"DISCONCERTING SIGNALS & PRE-SNAP ACTIONS
The intent of pre-snap rules is to define and govern what is allowed by the offense and defense The offense, by design, has an advantage of knowing the starting signal, cadence, or sound, and the defense has an advantage as they are not limited in terms of overall player movements before the snap To discourage tactics at the line of scrimmage designed to cause an opponent to foul or to give either team an unmerited advantage, officials must be on high alert for any type of illegal pre-snap actions by either team Additionally, coaches should not teach illegal pre-snap actions designed to make their opponent foul.
These actions can sometimes be difficult to observe or hear in our noisy stadiums; therefore, officials must be on high alert to stop these illegal actions
For the offense, focus should be on any movement by one or more players that simulate the start of a play Special attention should be directed to the
quarterback for action that includes any quick, jerky, or abrupt movement that simulates action at the snap.
On the defensive side of the ball, officials should pay special attention to sounds and actions that could create a disruption to the offense’s starting signal
or cause the offense to false start This includes defenders near the line of scrimmage that make quick, abrupt, or exaggerated actions that are not part of
normal defensive movement The defense may move, but the movements may not simulate action at the snap Additionally, the defense cannot use words or
signals that simulate the sound or cadence of, or otherwise interfere with, the offensive starting signals This includes using a clap on the defensive side of the
ball that may disconcert the offense."
Here is my question - we can make the case that the mint front movement is part of "normal" defensive movement because we are arguably moving late to have the "last move" after the offense/OL/QB point out blocking assignments. Of course, we know the effect our movement has had, particularly during home games. My best guess Stoops made the argument to refs that the movement falls under the category of "actions designed that could create a disruption to the offense’s starting signal or cause the offense to false start." It is also possible that our LBs call out the timing of when the DL should move, which would fit under the "sounds" part of the rule.
The intent of pre-snap rules is to define and govern what is allowed by the offense and defense The offense, by design, has an advantage of knowing the starting signal, cadence, or sound, and the defense has an advantage as they are not limited in terms of overall player movements before the snap To discourage tactics at the line of scrimmage designed to cause an opponent to foul or to give either team an unmerited advantage, officials must be on high alert for any type of illegal pre-snap actions by either team Additionally, coaches should not teach illegal pre-snap actions designed to make their opponent foul.
These actions can sometimes be difficult to observe or hear in our noisy stadiums; therefore, officials must be on high alert to stop these illegal actions
For the offense, focus should be on any movement by one or more players that simulate the start of a play Special attention should be directed to the
quarterback for action that includes any quick, jerky, or abrupt movement that simulates action at the snap.
On the defensive side of the ball, officials should pay special attention to sounds and actions that could create a disruption to the offense’s starting signal
or cause the offense to false start This includes defenders near the line of scrimmage that make quick, abrupt, or exaggerated actions that are not part of
normal defensive movement The defense may move, but the movements may not simulate action at the snap Additionally, the defense cannot use words or
signals that simulate the sound or cadence of, or otherwise interfere with, the offensive starting signals This includes using a clap on the defensive side of the
ball that may disconcert the offense."
Here is my question - we can make the case that the mint front movement is part of "normal" defensive movement because we are arguably moving late to have the "last move" after the offense/OL/QB point out blocking assignments. Of course, we know the effect our movement has had, particularly during home games. My best guess Stoops made the argument to refs that the movement falls under the category of "actions designed that could create a disruption to the offense’s starting signal or cause the offense to false start." It is also possible that our LBs call out the timing of when the DL should move, which would fit under the "sounds" part of the rule.
