The ruling on sending a QB out in WR position?

[Borg]

Ok, what is the ruling here.

IF, you were a DB, and the other team sends out their QB to the WR position (signifying a 'Wildcat' formation) and the RB is taking the direct snap.

Doesn't the QB become "fair game" now? Couldn't the DB upon the snap, blast the QB into oblivion 'en route to the play'? Or, give him a 'chuck' within the 10 yards?

In a way, I think this is kind of risky for teams such as OK (with their Heisman QB) sending them out to the WR position. They could be taking a chance that they get blasted by a DB.

However, in my books, it would be extremely unsportsmanlike to do so, but I do think it opens them up for risk.

[Clark Addison]

I would imagine that you could; however:

1. Depending on the severity of it, I think you could still risk a unnecessary roughness penalty (if the refs thought you were headhunting).

2. If you do so, you are taking yourself out of the play. If you look at Bradford, he didn't even try to block anyone, he just ran down the field. So if you take the time to go knock him on his butt, there are only 10 defenders left to actually do something useful.

Anyone who knows more about football than me is free to correct.

[il Padrino Ute]

I don't see why it wouldn't be okay to give the QB a quick forearm shiver at the line. Nor do I see why it would be unsportsmanlike. If the QB lines up as a receiver, he's not the QB. It's a risk that the team is obviously willing to take.

[BoylenOver]

If you leave the QB uncovered and put that DB in the box, you minimize the tactical advantage the offense has by lining up in the wildcat.

Like Clark said, there's nothing wrong with knocking around the QB, but it unnecessarily takes a defender out of the play.