Safety

[JTrain]

Have I misunderstood the forward progress rules for all these years? Tackle was clearly initiated at the two yard line and driven back into the end zone. No review. Kugler didn't even discuss it. He was discussing the spot where the knee went down, not forward progress. Someone explain.

[ZRod]

There was no forward progress to be had, he was moving backwards on his own to begin with. When his knee hit the ground the ball was already across the boundary.

[JTrain]

I assumed it had to do with his momentum prior to the tackle being initiated. But still, I have always seen the refs spot the ball where it was when the tackle was initiated. Even in cases where the ball carrier was moving backwards.

[ZRod]

It does seem like kind of a grey area, and forward progress is a judgement call anyway. The only other somewhat valid comparison I can draw is on a kick or punt return. If you catch the ball outside the endzone but your momentum takes you into it can be a touchback.

[JTrain]

I think that's right. There isn't a detailed explanation in the rule book. It seems to be a judgement call on whether the refs think he would have gone into the end zone from his own momentum or not. He was slowing his momentum at the 2 and the impact from Gregory pushed him back. I figured they'd review it at least. Not that anyone really cared in this instance, but it'd be interesting to see if it happened in a bigger, closer game.

[HuskerShark]

IMO it should not have been a safety. Like you said, Gregory engaged the tackle before the endzone.

[Count 'Bility]

Correct as said earlier. The qb initiated the backward progress into the endzone. When you do that, you give up all forward progress prior to the motion, and your marked where you are down. In this case, it was obvious. Good question though. At first, at full speed, I too thought forward progress would award him to the one yard line, until I saw the replay.

[shyndy]

when they showed the replay I thought it was pretty close whether the ball was across the line when his knee went down anyway but heck lets just be happy about getting an awesome safety. When was the last one?

[JTrain]

When you do that, you give up all forward progress prior to the motion, and your marked where you are down.

 

What page is this on?

[Count 'Bility]

When you do that, you give up all forward progress prior to the motion, and your marked where you are down.

 

What page is this on?

Like you said, it's not a written rule that I know of, but it's just common sense-implied if you will-that when the runner goes backwards on his own power, he doesnt have forward progress anymore.