Question for the football rules experts (so no SEC refs need reply)

[Hugh's Burner Phone]

I know at the snap of the ball a defensive back can make contact with the receiver if he is still within five yards of the LOS. Is there any rule saying all he can do is make brief contact or can he sustain contact as long as he is in that five yard window? With so many passes based on timing and the QB usually just having 4-5 seconds to get rid of the ball, I was wondering why defensive players don't just lock the receivers up and not let them release down the field. If they just did that for two seconds it would throw off every timing route and and typically just leave the QB a very small window to do something with the ball before the pass rush got to him.

 

[VegasDawg13]

Contact with a receiver only becomes Illegal Contact if it occurs over 5 yards from the line of scrimmage.

Holding is always illegal.

 

[o_Hot Rock]

I am no expert but this is a message board so...

He can maintain contact but it's very difficult to do without holding. Did you see those moves that Trevor Lawrence put on those guys trying to tackle him as he ran through their arm tackles for 1st downs and TD's last night. Those are some of the best NFL tacklers in the business and none of them can handle it one on one. The only way they stopped it was to bring help. Those CB's are out there by themselves when pressing a WR's, you can't afford to double them up with press. There may be coverage protection behind them but not always and it could be slow coming since those guys back there have a lot of ground to cover.

To answer your question: You are allowed, but being able to do so is another matter without getting a holding penalty.

 

[Hugh's Burner Phone]

I was just thinking get right up on the line and try to pancake him. Obviously, you can't hold but I'd do anything I can to make him take as long as possible to get past that five yard window. Like I was saying, if you can just delay him by two seconds you've cut the passing window down to half.

 

[Seinfeld]

Also worth noting that it immediately becomes pass interference the second the ball is in the air. It would take extreme discipline by a DB to know exactly when to let up

 

[paindonthurt_]

But doing that will get you beat over the top a lot unless you are among the most talented of nfl CBs. Take a rare combo of strength and speed to do that consistently and not get beat.

 

[Bullycon]

Contact within five yards of the line of scrimmage is an NFL rule, not college. The NCAA rule is:

"Defensive players may ward off or legally block an eligible pass receiver until that player occupies the same yard line as the defender or until the opponent could not possibly block him. Continuous contact is illegal."

 

[Tractorman]

NFL - you can make contact within 5 yards
NCAA and Highschool - you can make contact anywhere on the field until the ball is thrown.
How much contact is unnecessary roughness? Idk

https://www.viqtorysports.com/making-contact-with-wide-receivers/

 

[Villagedawg]

This is correct

Contact within five yards of the line of scrimmage is an NFL rule, not college. The NCAA rule is:

"Defensive players may ward off or legally block an eligible pass receiver until that player occupies the same yard line as the defender or until the opponent could not possibly block him. Continuous contact is illegal."

The 5 yard deal is an NFL rule.
NFHS (high school) there are no restrictions on the defensive player until a pass is thrown. Pass interference restriction begin for the offensive player at the snap.

 

[Villagedawg]

They often will "jam" receivers at the LOS, but they will usually have safety help over the top because once he get by you, you are beat.

 

[PirateDawg]

The rule is laughable. How many times do receivers push off the defenders?

Contact within five yards of the line of scrimmage is an NFL rule, not college. The NCAA rule is:

"Defensive players may ward off or legally block an eligible pass receiver until that player occupies the same yard line as the defender or until the opponent could not possibly block him. Continuous contact is illegal."

I've seen defenders keep a hand on receivers the length of the field. I've seen receivers push off to get an edge with no call. The rule should mean any contact is a flag.