You never know when something you put out there will go viral.
However, this particular example of an uncalled false start in Monday night’s game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers certainly broke the floodgates when it came to discussion of the issue.
The subject in question was Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson, and this sure as heck looked like a false start to me.
This is apparently not a false start! pic.twitter.com/Odaf7R60AX
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) September 26, 2023
This was taken off my phone during the game, which explains the iffy video quality, so… let’s go to the tape.
The play in question happened with 20 seconds left in the first half, and the result was a two-yard pass from Jalen Hurts to A.J. Brown. Now, let’s go through this bit by bit.
In the first screencap, it’s clear that Johnson has started his movement before the ball is snapped. Per the NFL Rule Book, “It is a false start if the ball has been placed ready for play, and, prior to the snap, an offensive player who has assumed a set position moves in such a way as to simulate the start of a play, or if an offensive player who is in motion makes a sudden movement toward the line of scrimmage. Any quick abrupt movement by a single offensive player, or by several offensive players in unison, which simulates the start of the snap, is a false start, and the official shall blow the whistle immediately, whether the snap is made or there is a reaction by the defense.”
In the second clip, Johnson has reset his right foot, but the snap is taking place, and he’s not moving to reset in a three-point stance. Again, per the Rule Book: “An interior lineman who is in a two-point stance is permitted to reset in a three-point stance or change his position, provided that he comes to a complete stop prior to the snap. If he does not come to a complete stop prior to the snap, it is a false start.”
Yes, he is obviously changing his position, but the timing is not in Johnson’s favor. We’re talking about milliseconds here, but it’s still a point of focus, and the fact that Johnson was not called for a false start doesn’t negate the fact that is was a false start per the National Football League itself.
Here’s the full play from the overhead and end zone angles.
To paraphrase the 1985 Bears, I’m not here to cause no trouble… I’m just here to explain what I see, and what the Rule Book says.
