AR 9-1-1-B / Blitzer

I. A blitzer is running quickly towards the quarterback and a receiver running a route has to alter
direction to avoid the blitzer.
RULING: No foul. A receiver has to give the blitzer the superseding ROW. If another defender who had not made a valid signal to gain ROW was rushing, it would have been a foul against the
defender for shielding.

II. A blitzer is running quickly towards the quarterback and a receiver running a route shields or
contacts the blitzer.
RULING: Penalty for shielding or illegal contact against the offense. All receivers must avoid the
blitzers’ rushing lane(s).

III. A blitzer is running slowly towards the quarterback and a receiver running a route is shielded.
RULING: Penalty for shielding against the defender. A blitzer has the ROW only if rushing quickly
(R 2-2-6) and the receivers have the chance to calculate the blitzers’ rushing lane(s).

IV. A blitzer is rushing towards the quarterback and as the quarterback starts to roll out the blitzer
changes direction.
RULING: The blitzer loses ROW when changing direction and must take care not to shield a
receiver thereafter.

V. A blitzer contacts the snapper, who has remained stationary since the snap.
RULING: Penalty for aiming against the defender. ROP of the snapper is worth more than the
ROW of the blitzer (R 2-13-2).

VI. A blitzer lines up directly opposite the snapper and after the snap rushes straight towards the
quarterback. The snapper remains stationary using the ROP and the blitzer changes direction
to avoid contact. Immediately afterwards the snapper starts running a pass route right in front
of the blitzer and both collide.
RULING: Penalty for aiming on offense against the offense. The blitzer loses ROW when changing
direction, but this will not give the snapper the right to provoke a collision.

VII. A blitzer is rushing towards the scrimmage line but stops before crossing it.
RULING: No foul. The blitzer does not have to cross the scrimmage line, but loses ROW by
stopping and will have to avoid the offensive players thereafter.
VIII.A receiver is crossing the lane of the blitzer. The blitzer tries to avoid contact but still runs into the receiver.
RULING: Penalty for illegal contact against the offense.

IX. A receiver is crossing the lane of the blitzer. The blitzer does not try to avoid contact and runs
into the receiver.
RULING: Penalty for shielding against the offense and penalty for aiming against the defense. The
fouls offset and the down will be repeated.

X. A receiver is crossing the blitzers lane without shielding. The blitzer hits the receiver with an
extended arm as they pass.
RULING: Aiming by the blitzer. Even with the ROW the blitzer may not initiate contact.

XI. The blitzer stops in front of the quarterback after the ball has been released and touches the
quarterback with the hands at the hip.
RULING: No foul for the touch, because contact has to have an impact.

XII. The blitzer stops in front of the quarterback after the ball has been released and pushes the
quarterback with the hands at the hip such that the quarterback must take 2 steps to regain
balance.
RULING: Penalty for illegal contact defense.

XIII. The blitzer stops in front of the quarterback as the ball is released. The natural throwing
movement with a step forward brings the quarterback into contact with the blitzer.
RULING: No fouls for the contact as both players are standing and have the ROP in the meaning
of R 2-13-1.

XIV. The blitzer jumps straight up in the air as the quarterback releases the ball. The quarterback
takes 3 steps forward after releasing the ball and contacts the blitzer.
RULING: Penalty for illegal contact offense. The blitzer has ROP despite the jump and the
quarterback’s actions mean that they are responsible for the contact. If the momentum of the
jump had carried the blitzer into the quarterback then the foul would have been against the
defense.

XV. As the quarterback starts to release the ball, the blitzer jumps forward in an attempt to deflect
it and hits the ball or arm prior to leaving the quarterback’s hand.
RULING: Penalty for aiming, because the point of attack was a ball in possession of a runner
(R 9-1-1).