Mel Blount rule
E1035850
The Mel Blount rule is an NFL regulation introduced in 1978 that restricts defensive backs from making significant contact with receivers more than five yards beyond the line of scrimmage to promote passing offense.
Statements (40)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
NFL rule
ⓘ
gridiron football rule ⓘ |
| affectsPosition |
eligible receiver
ⓘ
tight end ⓘ wide receiver ⓘ |
| appliesToPosition |
cornerback
ⓘ
defensive back ⓘ safety ⓘ |
| appliesToRole | pass defender ⓘ |
| appliesWhen |
ball is in the air on a passing play
ⓘ
defender is covering an eligible receiver ⓘ |
| codifiedIn | NFL Rulebook NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| contactRestriction | no significant contact with receiver beyond 5 yards ⓘ |
| contactTypeRestricted | bump-and-run coverage beyond 5 yards ⓘ |
| distanceLimitFromLineOfScrimmage | 5 yards GENERATED ⓘ |
| effectOnLeague | contributed to more pass-oriented NFL offenses ⓘ |
| effectOnStrategy |
encouraged more timing-based passing routes
ⓘ
reduced effectiveness of aggressive bump-and-run defenses ⓘ |
| eraOfContext | 1970s NFL ⓘ |
| governingBody | NFL Competition Committee NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| inspiredByPlayer | Mel Blount NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| introducedInSeason | 1978 NFL season ⓘ |
| introducedInYear | 1978 ⓘ |
| jurisdiction | professional American football in the NFL ⓘ |
| league | National Football League ⓘ |
| lineOfScrimmageReference | contact rules differ within first 5 yards ⓘ |
| namedAfter | Mel Blount NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| notableImpact | helped shift NFL toward modern passing era ⓘ |
| penaltyResult | automatic first down ⓘ |
| penaltyType | illegal contact ⓘ |
| penaltyYardage | 5 yards ⓘ |
| phaseOfPlay | passing game ⓘ |
| primaryPurpose |
increase scoring
ⓘ
limit defensive physicality downfield ⓘ promote passing offense ⓘ |
| reasonForName | Mel Blount’s dominant physical coverage style ⓘ |
| ruleCategory |
illegal contact rule
ⓘ
pass coverage rule ⓘ |
| sport | American football ⓘ |
| status | in force ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.