Possession

[Wes Mantooth]

Why is it so much easier to catch a ball going out of bounds or in the end zone than it is in the middle of the field and attempting to make a football move? Why do you have to make a football move everywhere else but the sideline?

I was watching the replay of the Wiggens fumble out of bounds this last week. It got me to thinking about how if that catch where on the sideline or in the end zone, the replay booth would probably rule in favor of a completion instead of what it was.

[freak6]

I didn't see that play you are talking about, but that is crazy, you come down with two feet within a few yards of the sideline, they'll give it to you if you get blasted out of bounds and drop the ball, but within the hashes, you have to come down with the ball and "make a football move", whatever that is. I think they should change the rule so that if you come down over the middle, have two feet down and possesion, and get decked, and you drop it...

FUMMMM - BBLLLLLLLLLL

[Wes Mantooth]

Originally Posted by freak6

I didn't see that play you are talking about, but that is crazy, you come down with two feet within a few yards of the sideline, they'll give it to you if you get blasted out of bounds and drop the ball, but within the hashes, you have to come down with the ball and "make a football move", whatever that is. I think they should change the rule so that if you come down over the middle, have two feet down and possesion, and get decked, and you drop it...

FUMMMM - BBLLLLLLLLLL

Another great example of this is that interception by Palamalu last year against the Colts. He catches the ball, turns upfield and looses it and it is called an incomplete pass. However, if the very same thing happened in the end zone, it would have been a catch.

I heard an argument that you have to acount for real-time motion; that a slow motion capture is not enough to rule it a catch. However, this does not hold true for end-zone and sideline grabs. I have never seen real-time examination of a play in the end zone or on the side line when reviewed. The only two factors I have ever seen is 1.) did the player have possesion? and 2.) where both feet in bounds?