Scrambling Rules CFB vs. NFL?

[CookieMonster.sixpack]

I'm not sure if any of you saw the New Orleans-Tampa Bay game a couple weeks ago, but Tampa was driving to send it to overtime and had a touchdown pass negated because the WR stepped out, came back in and was the first player to touch the pass. He had been shoved out of bounds. The referee on television said it wasn't pass interference because Tampa's QB had scrambled out of the pocket and therefore the DB was allowed to make contact well down the field (I'm guessing in the event the QB had tried to run for it). Anyway, is it okay to "chuck" the receivers well down field if the QB escapes the pocket?

Seems pertinent since we're facing a scrambler this week.

 

[Incognegro]

That's a good point... I had completely forgotten about that rule. I've never seen it called in college honestly so I don't know...

 

[joey.sixpack]

I'm not sure if any of you saw the New Orleans-Tampa Bay game a couple weeks ago, but Tampa was driving to send it to overtime and had a touchdown pass negated because the WR stepped out, came back in and was the first player to touch the pass. He had been shoved out of bounds. The referee on television said it wasn't pass interference because Tampa's QB had scrambled out of the pocket and therefore the DB was allowed to make contact well down the field (I'm guessing in the event the QB had tried to run for it). Anyway, is it okay to "chuck" the receivers well down field if the QB escapes the pocket?

Seems pertinent since we're facing a scrambler this week.

One important part of the play in the Saints game is that the ball wasn't in the air. It wasn't illegal contact because the quarterback left the pocket. It wasn't pass interference because he was pushed before the ball was passed. Had the DB pushed him with the ball in the air, it would have still been pass interference, even though the quarterback was outside the pocket. I'm not sure if either of these rules differ in college.

But in college it would have been a touchdown. In college, if the receiver is pushed out he can re-establish himself in bounds and legally be the first player to touch the ball. If the receiver goes out on his own, he can't be the first to touch the ball. This rule is different in the NFL, where the a player cannot go out of bounds for any reason and legally be the first to touch the ball.

 

[CookieMonster.sixpack]

One important part of the play in the Saints game is that the ball wasn't in the air. It wasn't illegal contact because the quarterback left the pocket. It wasn't pass interference because he was pushed before the ball was passed. Had the DB pushed him with the ball in the air, it would have still been pass interference, even though the quarterback was outside the pocket. I'm not sure if either of these rules differ in college.

But in college it would have been a touchdown. In college, if the receiver is pushed out he can re-establish himself in bounds and legally be the first player to touch the ball. If the receiver goes out on his own, he can't be the first to touch the ball. This rule is different in the NFL, where the a player cannot go out of bounds for any reason and legally be the first to touch the ball.

Okay. But can DB's "chuck" guys down field if the QB scrambles (as long as the ball is not in the air)? That's what I really want to know.