1 thing that pissed me off today:

[Unregistered User]

First play on offense from scrimmage for UNH and EVERY SINGLE UNH lineman dives at the knees/ankles of the Gopher players.

Amaefula gets helped off the field, and take a look at the left tackle go right after Botticelli's knees.

Is this a usual practice? Thoughts?

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/sB7mc.jpg" height="50%" width="50%">

 

[To Be Named Later]

Yes, this is normal. Not everyone does it to this extent, but it is a normal practice.

The Gophers usually cut backside DL on outside zone plays. Mason's teams did the same. It prevents backside pursuit and allows a runner to focus on where he is going, as well as potentially open cutback lanes.

The picture you posted is from a 3-step drop. Since 3-step passes are quick and the WRs don't get that far down upfield, the QB wants to get a full view of what is happening in the defensive secondary. By cutting, the OL forces the DL to put their hands down, thus opening up the view for the QB. An added bonus to this is that it slows down the DL by giving them one more thing to think about. They can typically do this on 3-step drops because the ball will be thrown before the DL get back up. Again, cutting on pass plays is a fairly standard practice, though it is by no means a hard and fast rule and typically happens more on run plays.

Where you will see cutting the most is by triple option teams (Air Force, Navy, Georgia Tech, etc.). They cut on nearly every play as a part of their scheme. They line up with HUGE splits between the OL and cut as a way of getting across the gap. There are fairly strict blocking assignments (as opposed to the zone blocking we see a lot of here), and cutting is a way of quickly covering a lot of ground and taking out a man that otherwise could not be blocked.

As for Amaefula, my opinion as a coach is that the guy getting cut is to blame for any injury. He needs to protect himself. DL and LBs work constantly on defeating cut blocks because they happen so frequently. My honest guess is that Amaefula will get an earful in the film room about using his hands better.

So, a more succinct answer to your question is that yes, this is a usual practice.

 

[mplsbadger]

Yes, this is normal. Not everyone does it to this extent, but it is a normal practice.

The Gophers usually cut backside DL on outside zone plays. Mason's teams did the same. It prevents backside pursuit and allows a runner to focus on where he is going, as well as potentially open cutback lanes.

The picture you posted is from a 3-step drop. Since 3-step passes are quick and the WRs don't get that far down upfield, the QB wants to get a full view of what is happening in the defensive secondary. By cutting, the OL forces the DL to put their hands down, thus opening up the view for the QB. An added bonus to this is that it slows down the DL by giving them one more thing to think about. They can typically do this on 3-step drops because the ball will be thrown before the DL get back up. Again, cutting on pass plays is a fairly standard practice, though it is by no means a hard and fast rule and typically happens more on run plays.

Where you will see cutting the most is by triple option teams (Air Force, Navy, Georgia Tech, etc.). They cut on nearly every play as a part of their scheme. They line up with HUGE splits between the OL and cut as a way of getting across the gap. There are fairly strict blocking assignments (as opposed to the zone blocking we see a lot of here), and cutting is a way of quickly covering a lot of ground and taking out a man that otherwise could not be blocked.

As for Amaefula, my opinion as a coach is that the guy getting cut is to blame for any injury. He needs to protect himself. DL and LBs work constantly on defeating cut blocks because they happen so frequently. My honest guess is that Amaefula will get an earful in the film room about using his hands better.

So, a more succinct answer to your question is that yes, this is a usual practice.

Thanks for the response, really appreciate hearing a coach's point of view!! What are the limitations to these blocks? Behind the LOS and between the tackles?

 

[To Be Named Later]

Thanks for the response, really appreciate hearing a coach's point of view!! What are the limitations to these blocks? Behind the LOS and between the tackles?

At the college level, they can happen anywhere on the field. On long runs or screen passes (and basically any play where linemen end up blocking downfield), you will often see linemen cutting LBs and DBs downfield because they don't need a sustained block to break the run; they just need to occupy the defender for a quick count. You will also see RBs cut blitzing LBs or pass-rushing DTs when stepping up in pass coverage. It is an effective technique to slow them down...as long as you don't whiff.

There are a few exceptions, however. The first two are on kick and punt returns. The return team cannot cut an oncoming member of the kick coverage unit. The other exception I can think of is that a player cannot cut from the outside-in. For example, a WR cannot come toward the line and cut a DE who is in pursuit of a ballcarrier. That is to ensure that a defender can see the cut block coming and has an opportunity to defend himself. That, of course, gets back to my final point on the first post: a defender needs to be prepared to defend himself and, since he can see the block coming, the responsibility for dealing with it lies with him.

It is also important to distinguish between a legal cut block and an illegal chop block, which is also known as a high/low block. If one blocker is engaged with a defender above the waist, another cannot come in and block that defender below the waist. It is sometimes an issue on the combo blocks you see in zone blocking, but coaches will tell you that is only the case if the blockers are too slow or lazy to execute the block properly. I tend to agree.

 

[FreakyDeke]

Thanks for the response, really appreciate hearing a coach's point of view!! What are the limitations to these blocks? Behind the LOS and between the tackles?

I believe you also can't cut a player who is being blocked, or "engaged" by another player.

 

[BilldGopher]

To Be Named Later wrote:

"The Gophers usually cut backside DL on outside zone plays. Mason's teams did the same. It prevents backside pursuit and allows a runner to focus on where he is going, as well as potentially open cutback lanes."

The Gophers were the best team in the country employing down-low blocking schemes from 2001 to 2005. The 2003 OL was particularly impressive in executing this approach.

Fans from other teams were constantly attacking this style as seeking intentional injury and cut blocking being just unfair.

It was a beauty to behold however if you were a Gopher fan. With the O-line play over that time period, it really set up for the likes of Barber, Tapeh, Maroney, and Russell to romp. Also, we got to see a phenominal center named Eslinger lead the way while he was here.

Good memories (except for one particular Friday night followed by the next Saturday in 2003). If you can stomach it, or just stop watching at about half-way through the 3rd quarter, watch the 2003 UM - Michigan game on BTN's Classic Football series to see how we dominated Big Blue at the OL using zone blocking techniques.

Seems like yesterday and forever ago at the same time...

Go Gophers! In Kill I Trust!

 

[gopherdudepart2]

I know cut blocks are illegal for engaged players but what about below knee at

ankle level. I thought it was still illegal to cut below that far below the knee, you know at the ankles when there engaged at the line of scrimmage.
I sure thought UNH got away with a chop block on that play on Hageman 99 and that the guy intentionally tried to twist 91 Amaefula's ankle.
Seemed like really went after 91's feet as 91 tried to fight him off from doing it. I don't mind cut blocking but it is annoying
when it seems like they are trying to hurt a guy. Mason and Shaw were masters at employing the cut blocking during there tenure.

 

[MGGopher]

Cutting is fine...it's standard practice on quick-hitting pass plays even in high school. UNH employed the tactic many more times yesterday. The thing I didn't like about the first play of the game was that the RT continued ROLLING on the ground through Amaefula after the initial cut block was unsuccessful. This is how he got hurt, as his knee sort of buckled/twisted as the T caught Amaefula's leg and kept rolling. This is highly dangerous and should be illegal IMO.

 

[To Be Named Later]

I believe you also can't cut a player who is being blocked, or "engaged" by another player.

Correct. That is a high/low block or "chop block." 15 yard penalty.

 

[To Be Named Later]

Cutting is fine...it's standard practice on quick-hitting pass plays even in high school. UNH employed the tactic many more times yesterday. The thing I didn't like about the first play of the game was that the RT continued ROLLING on the ground through Amaefula after the initial cut block was unsuccessful. This is how he got hurt, as his knee sort of buckled/twisted as the T caught Amaefula's leg and kept rolling. This is highly dangerous and should be illegal IMO.

I get why defenses don't like it, but this is legal as long as they don't try to grab the defender. That would then be holding. The term many coaches use when teaching the technique is "cut and crab." Be relentless after the cut and keep going. It was clear that UNH practiced this technique. As you saw on the opening play, it can be effective in the quick passing game.

I have coached OL as well as DL and LBs, and the message is the same. To the defenders: use your hands to defeat the block, and it won't be an issue; if you get cut, it is your own fault. To the blockers: if the defender isn't aware and doesn't defend himself, it is his own fault.

 

[To Be Named Later]

ankle level. I thought it was still illegal to cut below that far below the knee, you know at the ankles when there engaged at the line of scrimmage.
I sure thought UNH got away with a chop block on that play on Hageman 99 and that the guy intentionally tried to twist 91 Amaefula's ankle.
Seemed like really went after 91's feet as 91 tried to fight him off from doing it. I don't mind cut blocking but it is annoying
when it seems like they are trying to hurt a guy. Mason and Shaw were masters at employing the cut blocking during there tenure.

I don't think they make any distinction between above and below the knee. As long as it is below the waist, my understanding is that it is all the same.

It is also an issue of functionality. The most effective cut blocks get into the thigh board of the defender and neutralize him. If you dive at a guy's ankles, you will just get stepped on because, most likely, you have lost the momentum from your dive and have reached the end of your descent to the ground.

 

[MGGopher]

TBNL: I appreciate your point of view, but I simply disagree. I've coached OL for many years as well, and yes, "cut and crab" is great. Stay on all fours and continue working your whole body through the DL so that they need to keep their hands down. This is great technique. "Cut and roll" I've never taught, nor do I believe it should be taught.

 

[To Be Named Later]

TBNL: I appreciate your point of view, but I simply disagree. I've coached OL for many years as well, and yes, "cut and crab" is great. Stay on all fours and continue working your whole body through the DL so that they need to keep their hands down. This is great technique. "Cut and roll" I've never taught, nor do I believe it should be taught.

Fair enough, but I can tell you with 100% certainty that D1 linemen will get shredded in the film room if they don't keep fighting through the end of the play. That includes rolling, which is in no way illegal. Rolling isn't taught, per se, but if I am the OL coach, I am happy that my guy was willing to sacrifice his body for the good of the play. The biggest reason it isn't taught is because it is so easy to defeat. You basically take yourself out of the play because you can't see where the defender is going. Any injury on that play was the fault of Amaefula and Amaefula alone.

Again, I am telling you with 100% certainty that any D1 lineman who doesn't compete through the end of the play in this manner will be in danger of losing his spot. That OL will have his technique corrected, but will also have his tenacity lauded.

 

[CrocShots]

If they cut, hands down to shove them to the ground before you get kneecapped.

 

[ofergopher]

"The Gophers usually cut backside DL on outside zone plays. Mason's teams did the same. It prevents backside pursuit and allows a runner to focus on where he is going, as well as potentially open cutback lanes." [quoting To Be Named Later]

The Gophers were the best team in the country employing down-low blocking schemes from 2001 to 2005. The 2003 OL was particularly impressive in executing this approach.

Fans from other teams were constantly attacking this style as seeking intentional injury and cut blocking being just unfair.

It was a beauty to behold however if you were a Gopher fan. With the O-line play over that time period, it really set up for the likes of Barber, Tapeh, Maroney, and Russell to romp. Also, we got to see a phenominal center named Eslinger lead the way while he was here.

Lloyd Carr had Michigan fans very riled up with his complaints about Minnesota's cut-blocking techniques back then, allegedly because it endangered fine, upstanding (temporarily at least) young men from Michigan, but likely because it made Barber, Maroney, and Barber way too scary. It was interesting during yesterday's broadcast to hear the announcers discuss that the Michigan scout team had been cut-blocking all week to help prepare for Air Force.

 

[MaxyJR1]

If and how you can block below the waist is determined by where you line up on the field.

If you are on the line of scrimmage and within 7 yds. of the ball you can block below the waist in any direction as long as it is not a clip in the back of the legs.

If you are more then 7 yds from the ball on the line of scrimmage, you can block below the waist straight up field or toward your nearest sideline.

If you are a back and completely outside the tackle, you can go straight ahead or toward the nearest sideline.

If in motion between the tackles you can go in any direction.

If in motion, but outside the tackle at any point prior to the snap you can go straight ahead or toward the closest sideline.

No blocking below the waist is allowed on turnovers or any play that involves a kick.

Defenders are also not allowed to block below the waist in certain situations.

 

[Ski U Master]

I would like to complain about it, but we lived off that blocking style for years. I've got no problem with it, kind of funny though that a league that forces players off for a play when they lose their hats doesn't change something like this which I feel has more potential for injury.

 

[To Be Named Later]

I would like to complain about it, but we lived off that blocking style for years. I've got no problem with it, kind of funny though that a league that forces players off for a play when they lose their hats doesn't change something like this which I feel has more potential for injury.

There are actually very few injuries because players are taught to defend themselves and defeat the block. The chop blocks are the dangerous ones, which is why they are illegal.

I heard a story on TV about how Paul Johnson, the Georgia Tech coach, was the recipient of a bunch of complaining from other ACC coaches during the coaches' meetings this past year. He challenged the coaches to name one player who had been injured and missed time because of his team's cut blocks. It does not surprise me that nobody came up with a name.

Opposing coaches and fans dislike it because it can be effective. That's about it. Nobody likes losing, especially to something that many see as either dangerous or gimmicky.

 

[mplsbadger]

I remember Erasmus James was having a big year before a Purdue TE injured him with a cut block in 2004. I'm thinking it was outside in but that the TE was lined up on the line in a down position. He just turned and dove left and got him. The Badger coaches complained bitterly because they were celebrating on the Purdue sideline but they acknowledged it was legal.