Blocked Punt Not a Turnover?

By Seanito

11/22/2019 9:55 am

I blocked a punt on this play: https://mfn7.myfootballnow.com/watch/8588#1597644
....which was "recovered" ten yards downfield by my opponent and then they kept possession. Other than the guy who blocked the punt, none of my players touched the ball.

Maybe I just don't know NFL rules well enough, but why isn't that a turnover on downs?

Re: Blocked Punt Not a Turnover?

By Bexus76

11/22/2019 10:07 am

It depends on if the ball traveled past the line of scrimmage. If the ball does not pass the line of scrimmage, its treated like a fumble. Either team can pick it up and advance. If it did pass the line, it's still treated kinda like a punt. If it hits the ground, I think its considered a dead-ball where it lands, but the return team can catch it in the air and still return it.

Re: Blocked Punt Not a Turnover?

By Seanito

11/22/2019 10:09 am

It traveled past the line of scrimmage, the first player to touch it was my opponent. He was tackled basically on the spot, which was past the first down marker. But I think it should have been my ball at that spot.

Re: Blocked Punt Not a Turnover?

By Infinity on Trial

11/22/2019 10:10 am

I believe a blocked punt becomes a live ball once it travels past the LOS.

Last edited at 11/22/2019 10:11 am

Re: Blocked Punt Not a Turnover?

By Bexus76

11/22/2019 10:11 am

If the ball hit the ground, I'm pretty sure it should be called dead-ball where it hits.
If he caught it in the air though, I guess it could be treated like a forward pass but I'm not 100% sure on that.

Re: Blocked Punt Not a Turnover?

By Seanito

11/22/2019 10:18 am

ARTICLE 2. KICKERS CATCH OR RECOVER BEYOND LINE. When the kickers catch or recover a kick beyond the line of
scrimmage, the ball is dead at the spot of recovery, even if a member of the receiving team has first touched the ball.

Re: Blocked Punt Not a Turnover?

By Infinity on Trial

11/22/2019 10:27 am

Seanito wrote:

ARTICLE 2. KICKERS CATCH OR RECOVER BEYOND LINE. When the kickers catch or recover a kick beyond the line of
scrimmage, the ball is dead at the spot of recovery, even if a member of the receiving team has first touched the ball.

I think the emphasis here is "dead at the spot of recovery," as opposed to dead where the ball was muffed, touched or blocked.

Re: Blocked Punt Not a Turnover?

By Seanito

11/22/2019 10:30 am

First and foremost, the issue is which team should possess the ball. I'm fairly certain that blocking a punt does NOT constitute possession by the receiving team. So does something else happen on that play to make it a FUMBLE by the receiving team? Is that what I'm missing here? Because the rule seems clear.

Re: Blocked Punt Not a Turnover?

By Infinity on Trial

11/22/2019 10:38 am

I'm not seeing anything conclusive. Here's the rulebook, if someone has time to dig through: https://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/2019-nfl-rulebook/

If the ball doesn't pass the LOS, it appears that either team can pick it up and advance the ball. I'm less certain now about what happens after it passes the LOS.

Re: Blocked Punt Not a Turnover?

By Bexus76

11/22/2019 10:41 am

See article 9.3.2 illegal catch and recovery.
Item 2. Illegal Catch or Recovery. If the kickers catch or recover a kick beyond the line that has not been touched beyond the line by the receiving team, the ball is dead, and it is first-and-10 for the receivers at the spot of catch or recovery (see 11-4-2 for missed goals). If a kick from behind the line is touched by the receiving team behind the line, such touching does not make the kicking team eligible to catch or recover the kick beyond the line.

Here's the thing though, you cant tell from the video if the ball landed behind the line and rolled, in which case I still think it's a fumble.

Last edited at 11/22/2019 10:49 am

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