Expert: Vic Winnek - 10/29/2011

Question
In the Wisconsin-Michigan State game last week, UW quarterback Russell Wilson was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone resulting in a safety for Michigan State. He took the snap, faked a handoff to the running back and then rolled out to the left beyond the tackle box with his back to the defense. He then turned around, moved back to his right to the area within the tackle box when he came under pressure and threw the ball about thirty yards downfield toward the sideline. It did not appear that there was an eligible receiver in the vicinity. If he had stayed in the tackle box, this clearly would have been grounding. Since he left the tackle box, and then went back in, the ruling is not so clear to me. Would you please help me clarify.
Thanks, Seth

Answer
Seth
I think you understand the rule.  There are two types of intentional grounding categories: 1) throwing the ball away to save yardage and 2) throwing the ball away to conserve time.

When a passer to conserve "yardage" throws the ball forward into an area where there is no eligible Team A receiver this is a foul, UNLESS the passer is or has been outside the tackle box then he may throw the ball so that it crosses or lands beyond the neutral zone or neutral zone, then it is not intentional grounding.

When a passer to conserve "time" throws the ball forward into an area where there is no eligible Team A receiver this is a foul for intentional grounding and there is NO tacklebox exception in this case.

Knowing the time element is important because if the passer to conserve time throws the ball forward into an area where there is no eligible Team A receiver, that is a foul penalized 5 yards from the spot of the foul and loss of down.  If this is what happened on the play you ask about, since the spot of the team A foul is in the end zone, by rule it is a safety. [Team A is team that is designated to put the ball in play, the team that snaps the ball]

Based on your question it sounds like a play to save yardage and if that is correct then it sounds as though the referee made an error.  This is a Big Ten crew and they are outstanding officials, well trained and not likely to make such a mistake, but it can happen. That is why I am thinking the reason they went with intentional grounding in your play is because it was to conserve time.

As you describe the play, it doesn't sound like intentional grounding because the passer "had gone outside the tackle box and returned".  Once he is out and scrambles back in, the passer is considered to have been out for intentional grounding purposes.  You next say that the the ball crossed the line of scrimmage by 30 yards.  That is the second element of the rule that must occur - the legal pass must cross the line of scrimmage. I have listed the type of illegal forward passes - intentional grounding is an illegal forward pass.  Please see "e", "f" "h" below
they are the exact rules governing intentional grounding.  I added the others so you could see all categories of illegal passes.

A forward pass is illegal if:
a. It is thrown by a Team A player whose entire body is beyond the neutral zone when he releases the ball. [5 yard from the spot of the foul; loss of down]

b. It is thrown by a Team B player.[5 yard from the spot of the foul; loss of down]

c. It is thrown after team possession has changed during the down.[5 yard from the spot of the foul; loss of down]

d. It is the second forward pass during the same down.[5 yard from the spot of the foul; loss of down]

e. The passer to conserve time throws the ball directly to the ground (1)after the ball has already touched the ground; or (2) not immediately after controlling the ball. [5 yard from the spot of the foul; loss of down]

f. The passer to conserve time throws the ball forward into an area where there is no eligible Team A receiver. [5 yard from the spot of the foul; loss of down]

g. It is thrown from in or behind the neutral zone after a ball carrier has gone beyond the neutral zone. [5 yard from the spot of the foul; loss of down]

h. The passer to conserve yardage throws the ball forward into an area where there is no eligible Team A receiver. Exception: If the passer is or has been outside the tackle box he may throw the ball so that it crosses or lands beyond the neutral zone or neutral zone extended. This applies only to the player who receives the snap.

I hope this answers your question.
Best of luck,