QUESTION #1
I was hoping you could answer a quick question for me that is a bone of contention amongst some fellow fans and I regarding what is an illegal forward pass. Specifically what I am referring to is the contradictory term “forward lateral”. Can a player (typically the QB) underhand the ball forward from behind the line of scrimmage, similar to how he would do a backwards pass or lateral to a running back? Are there restrictions on this? Can it be thrown with two hands?
ANSWER
A forward pass may be thrown overhand, underhand or sidearm, one hand or two. The concept is that it is a thrown ball going forward. It may cross the line of scrimmage, or be thrown to a player behind the line of scrimmage.
There can only be one forward pass per down, but onside or lateral passes have no restriction as to the number which may occur during a play.
The “forward lateral” you speak of is actually a misnomer. It is what we call an offside pass, thrown by a player when the line of scrimmage is not in play (in other words – in the open field).
An illegal forward pass is generally flagged when a passer crosses the line of scrimmage and then throws a forward pass. You might be interested to know that if a passer crosses the line of scrimmage, and then retreats behind it again, he may legally throw a forward pass.
QUESTION #2
In the third quarter of the Riders-Alouettes game a Montreal player was flagged for roughing the passer even though the quarterback had passed the ball over the line of scrimmage. When is roughing the passer, roughing the passer when a quarterback is over the line of scrimmage?
ANSWER
The quarterback gets protection when he is close to the line of scrimmage. Even if he is over the line of scrimmage the quarterback is protected. If he is way over the line of scrimmage – say 3-4 or more yards – he is no longer treated like a quarterback.
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