ZBS- All Chop Blocks Illegal (1 Viewer)

[Chadstroma]

The competition committee just approved 2016 rule changes and among them is making all chop blocks illegal. I would propose that this will be an under rated hit to the Zone Blocking Scheme and suggest to adjust accordingly for fantasy running backs on teams using the ZBS. Simply put, without the ability to legally chop block, I question the ability for the ZBS to be as effective as it has in the past. Defenders will have a much better chance to disengage with a blocker and pursue a runner.

I doubt many will take this into consideration in ranking RB's for this upcoming season. I would argue a slight adjustment downward is called for in figuring out rankings.

I don't see this being as impactful for the passing game though.

 

[massraider]

Love to hear Howie Long's take on this.  He once went after Alex Gibbs after a game, about this stuff.  

Good news.  

 

[tone1oc]

So what you are saying is that there will be many chop block penalties called on ZBS teams. 

It's definitely something to consider, though I'd suspect that if there is a negative effect that there will be some adjustments over time and it shouldn't be a long term issue. 

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Alex Gibbs who is the genesis for the zone blocking system and who is responsible for many of the offensive lines of the San Francisco and later Denver Bronco Super Bowl teams.  The ZBS was adopted by the Shanahams and Kubiak.  So the rushing attacks in Atlanta, Denver, and Baltimore and? could take hits depending on enforcement.  

 

[Chadstroma]

So what you are saying is that there will be many chop block penalties called on ZBS teams. 

It's definitely something to consider, though I'd suspect that if there is a negative effect that there will be some adjustments over time and it shouldn't be a long term issue. 

No, I am saying in as much as the effectiveness of the system. A lot of these ZBS teams utilize the previously legal chop block in many of their running plays. It helps seal a pursuing defender off from the play- increasing he size of the hole for the RB to cut and run through. So, I am saying the RB's who have done well in these systems will be a little less effective than previously. My guess is that the average fantasy player will not take this into consideration. Will it make or break your rankings and fantasy year? My guess is no but I think it is certainly worth taking into account.

 

[tone1oc]

No, I am saying in as much as the effectiveness of the system. A lot of these ZBS teams utilize the previously legal chop block in many of their running plays. It helps seal a pursuing defender off from the play- increasing he size of the hole for the RB to cut and run through. So, I am saying the RB's who have done well in these systems will be a little less effective than previously. My guess is that the average fantasy player will not take this into consideration. Will it make or break your rankings and fantasy year? My guess is no but I think it is certainly worth taking into account.

You were pretty clear in your OP, I was kind of kidding, but there is some truth to it.  I'd imagine if chop blocking is as essential as you think it is then there will be a lot of chop block flags because OL would rather get a penalty than get blown up.  I think your point is very valid, and something to pay attention to in preseason. 

 

[massraider]

Love to read more about the ZBS, and how it has changed.

I feel like the main ZBS running plays I saw in DEN back in the day, I don't see anymore.  The bread and butter play was the whole line blocks one way, the center or backside guard would chop, and a huge hole opens up.  I watched that freaking play for years.  Everyone slides to the left, some undersized guard dives, and the entire backside of the D-line gets caught up in trash, and Terrell Davis gets 8 yards.  

Have to imagine that the system has evolved, becasue scrub ZBS backs aren't getting 1,200 yards like they used to.

 

[Chadstroma]

Love to read more about the ZBS, and how it has changed.

I feel like the main ZBS running plays I saw in DEN back in the day, I don't see anymore.  The bread and butter play was the whole line blocks one way, the center or backside guard would chop, and a huge hole opens up.  I watched that freaking play for years.  Everyone slides to the left, some undersized guard dives, and the entire backside of the D-line gets caught up in trash, and Terrell Davis gets 8 yards.  

Have to imagine that the system has evolved, becasue scrub ZBS backs aren't getting 1,200 yards like they used to.

Plus, as with everything in the NFL- as soon as something is successful and is replicated ways to counter it are found and implemented. But yea, I agree, I would like to see someones take on it that has more knowledge and experience with the evolution of the ZBS over the years.

 

[FF Ninja]

Eh... I love the logic behind this topic/recommended adjustment - the attention to detail and minutiae - but the reality is, in fantasy football, there is so much luck and unforeseeable consequences and/or chain reactions that making fine tuned adjustments like this would be similar to making adjustments for fractions of a mph in wind for some sort of shot put accuracy challenge... which is just one part of a ten part event. In other words, this should have no impact on anyone's rankings. The few teams that utilize this blocking scheme will (1) figure out a way to deal with this rule change and/or (2) have much bigger things impact the fantasy production of their players.

 

[Workhorse]

Love to read more about the ZBS, and how it has changed.

I feel like the main ZBS running plays I saw in DEN back in the day, I don't see anymore.  The bread and butter play was the whole line blocks one way, the center or backside guard would chop, and a huge hole opens up.  I watched that freaking play for years.  Everyone slides to the left, some undersized guard dives, and the entire backside of the D-line gets caught up in trash, and Terrell Davis gets 8 yards.  

Have to imagine that the system has evolved, becasue scrub ZBS backs aren't getting 1,200 yards like they used to.

Denver still runs it all the time. In fact, in the first Pats/Broncos matchup, it was exactly this kind of block that took out Hightower, which opened up the running game in the second half/overtime. It's about time the league eliminated that crap and yes, I'd expect teams like the Broncos to be less effective runnning the ball next season.

 

[massraider]

The ZBS goes back 20 years, and defensive linemen talked about how dangerous it was forever.  

One QB gets his knee taken out, and they change the rules.  It's about time, and the NFL should be ashamed of themselves, really.

 

[LawFitz]

I think this has impact. Which teams run heavy ZBS currently?

 

[Bracie Smathers]

I think this has impact. Which teams run heavy ZBS currently?

Off the top of my head, the teams I listed above:  

• Denver with HC Gary Kubiak who hired Alex Gibbs as his OL coach with Houston is a strong proponent of the ZBS everywhere he's coached
  
• Baltimore  who adopted Kubiak's ZBS when he was their OC and have kept that system
  
• Atlanta where Kyle Shanahan (the OC under Kubiak in Houston and worked with Alex Gibbs in Denver and Houston) has strongly adopted and probably has adopted the ZBS in its purest form
  

Those are the zone blocking schemes I'm familiar with and they all have one degree of separation from Alex Gibbs.

 

[tone1oc]

Is the NFL eliminating cut blocks as part of the rule change?  Or is only defensive players that are engaged?

 

[Biabreakable]

I think this has impact. Which teams run heavy ZBS currently?

I do not have a full list but it is my understanding that ZBS has become the most popular scheme over the past decade or so. It might be easier to find the few teams that do not use any ZBS in their running game. The question then becomes what percentage of running plays are ZBS.

I know the Titans used mostly ZBS although there were some instances of them using power with pulling guards. 

This is something that would need to be charted for each team and it isn't always easy to tell the difference between a zone call or something else.

Impact the rule change has? Hard to say. Hopefully it accomplishes its goal of protecting the health of players. Beyond that I would expect the inital rule change to cause an uptick in penalties called for chop blocking. I don't see this having the same impact as enforcement of the no chuck riule for the defense. Any impact it may have besides penalties is it might cause some teams to run the ball less, or to be passing from longer distance due to the penalty.

 

[Touchdown There]

The competition committee just approved 2016 rule changes and among them is making all chop blocks illegal.

Really unfortunate, legal chop blocks from the front are safe.  I would even argue they are more safe than straight run blocking.  Linemen and fullbacks get enough head to head contact.  The rare chop to the thigh with a shoulder pad, at worst, just pops the defenders legs into the air a little.

 

[LawFitz]

I don't see how you guys are minimizing the impact of this on ZBS systems to just "a few more penalties."

If the NFL consistently enforces those penalties, how does this rule not affect the effectiveness of ZBS?

 

[Touchdown There]

One QB gets his knee taken out, and they change the rules.  It's about time, and the NFL should be ashamed of themselves, really.

QBs blow ACLs by standing vertical to deliver a pass and a defender tackles just below the knee (most of the time unintentionally as a result of coming off the blocker).  Still will be legal to hit the ball carrier low.  Agree the NFL should not pass this rule.

 

[massraider]

QBs blow ACLs by standing vertical to deliver a pass and a defender tackles just below the knee (most of the time unintentionally as a result of coming off the blocker).  Still will be legal to hit the ball carrier low.  Agree the NFL should not pass this rule.

One Qb got hurt, and they outlawed all hits below the knee.  

Defensive linemen have been suffering leg injuries forever, as 300-pound linemen DIVE at their knees.  

it's about time this rule got passed.  

 

[FF Ninja]

I don't see how you guys are minimizing the impact of this on ZBS systems to just "a few more penalties."

If the NFL consistently enforces those penalties, how does this rule not affect the effectiveness of ZBS?

First of all, name all the teams employing ZBS.

Second, the linemen will just have to engage and block. It'll be a little more work and a few guys will break loose, but will they actually be able to catch up and make a play?

TL;DR = this will have a small impact on a small number of plays for a small number of teams.

 

[massraider]

Second, the linemen will just have to engage and block.

Inability to do this is why the chop block is key.  To open that hole, a backside blocker needs to stop his man dead.  You do that by taking him to the ground.  

 

[LawFitz]

First of all, name all the teams employing ZBS.

Second, the linemen will just have to engage and block. It'll be a little more work and a few guys will break loose, but will they actually be able to catch up and make a play?

TL;DR = this will have a small impact on a small number of plays for a small number of teams.

Your first point isn't relevant to what I stated & asked. Even if only three teams heavily use the ZBS. I would like to know who they are and adjust my rankings accordingly. I suspect it's more than just three, however.

Your second point minimizes just how much ZBS systems have traditionally employed chop blocks. They have forever overdrafted small athletic lineman who might be below average when asked to "engage and block" but sure can run fast, follow the mental aspects of the system and lunge into defenders' knees.

 

[Chadstroma]

Is the NFL eliminating cut blocks as part of the rule change?  Or is only defensive players that are engaged?

Cut blocks are still legal. Just all chop blocks are now illegal.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Is the NFL eliminating cut blocks as part of the rule change?  Or is only defensive players that are engaged?

This is brand new and I haven't read it or seen the new rule in action so I honestly am unfamiliar with the new rule change and can't comment on the specifics but if a defender is engaged in a block with an offensive player, no one can take out his legs, that is already on the books as a chop block and is illegal.  

From my understanding, the ZBS is  a diagonal/horizontal 'shift' of the entire O-line, forcing the D-Line to move and try and maintain gap integrity on-the-move.  This gives the O-line an advantage because the defender can't T-off on a target directly in front of them.  The defensive line is at a disadvantage because they have to catch up and maintain gap integrity with offensive AND they have to make sure they have their pursuit down because both lines are in motion so if one defender trips up or is slower than his teammates a gap will begin to open.

That is why in a ZBS, the O-line has the advantage.

Chop blocks were a critical aspect of Gibbs ZBS but they already changed some rules to make it less effective.  The way its coached now, those teams I listed have an advantage because they don't adapt to what the defense is doing, they attack the defense and hold the advantage with timing and tempo. That is why the Cleveland Browns were ranked in the top-five in offense a few years ago when Kyle Shanahan was the OC.  He said 'screw what the defense is doing, were are going to do this.'   And he just attacked the defense and even ran a tempo ZBS rush attack when the offense had fallen behind.  It was working fine until C Alex Mack broke his leg and the timing fell apart on the O-Line.  

So for the teams I listed:

• Denver with Kubiak who learned the ZBS from Gibbs
  
• Baltimore who adapted the ZBS installed by a disciple of Kubiak who learned it from Gibbs
  
• Atlanta with Shanahan who learned the ZBS from Gibbs
  

They hold a coaching advantage.  Chop blocks do figure in with WRs cracking back down the LOS to seal the edge so this 'could' have an impact on those teams listed above.

 

[Chadstroma]

First of all, name all the teams employing ZBS.

Second, the linemen will just have to engage and block. It'll be a little more work and a few guys will break loose, but will they actually be able to catch up and make a play?

TL;DR = this will have a small impact on a small number of plays for a small number of teams.

Not as easy to seal the back end of the play now essentially.

 

[FF Ninja]

Your first point isn't relevant to what I stated & asked. Even if only three teams heavily use the ZBS. I would like to know who they are and adjust my rankings accordingly. I suspect it's more than just three, however.

Your second point minimizes just how much ZBS systems have traditionally employed chop blocks. They have forever overdrafted small athletic lineman who might be below average when asked to "engage and block" but sure can run fast, follow the mental aspects of the system and lunge into defenders' knees.

It is relevant to the overall discussion. You seemed to have forgotten just what a niche market we were talking about.

I'm not minimizing. I'm just saying they'll have to adapt. Plus, as someone else mentioned, this isn't exactly like Denver back in the early 2000's where ZBS is producing plug & play 1500 yard rushers. So it's not like this magic system is being crippled and there is no suitable replacement. The system had already been mostly neutralized and it doesn't appear that switching to a conventional system is going to see some sort of dramatic drop off in productivity. But back to your point about linemen, I'm lazy and disinterested, so I just did a cursory glance at Denver's offensive line last year and those guys were all in line with the averages for the NFL on height and weight, so I don't think this concept of small athletic linemen is as prevalent as you might think.

 

[Touchdown There]

Cut blocks are still legal. Just all chop blocks are now illegal.

Good to hear and would love to know how they define the difference.  As it stands now, a cut is the same as a chop with the exception that it is not from behind or the side (or a guy getting hit low while engaged with another blocker).  It is a low block man v man which is safe.

Example, the play is going wide right.  The right TE can either hook the DE or cut him down on his outside thigh.  The cut is safest most effective block.

 

[LawFitz]

Denver, Baltimore, Atlanta, Houston, Arizona, Dallas, Jacksonville, San Fran, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Washington, KC, Green Bay, New Orleans

All use a significant amount of ZBS. Who else?

 

[tone1oc]

Good to hear and would love to know how they define the difference.  As it stands now, a cut is the same as a chop with the exception that it is not from behind or the side (or a guy getting hit low while engaged with another blocker).  It is a low block man v man which is safe.

Example, the play is going wide right.  The right TE can either hook the DE or cut him down on his outside thigh.  The cut is safest most effective block.

My understanding is that the difference is that chop block occurs when the defender is engaged with another blocker. 

 

[Touchdown There]

My understanding is that the difference is that chop block occurs when the defender is engaged with another blocker. 

I agree with that rule, very unsafe to be hit low when engaged.  However, I think an illegal chop is also a low hit from the side or behind a player.  I believe a legal cut is from the front only.

What about an undersized RB having to pickup a D-lineman or a blitzing linebacker?  Pretty unfair to take the cut away.  The new rules has only passed in the committee to allow a vote, which needs 75% approval from the owners.  May not pass anyway.

 

[Biabreakable]

Denver, Baltimore, Atlanta, Houston, Arizona, Dallas, Jacksonville, San Fran, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Washington, KC, Green Bay, New Orleans

All use a significant amount of ZBS. Who else?

I did some googling but I could not find an up to date comprehensive list in my search.

Here is an example of such a list from 2012  Many of the coaches are the same now just with different teams.

The Vikings should use less ZBS with Schiano as the offensive line coach than Davidson, but I would expect some form of hybrid between the two schemes still.

I did also found this article stating that teams using ZBS were more effective running the ball than teams that used primarily man blocking schemes from 2004 to 2014. 

In almost every single way, it seems that the zone-stretch scheme is superior to the man-power when it comes to rushing effectiveness and efficiency. Teams using this rushing offense produce NEP more effectively – likely due to the versatility of the blocking assignments (allowing linemen to assess threats on the fly and adjust) – and the zone-stretch’s per play efficiency is also greater than the man-power, proving that this is not just a volume advantage for accumulating NEP. In fact, 13 of the top 15 Rushing NEP seasons since 2004 have come from zone-stretch run schemes. The only area in which the man-power scheme trumps zone-stretch for running back value is that the former will have a greater propensity for running the ball in play selection ratios.

 

[Chadstroma]

I did some googling but I could not find an up to date comprehensive list in my search.

Here is an example of such a list from 2012  Many of the coaches are the same now just with different teams.

The Vikings should use less ZBS with Schiano as the offensive line coach than Davidson, but I would expect some form of hybrid between the two schemes still.

I did also found this article stating that teams using ZBS were more effective running the ball than teams that used primarily man blocking schemes from 2004 to 2014. 

And my thinking is that it will be less effective than previously as the legal chop block is much more of a ZBS thing than a power blocking scheme. Again, that legal chop block went a long way to sealing the gap for these teams. They can't do that nearly as easily now and defenders will have a better chance of getting to the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage than before.

 

[LawFitz]

The new rules has only passed in the committee to allow a vote, which needs 75% approval from the owners.  May not pass anyway.

Not true. Owners voted today. Chop blocks are now illegal.

 

[Hankmoody]

Good lord this quoting system is TERRIBLE.

Good to hear and would love to know how they define the difference.  As it stands now, a cut is the same as a chop with the exception that it is not from behind or the side (or a guy getting hit low while engaged with another blocker).  It is a low block man v man which is safe.

Example, the play is going wide right.  The right TE can either hook the DE or cut him down on his outside thigh.  The cut is safest most effective block.

Not exactly. A cut is when one blocker engages one defender.  If that DE is being blocked by someone else, the TE is committing a (possibly legal) chop block.

My understanding is that the difference is that chop block occurs when the defender is engaged with another blocker. 

This is correct.  There were some instances where it was legal to do.  They have now eliminated those three scenarios.

 

[Borden]

A chop block is when someone lunges with a shoulder/head/upper body at the back or side of the knee or legs. Before it was still legal to chop along the LoS if the defender wasn't engaged with by someone else.

A cut block is when the players are face to face and the blocker throws a shoulder into the guys legs. RBs in pass pro are a distinguishable example of this but it will also happen of quick passes. 

Every teams has ZBS and power blocking schemes in their playbook. What percentage of each changes from team to team. It will also vary year to year with teams based both player and coaching personnel. The Gibbs disciples are strong users of the ZBS but I don't think this will really have a major impact on how well there systems work. Since they couldn't chop engaged DL last year or in the open field (I believe) its mostly just cleaning up an existing rule. The seal blocks on the edge will just need to be timed slightly better. Really a minor adjustment because of the existing rule. 

The loss interior chop blocks likely will have little impact as well since rarely do you have an unengaged DL going to the play side. Also, since CUT blocks are still legal any counter plays the OL (likely a pulling guard) would still be able to go at the legs of the backside defender. If the defender is turned sideways (looking at the ball carrier) then a 300+ guard should be able to block him without much trouble. However, this is where some OL would choose to chop the side of the knee. And now they've made that illegal. 

 

[Hankmoody]

A chop block is when someone lunges with a shoulder/head/upper body at the back or side of the knee or legs. Before it was still legal to chop along the LoS if the defender wasn't engaged with by someone else.

A cut block is when the players are face to face and the blocker throws a shoulder into the guys legs. RBs in pass pro are a distinguishable example of this but it will also happen of quick passes.

Nope.

http://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/2015-nfl-rulebook/

Article 3. Chop Block

A Chop Block is a block by the offense in which one offensive player (designated as A1 for purposes of this rule) blocks a defensive player in the area of the thigh or lower while another offensive player (A2) engages that same defensive player above the waist.

1. A Chop Block is a legal block in the following situations on Running Plays:
   
   Offensive players A1 and A2, who are initially aligned adjacent to each other on the line of scrimmage, may chop a defensive player.
   
2. Offensive players A1 and A2, who are initially aligned more than one position away from each other on the line of scrimmage, may chop a defensive player when the flow of the play is toward the block.
   

[*]All other Chop Blocks are illegal, including in the following situations:

 

[Borden]

Good work rulebook. 

 

[Hankmoody]

Is that intended to be pejorative?  Don't you think it's important, when invoking rules definitions in a thread about rules changes that the rules be correctly cited?

 

[Borden]

Is that intended to be pejorative?  Don't you think it's important, when invoking rules definitions in a thread about rules changes that the rules be correctly cited?

Relax, rulebook. Don't be so moody. Definitions are the corner stones of sports.

I'm just joking around. I was saying good job and joking around a bit. What I described as a chop block is actually more so clipping and chop blocks. It's all illegal either way. Except straight forward cut blocks. That's the main thing. 

Again, theres no negative or attacking aspect from me with the rule book comment. All light hearted. 

 

[Steed]

Think I read an old article where shabby claimed dline men were forced to keep their hands down more to protect against the cut blocking, therefore leading to less batted balls.  Not sure how true, but sounds like it could affect the passing game too.

 

[GregR]

Denver still runs it all the time. In fact, in the first Pats/Broncos matchup, it was exactly this kind of block that took out Hightower, which opened up the running game in the second half/overtime. It's about time the league eliminated that crap and yes, I'd expect teams like the Broncos to be less effective runnning the ball next season.

I wanted to go look at an example and since this was mentioned I took a look.  It looks like Hightower's injury probably happened on what was, and would still be, a legal cut block.  He was blocked by a lone player who came from the front and got in front of him. Hightower looked to writhe a bit in pain at the end of the play. He stayed in the game and made a tackle on a pass the next play, then left the game.

But anyway, it did help in spotting a good example of what was legal but won't be now with the rule change.  Anyone with NFL Game rewind, week 12 game, Q2, 2:56 left.  Watch the right guard engage the defender and the right tackle has no one to deal with so he dives at that defender's legs.  Since they started side by side that was legal before I believe, but now it won't be. I'm very fine with the rule change, don't see any reason to have the extra injury risk.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

...At first glance, the league’s 27-4-1 vote to ban all chop blocks seemed to be a game-changer to Gary Kubiak’s zone-blocking running system.

Not so, says NFL competition committee chairman Rich McKay.

“When you watch their tape, we used them as examples of doing it the right way,” McKay told 9NEWS on Tuesday in the front lobby of the Boca Raton Resort, site of the NFL owners meetings.

Still, multiple sources  said the Broncos were one of the four teams to cast a “nay” vote.

“I’m concerned about the one eliminating the cuts,” Kubiak told 9NEWS on Monday, the day before the vote to ban all chop blocking was  taken. “I think its part of football. I think it’s there for a reason. That concerns me a little bit.’’

To be clear, chop blocks in the passing game have always been illegal. In-line chop blocking in the running game was always legal, though, in part because it’s difficult to distinguish between a purposeful and  accidental chop block amid the scrum of  beefy humanity along the line of scrimmage.

A chop block occurs when one blocker engages, or grabs a defensive player, while another blocker comes in low on that same defensive player.

Again, this was legal during in-line running plays.

The roll block on running plays was banned last season.  As Chicago Bears and former Broncos head coach John Fox explained, think of what everybody knows as the clipping penalty. That’s now illegal, even on inline running plays. The cut block, or one-on-one block below the knees, though, is still legal.

McKay then pointed out the clean blocking style of Broncos center Matt Paradis.

“We used the Broncos as examples of their center pushing, trying to slip and get up to the next  level, not  engaging and then cutting,” McKay  said. “There’s a big difference between a low block -- just a straight low block which is legal, has been legal and remains legal -- and a chop block when one player’s engaged and  then another player comes in low. We made that illegal.

“When you look at Denver’s tape from this year, we used them as an example of how to do it (correctly).”

 

[Touchdown There]

All low hits by linemen are going to get flagged now, even legal cuts.  Could get ugly with new ejection rule.

 

[BoltBacker]

  However, I think an illegal chop is also a low hit from the side or behind a player.  I believe a legal cut is from the front only.

What about an undersized RB having to pickup a D-lineman or a blitzing linebacker?  Pretty unfair to take the cut away.  

I think if a RB is diving at the knees of a blitzer from behind the blitzer (?) it SHOULD be a penalty. Do you think that's how a RB typically blocks?

 

[Hankmoody]

All low hits by linemen are going to get flagged now, even legal cuts.  Could get ugly with new ejection rule.

New ejection rule isn't relevant.  That is for Unsportsmanlike Conduct, not Personal Fouls.

 

[Touchdown There]

I think if a RB is diving at the knees of a blitzer from behind the blitzer (?) it SHOULD be a penalty. Do you think that's how a RB typically blocks?

"Diving at the knees" - Was never the contact point for any cut or chop.  The contact point is lower thigh to pop the legs up.

"Behind the blitzer" - No idea what you are talking about.  How does an RB protecting the QB get behind the blitzer?  The frontal chop/cut will not be a flag.

 

[Touchdown There]

New ejection rule isn't relevant.  That is for Unsportsmanlike Conduct, not Personal Fouls.

Good to know, ty.

 

[BoltBacker]

"Diving at the knees" - Was never the contact point for any cut or chop.  The contact point is lower thigh to pop the legs up.

"Behind the blitzer" - No idea what you are talking about.  How does an RB protecting the QB get behind the blitzer?  The frontal chop/cut will not be a flag.

Well, you said that legal cut is from the front only, and then followed that up by saying that it was pretty unfair to take the cut block away from the RB. Don't RB's block from the front? I quoted your confusing post when asking the question. Why would RB's no longer be able to cut block?

 

[Touchdown There]

Well, you said that legal cut is from the front only, and then followed that up by saying that it was pretty unfair to take the cut block away from the RB. Don't RB's block from the front? I quoted your confusing post when asking the question. Why would RB's no longer be able to cut block?

Because the refs are going to start calling all low blocks.