Why was that not intentional grounding..

[RUboston]

on Indiana in the end zone? He threw the ball into the ground and the only person even close was a lineman. The RB was nowhere near the play.

 

[RutgersNation]

Rb was in the area.... It's a crappy rule but it was the correct call

 

[SouthJerseyRU]

RB was right next to the lineman.

 

[anon_xekqhstck0ygt]

Agree was not like last week's play. RB was behind the lineman and the Qb purposefully threw it in that direction unlike last week when the Qb just tossed it as he was falling backwards.

 

[ArminRU]

I thought you needed to pass it over the line of scrimmage though?

 

[SouthJerseyRU]

Here's a pic from the side. Only has to be near an eligible receiver. For the line of scrimmage thing, it's if the QB is out of the pocket and throws to nobody.

 

[rutgersguy1_rivals]

I thought you needed to pass it over the line of scrimmage though?

You need to be outside the tackles and reach the line of scrimmage to avoid intentional grounding if no one is in the vicinity.

In this case the RB was in the vicinity even if the OL was between the throw and the RB. They're usually pretty generous with the interpretation of "in the vicinity" from what I've seen over the years.

 

[RUScrew85]

Not buying it. No way the RB is in that play.

 

[DJ Spanky]

Not buying it. No way the RB is in that play.

Doesn't matter, that's the rule.