Excuse my ignorance, but what’s up with this? I don’t recall seeing it before last weekend. Half a second before the snap, an offensive lineman rapidly points forward.
Two questions:
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Is there an exception under the false start rules that makes this OK?
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Why are they doing it? To try to make the defense jump?
This is most certainly not new. They are pointing out the defensive alignment. Someone that might be blitzing. Making sure all are on the same page to cover it.
As false start goes, I think it’s fine because they come out of their stance. It’s not like they are in the stand and any flinch of shoulder jiggle could be interpreted as the snap happening.
If defense if confusing a stand and point with a snap they deserve the encroachment penalty.