Punt Coverage Questions

[Biggems]

Why is it, if the coverage team touches the ball at the 10, and the ball rolls down to the 5, before the team officially downs, it does it go back to the 10?

I ask this, because if the team touches the ball at the 10, but it bounces into the end zone it is a touchback.

In both instances, the kicking team gets screwed over by the rules.

Also, I am not sure, but if the ball is touched at the 10 and bounces backwards to the 15 before it is downed, isn't the ball placed at the 15? If so, this is a third instance in which the kicking team gets screwed over.

 

[Hoofbite]

Probably to prevent a team from pushing the ball closer towards the goal line.

If it bounces at the 10 and a player "touches" it to go in a favorable direction, then you have an entirely different, and larger, can of worms.

 

[theogt]

It's illegal for the punting team to first touch the ball. The receiving team gets the option of receiving the ball where it is first touched or where it is blown dead -- this is the same as the receiving team accepting or declining any other penalty.

Rule 9, Setion 2, Article 2 of the NFL Rulebook:

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.

 

[Hoods]

It's illegal for the punting team to first touch the ball. The receiving team gets the option of receiving the ball where it is first touched or where it is blown dead -- this is the same as the receiving team accepting or declining any other penalty.

Rule 9, Setion 2, Article 2 of the NFL Rulebook:

What am I missing then? I see the punting team touch the ball first all the time, i.e. when they down it at the one.

 

[theogt]

What am I missing then? I see the punting team touch the ball first all the time, i.e. when they down it at the one.

The result of the infraction is that the receiving team gets the option of having the ball where it's first touched or where it's down. If it's first touched at the 1 and it's downed at the 1, the result either way is the same.

 

[Chuck 54]

The fun part of the rule is that if the punting team touches the ball at the ten and lets it roll, the receiving team can run up and try to snatch it and run with it and could score...if they fail to snatch it and fumble it, it's still their ball at the 10 because the punting team touched it first. It's a rule most teams never try to take advantage of...once the ball touches anyone on the punting team, the receiving team has absolutely nothing to lose.

 

[Hoods]

The result of the infraction is that the receiving team gets the option of having the ball where it's first touched or where it's down. If it's first touched at the 1 and it's downed at the 1, the result either way is the same.

Thanks for clearing that up. And thank you Wayne, I learned something new today.

 

[theogt]

The fun part of the rule is that if the punting team touches the ball at the ten and lets it roll, the receiving team can run up and try to snatch it and run with it and could score...if they fail to snatch it and fumble it, it's still their ball at the 10 because the punting team touched it first. It's a rule most teams never try to take advantage of...once the ball touches anyone on the punting team, the receiving team has absolutely nothing to lose.

This happened this season in a college game -- can't remember which one.

 

[Biggems]

thank you. now i have clarification of the rule.

 

[Biggems]

The fun part of the rule is that if the punting team touches the ball at the ten and lets it roll, the receiving team can run up and try to snatch it and run with it and could score...if they fail to snatch it and fumble it, it's still their ball at the 10 because the punting team touched it first. It's a rule most teams never try to take advantage of...once the ball touches anyone on the punting team, the receiving team has absolutely nothing to lose.

i knew of this rule...but i think it is an absurd one...

to be able to pick up the ball and run halfway down the field before fumbling....and have it all be basically a throw away play, cause the ball goes back to wear it was initially touched.....is kind of lame.

 

[Chuck 54]

i knew of this rule...but i think it is an absurd one...

to be able to pick up the ball and run halfway down the field before fumbling....and have it all be basically a throw away play, cause the ball goes back to wear it was initially touched.....is kind of lame.

That's because the defense touched the ball first, the penalty phase, but it's still live because they didn't secure it and down it; therefore, the offense can still make an attempt for it, knowing it will come back to where the defense illegally touched it.

It's the same rule that allows the offense to make a fair catch or to field any high punt...it keeps the defense from just running down the field and catching the ball themselves in front of the receiver or knocking it away from him...or worse, knocking the ball into the receiver and then recovering it like a fumble. Without this rule, the coverage team would be doing that all the time.

 

[Biggems]

That's because the defense touched the ball first, the penalty phase, but it's still live because they didn't secure it and down it; therefore, the offense can still make an attempt for it, knowing it will come back to where the defense illegally touched it.

It's the same rule that allows the offense to make a fair catch or to field any high punt...it keeps the defense from just running down the field and catching the ball themselves in front of the receiver or knocking it away from him...or worse, knocking the ball into the receiver and then recovering it like a fumble. Without this rule, the coverage team would be doing that all the time.

I see what you mean....still seems kind of like a sandlot rule though

 

[theogt]

I see what you mean....still seems kind of like a sandlot rule though

Similar to offsides.