I have been a sportswriter and/or on message boards for almost 30 years. Each year, the question of penalties comes up. Based on the great Miami Hurricanes and other teams who were heavily penalized, you can win if there are effort penalties. You worry about dumb penalties (mental lapses) as opposed to effort penalties. YOU WANT PLAYERS TO REMAIN AGGRESSIVE.
Not included in this list below are bad personal foul penalties, such as a late hit to the head like Grose's against PV or dead-ball personal fouls after the play.
Offensive holding penalties bother me. However, what if Grose was sacking the quarterback as the ball was released, and they view that as roughing the passer? You can live with that. But he brought his hand to his face, so he had effort but was not wise.
However, those late hits when a QB slides late vs FAU do not bother me. Even Tom Herman said he has to find a different way to slide. It's very difficult to slow down when he slides late. Most QBs declare early when they slide.
Sometimes, a penalty helps; it can prevent a big play or even a touchdown. Brantley had two pass interference calls vs. Maryland, which were from great effort. Effort plays on defense do not bother me.
The spirit of the Horse collar rule was to prevent people from grabbing a player at the collar or shoulder pads and yanking him to the ground. Technically, MSU's player grabbed the collar and let go, so that is iffy to me and an effort penalty. A kid is trying to make a play.
operations.nfl.com
Encroachment, Offside, and Neutral Zone Defensive Infractions
Are these the same thing? To the casual observer, these three penalties look very similar, but they are slightly different. They all have to do with the defensive player crossing the line of scrimmage. See below for details.
Encroachment (5 yards) - Encroachment is when a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage before the snap and makes contact with an offensive player.
Offside (5 yards) - Offside is when part of the defensive player's body is over the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped.
Neutral zone infraction (5 yards) - A neutral zone infraction is when a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage prior to the snap and then causes an offensive player to move. Rather than call a false start on the offense, the penalty is called on the defensive player.
Offensive Penalties
False start (5 yards) - Offensive players must remain set prior to the snap. Any movement other than the player in motion will result in a false start.
Illegal formation (5 yards) - The offense must have seven players lined up on the line of scrimmage. Players not on the line of scrimmage must be at least 1 yard back.
Illegal motion (5 yards) - Only players in the backfield can go into motion. Once in motion, they must either move parallel to the line of scrimmage or be set prior to the snap. They cannot move toward the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped.
Too many men in motion (5 yards) - Two players cannot be in motion at the same time.
Delay of game (5 yards) - When the offensive team does not snap the ball before the play clock has expired, they will be given a delay of game penalty. This is a five yards. The play clock is either 40 seconds or 25 seconds long. In the case where the play is continuing from a previous play, they have 40 seconds from the end of the previous play. In the case where play has stopped, like with a time-out, then they have 25 seconds from when the referee says the ball is ready.
Offense or Defense
Illegal substitution (5 yards) - This is typically called when the offensive team breaks the huddle with 12 players. Even if one of them is running off the field, you cannot break the huddle with 12 players.
Too many players on the field (5 yards) - Each team may only have 11 players on the field when the ball is snapped. This play results in an automatic first down for the offense when the defense has too many players.
Not included in this list below are bad personal foul penalties, such as a late hit to the head like Grose's against PV or dead-ball personal fouls after the play.
Offensive holding penalties bother me. However, what if Grose was sacking the quarterback as the ball was released, and they view that as roughing the passer? You can live with that. But he brought his hand to his face, so he had effort but was not wise.
However, those late hits when a QB slides late vs FAU do not bother me. Even Tom Herman said he has to find a different way to slide. It's very difficult to slow down when he slides late. Most QBs declare early when they slide.
Sometimes, a penalty helps; it can prevent a big play or even a touchdown. Brantley had two pass interference calls vs. Maryland, which were from great effort. Effort plays on defense do not bother me.
The spirit of the Horse collar rule was to prevent people from grabbing a player at the collar or shoulder pads and yanking him to the ground. Technically, MSU's player grabbed the collar and let go, so that is iffy to me and an effort penalty. A kid is trying to make a play.
Horse Collar | NFL Football Operations
Football: Here are the Pre-Snap Violations and Rules that drive a coach crazy:
Encroachment, Offside, and Neutral Zone Defensive Infractions
Are these the same thing? To the casual observer, these three penalties look very similar, but they are slightly different. They all have to do with the defensive player crossing the line of scrimmage. See below for details.
Encroachment (5 yards) - Encroachment is when a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage before the snap and makes contact with an offensive player.
Offside (5 yards) - Offside is when part of the defensive player's body is over the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped.
Neutral zone infraction (5 yards) - A neutral zone infraction is when a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage prior to the snap and then causes an offensive player to move. Rather than call a false start on the offense, the penalty is called on the defensive player.
Offensive Penalties
False start (5 yards) - Offensive players must remain set prior to the snap. Any movement other than the player in motion will result in a false start.
Illegal formation (5 yards) - The offense must have seven players lined up on the line of scrimmage. Players not on the line of scrimmage must be at least 1 yard back.
Illegal motion (5 yards) - Only players in the backfield can go into motion. Once in motion, they must either move parallel to the line of scrimmage or be set prior to the snap. They cannot move toward the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped.
Too many men in motion (5 yards) - Two players cannot be in motion at the same time.
Delay of game (5 yards) - When the offensive team does not snap the ball before the play clock has expired, they will be given a delay of game penalty. This is a five yards. The play clock is either 40 seconds or 25 seconds long. In the case where the play is continuing from a previous play, they have 40 seconds from the end of the previous play. In the case where play has stopped, like with a time-out, then they have 25 seconds from when the referee says the ball is ready.
Offense or Defense
Illegal substitution (5 yards) - This is typically called when the offensive team breaks the huddle with 12 players. Even if one of them is running off the field, you cannot break the huddle with 12 players.
Too many players on the field (5 yards) - Each team may only have 11 players on the field when the ball is snapped. This play results in an automatic first down for the offense when the defense has too many players.
