By Ray Dunlap
Q – RP18, Result 2: Punter slips in act of punting, dribbles punt which rolls dead 5 yds behind line.
A – This is actually credited as one punt for -5 yards. This happened to Sean Landetta of the Giants in a playoff game in 1985!
Q – RP 18, Result 10: Snap sails over punter’s head, he recovers ball for 36 yd loss.
A – Score this as one rushing attempt by the punter for zero yards. The center actually gets charged with a fumble and all other yardage is incidental.
Q – RP19, Result 2: Punter drops snap, then tries to kick ball on the run, he misses it completely, recovered by d1 15 yds behind line.
A – This is a fumble. The punter gets charged with one run for zero yards. All other yardage is incidental.
Q – RP 19, Result 11: Blocked punt rebounds to punter, who gains 9 yds.
A – When a punt or a field goal attempt is blocked and recovered by the offensive team behind the line of scrimmage, any running advance is treated as miscellaneous yardage, not rushing yardage.
Q – RP 19, Result 12: High, wobbling punt sails out of bounds 7 yds behind line.
A – This is scored as one punt for -7 yards.
Q – RP20, Result 5: Punt is partially blocked and rolls dead 12 yds beyond line.
A – If a “blocked” kick crosses the original line of scrimmage, it is not scored as a blocked kick. In this case, this would be scored as one punt for 12 yards.
Ray,
On RP 18, results 10 wouldn’t the snap over the head of the punter be considered a fumnle by the center?
Thanks MZ
Mark,
They changed this rule a few years ago. This is now considered an “Aborted Play, ” but I still got it wrong on the post (which I will correct immediately!). Here is the new rule:
Aborted Plays
An aborted play is a play from scrimmage during which there is not a pass or a kick, which falls into one of the following categories:
A. the ball is clearly centered improperly, meaning that the ball does not reach the intended receiver of the snap within the frame of his body or arm-span;
B. the intended ball-handler fumbles the snap from center;
C. a backward pass (hand-off, lateral, reverse, etc.) behind the line of scrimmage is mishandled, or not handled, resulting in a fumble (the ball touches the ground or is caught in flight by another player.)
D. a punter who has received the snap from the center correctly but in the process to punt the ball, the ball is dropped (unforced fumble).
In each of these cases, charge a rush for 0 yards. In A, B, and D, the rush is charged to the player who receives, or intended to receive the snap from center. In C the rush is charged to the player who attempts the backward pass.
Thanks for pointing out my error! Best to try and get these things correct immediately!!