Can you have more then 7 men on the line?

Answer 1

YES. The Official NFL Rulebook (Rule 7, Section 2, Article 1) states: "The offensive team must have seven or more players on its line at the snap". Clearly saying that more than seven is allowed.

Answer 2

> Five linemen are the max and two tight ends, overall seven.

The rule is for a minimum not a maximum. The minimum is seven which includes receivers split out wide. As it is easier to count the number of players in the backfield then on the line of scrimmage especially viewing the players while on the field, the refs count the players not on the line of scrimmage and if the count five or more they know either there are not at least seven on the line of scrimmage or there are more than 11 players for that team on the field. But to answer your question, assuming it is not for Canadian football, with 11 on a team at assuming the center cannot snap the ball to himself the maximum you would ever be able to practically have is 10. I suppose there is no rule for snapping the ball to nobody, which would likely end up turning the ball over to the other team if not giving them a touchdown on that play, you could actually have 11 on the line of scrimmage.

Addressing the first answer, for goal line or inches to go for a first down type plays it is not uncommon for an offense to use three tight ends.

Answer 3

Yes. Just remember that only the two players on each end of the line are potential eligible receivers, if they are wearing eligible numbers. Your formation would have the QB and one other player in the backfield.

Answer 4

That's correct. 7 players will always be on the line of scrimmage. You have usually 5 lineman (Center - 2 Guards - 2 Tackles) and either two Wide Receivers or 1 Tight End & 1 Wide Receiver. That would mean that most likely there are two Running Backs in the backfield (Full Back and Running Back) which would mean 12 personnel. 1-TE, 2-RB's.

Now, to complicate things a bit. You can have players lined up close to the line of scrimmage but keep in mind that they're usually standing 1 yard behind the line. They do this because they want to be eligible receivers and not cover up the other receiver.

Answer 5

Not unless you want to be penalized for it. :-)

Rules state you must have at least 7 players on the line of scrimmage for any scrimmage play. You could have more than 7, but that would reduce the number of eligible receivers.

Answer 6

Yes, seven is a maximum in NFL, but only a minimum in high school rules.

Answer 7

At least seven though the more there are the fewer eligible receivers are allowed

Answer 8

Yes, the offensive team must have at least seven players on the line of scrimmage in NFL football.

Answer 9

It's the rules