[Husker] kick reception interference

[Mike Jaixen]

Sometimes when a flag gets thrown for pass interference, a receiver still makes the catch. Doesn't change the fact that the defender violated the rules...it just was a great effort by the receiver to overcome the foul.

Same thing with Burkhead. One difference in the two situations is that in pass situations, the penalty is usually automatically declined because the penalty for pass interference is 15 yards from the previous spot or the spot of the foul.  I guess the distinction between the two situations is because of the relative risk factors of the two situations.  In pass situations, both defenders are typically moving in the same direction, and usually it's a one-on-one situation.  Also the ball is being directed in a spiral at a lower angle of trajectory.

In kick returns, it's usually 9-10 defenders gunning for a single return guy who's tracking a punt that's wobbling end over end from a much higher trajectory.  He's also typically either stationary or moving forward towards the defenders.  And unlike a punt, if the returner drops the punt, it's a fumble not an incomplete pass.  So the risks are increased.
 
Mike Jaixen
http://huskermike.blogspot.com
http://www.cornnation.com


________________________________
From: Theodore Heise <theo at heise.nu>
To: Husker List <husker at tssi.com>
Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 11:11 AM
Subject: Re: [Husker] kick reception interference



> From my perspective in south stadium, the call on the Burkhead punt return was absolutely correct. This isn't the halo rule; you have to have a chance to catch the punt, and Washington didn't give him a chance.  The rules quoted online show the calls were correct. But I haven't seen a single replay.

Not to belabor the point, but if he made the catch doesn't that say something about having had an adequate chance to catch the punt?

Good point that nobody thought it newsworthy enough to show widely in replays.

-- Theodore (Ted) Heise     <theo at heise.nu>     Bloomington, IN, USA

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