule has morphed into any time a defender crosses the line the O linemen purposely move and point to him and it's pretty much automatically on the defender.

 

Furthermore, nowadays you see O linemen getting set, then pointing all over the place. Then the guard turns his head and looks at the QB. Then he smacks the center on the leg. Then the center bobs his head a couple times and maybe snaps the ball while the QB is barking and head bobbing. All of that crap used to be illegal. Now it's just a whole bunch of movement by the O line - much of which is designed to get the defenders to cross the line and get an easy 5 yards.

 

When people say the rule was better before, it was.

 

And that being said, even though the rule sucks it's the same for everybody, and our team sucks at abiding by it.

[Not at the table Karlos]

I miss the days where Brett Favre and Peyton manning would get a free play and just heave the ball up in the air. Half the time it would be a 60 yard touchdown too! The new rule has really made the game worse

this was the first thing I thought of. QB sees lineman jump and throws deep knowing he has a free play. This made things exciting. I guess the NFL thinks penalties are exciting.

 

The way the game is called now knowing every little detail in the rule book and exploiting what you can seems to be the way to win. Look at new england and Seattle. They used to mug receivers all over the field.

 

 

Before they came up with the neutral zone infraction - yes it was a long time ago - offensive linemen were not allowed to move at all once they were set at the line, or it was a false start, plain and simple. And by not moving at all that meant no twitching, twinging or anything. If a defender moving caused the offensive lineman to move it was a false start on the offensive lineman. The rule was straightforward and simple and offensive linemen were trained not to move a muscle until the snap. Knowing the snap count was considered all the advantage they needed.

 

Then they changed the rule to say if the defender crossing into the neutral zone caused the O lineman to move the penalty was on the defender (they turned a cut and dried rule into a judgement call). That rule has morphed into any time a defender crosses the line the O linemen purposely move and point to him and it's pretty much automatically on the defender.

 

Furthermore, nowadays you see O linemen getting set, then pointing all over the place. Then the guard turns his head and looks at the QB. Then he smacks the center on the leg. Then the center bobs his head a couple times and maybe snaps the ball while the QB is barking and head bobbing. All of that crap used to be illegal. Now it's just a whole bunch of movement by the O line - much of which is designed to get the defenders to cross the line and get an easy 5 yards.

 

When people say the rule was better before, it was.

 

And that being said, even though the rule sucks it's the same for everybody, and our team sucks at abiding by it.

this. All the moving around by the lineman is clouding up other areas like illegal formation or shifts. It's getting to the point where wide receivers are moving around and multiple players are not set at the snap.

 

Everything now is a judgement call. So if you get on the refs bad side like we always do we are gonna get called. We should buy all the refs gift baskets or something. Happy holidays from your friends the bills mafia.

Edited December 16, 2015 by Not at the table Karlos