What would happen if defensive holding was just a five-yard penalty (no first down)?

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by jjchieffan

I think that the holding penalty should not be called if it's away from the play. It's stupid to negate a good defensive play where the ball is at because of something across the field that had no effect whatsoever on the play.

I think you have to call it, though. If a defender holds the quarterback's first read and then he looks elsewhere, it should still be a penalty. But the problem occurs because you've got multiple receivers out running routes, and if any one of them tangles with a defender, it's a first down, even if they were never looked at by the quarterback.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I think you have to call it, though. If a defender holds the quarterback's first read and then he looks elsewhere, it should still be a penalty. But the problem occurs because you've got multiple receivers out running routes, and if any one of them tangles with a defender, it's a first down, even if they were never looked at by the quarterback.

Well then, if it's away from the play don't penalize the first down. If it is at the play then throw in the 1st.