Unabated To The Quarterback

Unabated To The Quarterback Meaning and Definition

Unabated To The Quarterback – Unabated to the quarterback is when a defensive player jumps before the snap and steams toward the QB. Imagine a rear side blitz by a linebacker but before the ball is snapped, if you get my meaning. The offside player goes straight to the QB with no one stopping him.

Unabated to the Quarterback + Illegal Formation

Question:

On a play, the offense is lined up in an illegal formation. A defensive player jumps across the line early, and as soon as the ball is snapped, the play is blown dead, because the defensive player is unabated to the quarterback. Is the offense penalized for an illegal formation?

Answers:

This is an NFL question, because there is no such foul in lower levels of football.

The unabated to the quarterback happens before the snap, though, and illegal formation is a foul simultaneous with the snap, so no, this isn’t penalized.

NFL Ruling:

Illegal formation only is a foul once the ball is legally snapped.

Unabated to the Quarter Back is foul that occurs prior to the snap, and kills the play, preventing any snap: legal or illegal.

Therefore, there is no illegal formation foul, and only the penalty for the defensive foul is applied.