Quote:
Originally Posted by KC Fish
That's incorrect. A-11's formation is(I should say was) strictly intended for scrimmage kick formations. It does not satisfy the requirements for a legal offensive formation in two ways. The A-11 does not have 5 down offensive linemen, as required for a legal offensive formation. It also neglects the normal jersey numbering requirements for linemen in legal offensive formations.
The swinging gate on the other hand, does indeed have the required number of ineligible down offensive linemen, with the correct jersey numbering. They are simply in a different position, but they're still linemen on the line of scrimmage who are not eligible receivers. There is absolutely no loophole necessary to run it. It's simply a legal offensive formation with it's down linemen in a different position than normal. There are no extra eligible receivers as in the case of A-11.
This shouldn't be difficult.
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there are no "extra" eligible recievers in the A11. You just can't immediately tell who is eligible.
You also can't make hard and fast rules about what you can and can't do with "kicking formations" without doing away with fake punts and field goals.
So far, the only real argument I see against this is "tradition." if that's really the argument, them the argument must logically be against the swinging gate, as well. Hell, tradition says players used to have no such thing as eligible and ineligible nbers, so it's weak to begin with.
If leagues don't like it, fine. But let's not pretend there was anything illegal or non-traditional about it.