The QB Pocket. Someone Please Explain

[Boyzmamacita]

Yesterday near the end of the first half, Minshew dropped back on consecutive plays and threw the ball away. They were the right decisions under the circumstances, but I thought you had to be out of the pocket to throw the ball away. Does dropping back a few steps take you out of the pocket? Or was that a special situation where you can just throw the ball away? I remember the 2007 playoff game against NYG where Romo was called for intentional grounding late in the game when he did the same thing. Someone please explain the QB pocket and when is grounding supposed to be called. Thanks in advance.

 

[nate dizzle]

Yesterday near the end of the first half, Minshew dropped back on consecutive plays and threw the ball away. They were the right decisions under the circumstances, but I thought you had to be out of the pocket to throw the ball away. Does dropping back a few steps take you out of the pocket? Or was that a special situation where you can just throw the ball away? I remember the 2007 playoff game against NYG where Romo was called for intentional grounding late in the game when he did the same thing. Someone please explain the QB pocket and when is grounding supposed to be called. Thanks in advance.

I don't recall the plays all that well but if there was a receiver in the area then it would not be flagged, and they're generally pretty generous about what would constitute "in the area."

 

[DUO_CORE]

I think it's grounding if he is trying to avoid a sack. Minshew dropped back, saw nothing open, and got rid of it to stop the clock.

 

[Cowpolk]

If in the pocket it has to cross the line of scrimmage or be close to an eligible receiver

 

[Boyzmamacita]

Well, he threw it out of bounds each time, not to or near any receiver I could see. Each pass definitely passed the line of scrimmage, though. Does anyone remember the 2007 playoff game where Romo was flagged? I swear it was the same situation, but it was a long time ago so maybe my memory is off.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

I think it's grounding if he is trying to avoid a sack. Minshew dropped back, saw nothing open, and got rid of it to stop the clock.

OK, maybe that's it, but I don't think Romo was trying to avoid a sack either. But again, that was a long time ago and my recollection could be off. I know Tom Brady did the same thing against us in last season's opener so I'm just wondering why you can throw it away from the pocket certain times and not others.

 

[Silverz1972]

Receiver in the area.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

Receiver in the area.

So even if they throw it out of bounds a receiver has to be nearby?

 

[charron]

If in the pocket the ball must be tbrown in the vicinity of a wr even if thrown out of bounds.

 

[Cowpolk]

If in the pocket the ball must be tbrown in the vicinity of a wr even if thrown out of bounds.

Dose it matter if the receiver sitting on the bench

 

[Boyzmamacita]

If in the pocket the ball must be tbrown in the vicinity of a wr even if thrown out of bounds.

Thanks. Maybe there were receivers nearby then.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

Dose it matter if the receiver sitting on the bench

LOL.

 

[HungryLion]

The refs were letting them play yesterday. I believe they kept a pretty solid size of “in the area”. Even if it’s well over the players head it’s good

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Technically, if you’re in the pocket, you can’t throw the ball away unless there’s a receiver in the area. The angles on the television broadcast sometimes create wonky-looking spacing.

 

[conner01]

I think it's grounding if he is trying to avoid a sack. Minshew dropped back, saw nothing open, and got rid of it to stop the clock.

I believe that’s right
He just made a quick read and got rid of it. Past the LOS and toward a reciever so no penalty

 

[cityochamps]

Technically, if you’re in the pocket, you can’t throw the ball away unless there’s a receiver in the area. The angles on the television broadcast sometimes create wonky-looking spacing.

I remember one of those plays and he was out of the pocket and the ball was beyond the LOS, I didn't see a receiver anywhere near where the ball went out and the Cowboys in the area were all complaining about it. Not sure why it wasn't called seems like Parsons was on his heels too. I will try and find the clip.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

Thanks for all the answers so far. I understand that there is an imaginary pocket, but the camera angle didn't always show the receiver when he threw it away.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

I remember one of those plays and he was out of the pocket and the ball was beyond the LOS, I didn't see a receiver anywhere near where the ball went out and the Cowboys in the area were all complaining about it. Not sure why it wasn't called seems like Parsons was on his heels too. I will try and find the clip.

A slightly different scenario, but I remember that too.

 

[kskboys]

Yesterday near the end of the first half, Minshew dropped back on consecutive plays and threw the ball away. They were the right decisions under the circumstances, but I thought you had to be out of the pocket to throw the ball away. Does dropping back a few steps take you out of the pocket? Or was that a special situation where you can just throw the ball away? I remember the 2007 playoff game against NYG where Romo was called for intentional grounding late in the game when he did the same thing. Someone please explain the QB pocket and when is grounding supposed to be called. Thanks in advance.

I don't remember the exact plays, but supposedly you can throw the ball away if not under pressure. Grey area.

 

[kskboys]

Thanks for all the answers so far. I understand that there is an imaginary pocket, but the camera angle didn't always show the receiver when he threw it away.

By rule, he has to be outside the tackles to toss it away w/ no WR's in the area, and ball has to go past the LOS.