You only get away with this once...

[SuperHornet]

...and I think it would be illegal in the NFL. Still cool, though....

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/post/_/ ... tscenterFB

[JayJ79]

there are rules that require a certain number of players to be on either side of the kicker, so I don't think the players could bunch up quite like that, but there is nothing preventing leaving a player out at the sideline

but my fave is still Pat McAfee's onside for the Colts last Thursday. Was early in the game (so no one was really expecting an onside), and no one on the return team lined up anywhere near the kicker, so he just kicked it about 11 yards downfield and picked it up himself.

[clenz]

there are rules that require a certain number of players to be on either side of the kicker, so I don't think the players could bunch up quite like that, but there is nothing preventing leaving a player out at the sideline

As long as the correct number of people are on each side of the bunch, why does it matter what formation they are in?

The rule on offense is that 7 must on on the LOS...there is no rule where the others have to line up in the back field. The offense could put all other skill positions 30 yards in the backfield if they wanted too.

A kick is no different.

If you watch the play, the all start in a "standard" formation. The kicker then "audibles" and they all go running in, sans the widest player who recovers. The kicker stays in the middle of the grouping and they maintain the proper number of players on each side of the kicker.


I'll dig for the NFL rule but the NFHS both read that there must be at least 4 on each side of the kicker. As long as they had at least 4, which they did, they were fine.


This style play is also a killer when it comes to fake punts.

[clenz]

The NFL did ban the bunch kick off formation, though.

So, there's that.

Though, the play wouldn't be illegal due to players on each side of the kicker.

[89Hen]

I'm pretty sure the NFL also has a rule about a player being too close to the sideline. Wasn't there a play in pre-season this year that they said shouldn't have been allowed?

[89Hen]

I'm pretty sure the NFL also has a rule about a player being too close to the sideline. Wasn't there a play in pre-season this year that they said shouldn't have been allowed?

Just remembered it was Manziel actually in the regular season...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mco62h6IjpA[/youtube]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11566 ... -penalized

The league office, though, referred to page 64 of the rule book, which states unsportsmanlike conduct is "Using entering substitutes, legally returning players, substitutes on sidelines, or withdrawn players to confuse opponents, including lingering by players leaving the field after being replaced by a substitute and an offensive player lining up or going in motion less than five yards from the sideline in front of his team's designated bench area. However, an offensive player is permitted to line up less than five yards from the sidelines on the same side as his team's player bench, provided he is not in front of the designated bench area."