NFL Playbook Wk13


In this weeks NFL Playbook, the boys go over the intentional grounding play from TJ Yates during the first half of the Jaguars game. (Footage starts at about 3:25).

I will detail below why the Officials made the right call, that's if you're able to get your brain to make the quantum leap needed to see things objectively.

Still here? Good. I hope my inflammatory title and grumpy demeanour hasn't put anyone off.

Lets go over this step by step.

For a QB (or Passer) to be able to throw away a ball and not be called for Intentional Grounding, he must ensure a number of things happen.

1. The ball must be thrown to where an eligible Receiver has the opportunity to make the catch.

OR

1. The ball must be thrown over the Neutral Zone, and
   
2. The Passer must be, or have been outside the the Tackle Box.

Now, given that the only player even close to the trajectory of the ball was wearing #65, we have to look at the second lot of circumstances.

So, was the ball thrown beyond the neutral zone? Yes, obviously.

And was TJ Yates ever outside the Tackle Box? NO. He never was.

If you look at the end view, you'll see that Eric Winston, #73, is basically in line with the stem of the letter 'R' in the Jaguars endzone. Lets use that as our reference point. As the play progresses, the pocket begins to collapse, TJ shuffles backwards, and to his right. But he never gets outside of the point of the stem of the 'R'. So he never gets outside of the tackle box (aka the pocket)

In conclusion, the Officials were right in throwing a flag and marching us back.