If officials engage in “preventative officiating” when it comes to defensive players lining up directly against the snapper for field goal attempts, logic and common sense suggest that a penalty flag is never thrown for this infraction, since the officials intervene to move the player.
In theory, that’s accurate. But if the official doesn’t get there in time, the flag ends up being thrown.
That’s why happened last Thursday night, in the second quarter of the Colts-Texans game. As Houston kicker Randy Bullock was preparing to attempt a 32-yard field goal, nose tackle Zach Kerr lined up partially over the snapper. Behind Kerr, an official communicated with Colts linebacker D’Qwell Jackson. The official turned back to the line of scrimmage, noticed Kerr, and then begun to come forward in an apparent attempt to move Kerr.
The ball was snapped before Kerr can be moved, and so the official threw a flag.
The five-yard penalty gave Houston a first down, and they scored a touchdown two plays later.
So while “preventative officiating” is preferred in these cases, it’s not a perfect system. In that case, the Texans benefited from the failure of the officials to help the Colts avoid a penalty.
According to the league office, it’s the only time that penalty has been called all year. Which suggests that, far more often than not, the officials keep defenses from making what could be a costly mistake.
