The one I wonder about is when a defender intercepts the ball on the one yard line and his momentum carries him into the endzone. Is it a safety then because the interceptor initially had the ball on the 1yd line? I've seen it a couple times where the interceptor just barely makes it out of the endzone.

millertime;196589The one I wonder about is when a defender intercepts the ball on the one yard line and his momentum carries him into the endzone. Is it a safety then because the interceptor initially had the ball on the 1yd line? I've seen it a couple times where the interceptor just barely makes it out of the endzone.

I'm pretty sure it's a touchback if his momentum carries him into the end zone. It is probably a safety, though, if he goes into the end zone under his own power, looking for a running lane, and can't get back out.

Greg C.;196590I'm pretty sure it's a touchback if his momentum carries him into the end zone. It is probably a safety, though, if he goes into the end zone under his own power, looking for a running lane, and can't get back out.

correct with both scenarios.

millertime;196589The one I wonder about is when a defender intercepts the ball on the one yard line and his momentum carries him into the endzone. Is it a safety then because the interceptor initially had the ball on the 1yd line? I've seen it a couple times where the interceptor just barely makes it out of the endzone.

This happened in a Packers game in Minnesota by I think Craig Newsome in the mid to late 90s.
That was the first time I remember seeing that situation.
I recalled it being a touchback.
However, NFL.com rulebook states the ball is placed at point of interception (forward progress?).

Greg, it's no different on kick returns.
If the player somehow managed to get tackled in his own endzone without ever possessing it in the field of play it would still be a touchback.

Anyway, I'm providing a link from NFL.com.
The way they state it is that the impetus for the ball being downed in the end zone has to come from the team being tackled/downed in their own end zone.
If you intercept the ball in the end zone or receive the ball from a kickoff in the end zone, the ball is there because of the opposing team.
You have to have possession of the ball outside of the end zone and intentionally run it back into your own end zone to have a safety or otherwise find a way to be downed within your own end zone (foul, fumble, etc.).

http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/safety2

Make me the coach for a day...


I would not slam Shields in the game film meeting room.
I would applaud him for his belief in himself, his skill level, and his desire to to make something happen.

Then after the team meeting...
I would pull him aside, and tell him to never do that again. EVER!

What if he fumbled after that hit trying return it out of the end zone?
What if it was a T.D. after an INT. because of a fumble on the return?
It could have happened with how how hard he was hit.

That approach will tell other players to do the same thing, then you will find yourself having to take time for individual players saying the same thing over and over again.

You commend him on his confidence, desire and belief, but then also stress time and place to take such risk. The Packers were up by a healthy margin and there was no opening to escape.

Teach your entire team to make smarter decisions, not just one at a time, would be my opinion.

Zero2Cool;196613That approach will tell other players to do the same thing, then you will find yourself having to take time for individual players saying the same thing over and over again.

You commend him on his confidence, desire and belief, but then also stress time and place to take such risk. The Packers were up by a healthy margin and there was no opening to escape.

Teach your entire team to make smarter decisions, not just one at a time, would be my opinion.

not only that but it smacks of being two faced.
Say what you mean in front of all not just in a corner.

well there are of course times when you pull a player aside and speak to him alone.

You can applaud his performance in the film room and finish with a word of admonishment that way they all learn from his mistake.

Zero2Cool;196613That approach will tell other players to do the same thing, then you will find yourself having to take time for individual players saying the same thing over and over again.

You commend him on his confidence, desire and belief, but then also stress time and place to take such risk. The Packers were up by a healthy margin and there was no opening to escape.

Teach your entire team to make smarter decisions, not just one at a time, would be my opinion.

This... be smart.

RaiderPride;196602Make me the coach for a day...


I would not slam Shields in the game film meeting room.
I would applaud him for his belief in himself, his skill level, and his desire to to make something happen.

Then after the team meeting...
I would pull him aside, and tell him to never do that again. EVER!

What if he fumbled after that hit trying return it out of the end zone?
What if it was a T.D. after an INT. because of a fumble on the return?
It could have happened with how how hard he was hit.

Or what if he returned in 108 yards for a TD?

Remember Randall Cobb earlier this year? He was supposed to take a knee.
Luckily for us, God intervened and told him to run it out.
Maybe God told Shields to do the same, but someone missed a block.

zombieslayer;196643Or what if he returned in 108 yards for a TD?

Remember Randall Cobb earlier this year? He was supposed to take a knee.
Luckily for us, God intervened and told him to run it out.
Maybe God told Shields to do the same, but someone missed a block.

An all powerful God that determines the performance of football players wouldn’t allow a missed block.

Silentio, MDiv.