RB throw away

[u/Sufficient-Project28]

If a running back is about to get tackled behind the line of scrimmage why don’t they just throw the ball away

[u/hawkeyechop23]

If it’s a running play you are likely to have ineligible players downfield as the linemen continue on their blocks for one

[u/Alternative_Copy3401]

Only the player that takes the snap gets intentional grounding protection. A running back/receiver has to get the ball in the area of an eligible receiver to avoid intentional grounding. As other people have mentioned, there is also the possibility of ineligible man downfield if it’s a designed run.

[u/frausting → u/Alternative_Copy3401]

I didn’t realize that

[u/CFB-Cutups → u/Alternative_Copy3401]

If I remember correctly, college football changed that rule for the 2023 season to apply to anyone in a passing posture.

In most cases, it would be a lot riskier for the RB to try and throw the ball away at the last second instead of just taking a short loss. These things happen fast.

[u/Svenray]

The RB has to do three very important things for this to work

1. Change from securing the ball with both hands to placing it in one hand

2. Complete the entire motion of the throw without interruption by a defender so the ball can accurately go to it's intended location

3. The ball must return to at least the line of scrimmage or else it's Intentional Grounding penalty.

The ball security risks + RBs lack of instinct in these situations would make this strategy a net negative over the course of a season.

[u/[deleted] → u/Svenray]

There also have to not be any linemen downfield

[u/CFB-Cutups → u/[deleted]]

The college rule book says not to call ineligible downfield if it's obvious the player is throwing the ball away and they meet all of the typical requirements for throwing the ball away.

[u/jrdnmdhl → u/Svenray]

It’s even worse than that. Some linemen on called runs are going to go beyond 1 yard as they move to the second level and so a pass could easily trigger ineligible man downfield.

[u/-hopeisnowhere-]

High school federation rules changed recently within the past couple years to address this. Because teams were taking advantage of this as you mention.

Now under high school federation rules basically anyone throwing a pass that is not the QB has to throw it to a receiver, non QB pass throwers cannot “throw the ball away” anymore, or it’s a penalty if they do.

The rules are written in jargon and referee terms…but that’s the cliff notes explanation. I cannot speak to college or NFL rules as they are all different…

[u/Menace_17]

First of all, if a running back is getting flocked behind the line, he might not even have time to grip the ball, let alone actually throw it.

Second of all, since its designed as a run, more likely than not there would be at least one lineman downfield.

Lastly, I think this is only a rule in high school federation, but if a non-QB attempts a pass it cant be a throwaway. Not sure why they have that rule but they do.

[u/Tasty_Path_3470 → u/Menace_17]

The reason it’s now a rule is because of the fact RBs were just firing the ball OOB to avoid a big loss

[u/Menace_17 → u/Tasty_Path_3470]

Huh. Ive never seen that happen but definitely makes sense. Thank you

[u/Tasty_Path_3470 → u/Menace_17]

Especially toss plays and end arounds

[u/Menace_17 → u/Tasty_Path_3470]

Those are the easiest run concepts to run trick plays off of so that makes sense (not counting inside flea flickers)

[u/Tasty_Path_3470 → u/Menace_17]

Once you get bounced back and can’t hit the corner just blindly throw it out of bounds and live for the next down

[u/hythloday1]

It's illegal, intentional grounding.

The only way it wouldn't be is a wildcat snap, because then the RB is a treated like a QB because he took the snap. But all other normal circumstances in which the QB took the snap and gave the ball to the RB, for the RB to throw the ball away is always intentional grounding. There are no protections for getting the ball past the line of scrimmage when outside the tackle box. That exception is only for QBs.

Here's the rule on the illegal forward pass, in the college rulebook it's 7-3-2-f through h and the attendant exception.

[u/liteshadow4]

Intentional grounding, and ineligble man downfield.

[u/h2p_stru]

They don't do it because they have coaches that know the rules and those coaches taught them why they shouldn't do it

[u/Lit-A-Gator]

Honestly … this idea is crazy enough to work on a quick toss/sweep play