Running Power Play Formations: The Ruling

[Reginald Rutledge]

This is the rule that will be followed in the CBSMF National Championship Weekend.

This ruling has come under speculation but it has remained consistently constant throughout the years as I have written it. It has not change and will not change until a consensus begin to vote on rule changes in the upcoming years of the CBSMF.

Scenario 1
On a running play from scrimmage, if a runner is running through the 1 or two hole, the runner must line up totally behind the QB. He can not be two yards off the back of the lineman base and run the ball. He has to be totally behind the QB (baselength) and distinguished as the ball carrier.

The logic here is that the defensive tackle may be able to get a push on the OG which will lead to blowing up the line. Also, if the defensive team decide to stack in that area, it allows for the play-action pass scenario when a safety comes up and vacates a zoned area. At that point, the offense says pass and the hope is that the receiver will slant in towards the vacated cover area.

Scenario 2
If the QB is in a shotgun formation (5 yards behind the base of the center or more), the QB can hand the ball to a runner 2 yards behind the lineman on a direct snap scenario. This is on a toss play or power play.

The defensive has the ability to come up and support the run or remain in a zone coverage scheme.

These are the official rules. It is important to know this for your trip to Ohio. No other ruling in this manner is official but this one.

Reginald Rutledge
CBSMF

[sweetka]

The receivers stacked up behind each other. Is there a distance factor or can they be stacked. Thanks!

[Reginald Rutledge]

can be directly behind the receiver who is on the line. However, you must recognize that if a flanker exist, he is already in most cases, 5 yards off the line of scrimmage so no receiver can be placed behind him.

But if you go to the 5 receiver set, the two ends (WR) can have receivers stacked behind them as long as those receivers are not more than 5 yards off the LOS.

If that happens, the official has the discretion to tell the offensive coach to take that player off the field. The defensive team would then be able to readjust the one player that was assigned to that player.

If a receiver is more than 5 yards, he is an illegal player. It is important that the official is observant of that because sometimes in hurry-up offenses, the offense is trying to get the play off but it is the officials responsibility to make the proper checks on LOS nuetral zone situations and whether receivers are 6 yards off the line of scrimmage.

Reg

[sweetka]

So if the receiver is off the line of scrimmage you cannot stack behind him.

[Reginald Rutledge]

that if you can start that second receiver 5 yards from the LOS. Ken, you can be creative and still have a slot receiver 3 yards off the line of scrimmage but if the second player's base start past the 5 yard limit, he is deemed ineligible and must be taken off.

This is why Frankensteined bases are allowed because we like to create different scenarios for the defense to have to defend. You can do some things where receivers are parallel to the line of scrimmage and do up routes off the slot receiver.

Also, a receiver is in the slot if he is 2 yards off the line of scrimmage. That is an important note when designing plays around the stack.

Ken, I know you are a creative guy so now, let your imagination run wild. Yes, the possibilities are unlimited to open up creases in the passing game, which will get the defensive team to stop thinking so much on stopping the run and will have to spread out and play coverage schemes.

This in essence will get the running games where averages are 5-7 yds per run. The key is you have to be able to execute the forward pass. That is oh so important to the stack. If the players are open and you can't get the ball to them, you are frustrated and will go back to 3 yards and a cloud of dust.

Reg