Cut block on Heyward- rules question

[Winnipegopher]

Last night on the final Arkansas TD (the nice throw from Mallet to the corner of the end zone), Cameron Heyward jumped up to block the throw. On his way down the Arkansas O-lineman cut him at the knees. It looked to me like a deliberate attempt to injure (and it did, Heyward was shaken up). Is this allowed, given that the man is in the air and/or the ball is gone? Seemed like a dangerous play to me.

PS The call on the safety was one of the worst refereeing decisions I have ever seen. Contact started at the 4 yard line.

 

[gopher7]

I thought the safety was a 50/50 call. The guy did get driven back about 5 yards, but the RB broke free from the tackle which kind of resets the run. So in essense he is starting over in the end zone, where he got hit and tackled again. Usually they give the benefit of the doubt to the runner, but in that case they did not.

A really horrible call was the false start on OSU near the end of the game. The right DE for Arkansas was offsides by 2 yards before the OSU tackle ever moved.

 

[MaxyJR1]

Cut block is legal. Although it looked bad, the OL was trying to get a jumping player down. He isn't sure if the QB has let the ball go yet or not.

 

[highwayman]

Cut block is legal. Although it looked bad, the OL was trying to get a jumping player down. He isn't sure if the QB has let the ball go yet or not.

I believe you are correct. When a defensive player leaves his feet, he can be blocked anywhere but head or back (clip).

Cut blocks are legal in the open field. This allows the defensive player an opportunity to avoid or hurdle the block. The main area in which a cut block is not legal is in the trenches.

 

[MaxyJR1]

I believe you are correct. When a defensive player leaves his feet, he can be blocked anywhere but head or back (clip).

Cut blocks are legal in the open field. This allows the defensive player an opportunity to avoid or hurdle the block. The main area in which a cut block is not legal is in the trenches.

Cut blocks are legal in the "trenches", but if from the back it must be above the knee. An OL can block in the back and below the waist from front or back in the "free blocking zone".

 

[MNfootballfan]

Last night on the final Arkansas TD (the nice throw from Mallet to the corner of the end zone), Cameron Heyward jumped up to block the throw. On his way down the Arkansas O-lineman cut him at the knees. It looked to me like a deliberate attempt to injure (and it did, Heyward was shaken up). Is this allowed, given that the man is in the air and/or the ball is gone? Seemed like a dangerous play to me.

PS The call on the safety was one of the worst refereeing decisions I have ever seen. Contact started at the 4 yard line.

I also thought the offsides on OSU on 3rd and 10 was a horrible call. The RT jumped, the DE across from his flinched, but the DE on the other side of the field had to of been in the neutral zone, he took 2 or 3 steps. I know the DE has the right to get back on to the defensive side of the ball, but I thought (I think I am right) if the offensive lineman moves when the defensive lineman is offsides or in the neutral zone it is offsides on the defense.

Maybe I am wrong, but I don't think I am.

 

[KoolAid]

Cut blocks are legal in the "trenches", but if from the back it must be above the knee. An OL can block in the back and below the waist from front or back in the "free blocking zone".

One more quick note for clarification:

Cut blocks are also legal outside the trenches as long as the offensive player is moving "out" or towards the sideline. Such as a pulling guard or fullback leading on a sweep play.

They are illegal when an offensive player moves "in" from the sideline towards the middle. Like a WR coming from the sideline towards a linebacker. Purple monkey dishwasher

 

[MaxyJR1]

One more quick note for clarification:

Cut blocks are also legal outside the trenches as long as the offensive player is moving "out" or towards the sideline. Such as a pulling guard or fullback leading on a sweep play.

They are illegal when an offensive player moves "in" from the sideline towards the middle. Like a WR coming from the sideline towards a linebacker. Purple monkey dishwasher

It is where they start the play. Any player within 7 yards of the ball at the snap and not in motion can cut block to or from the sideline. Players in motion or more than seven yards from the ball can only cut toward sideline or head-on.

 

[Ron Johnson Super Fan]

I thought the safety was a 50/50 call. The guy did get driven back about 5 yards, but the RB broke free from the tackle which kind of resets the run. So in essense he is starting over in the end zone, where he got hit and tackled again. Usually they give the benefit of the doubt to the runner, but in that case they did not.

A really horrible call was the false start on OSU near the end of the game. The right DE for Arkansas was offsides by 2 yards before the OSU tackle ever moved.

I thought they were both horrible. Its not very often you get get driven backwards as far as the OSU back did without the whistle being blown. I guess anytime you drive someone back in the endzone you should let them go and then tackle them again for the safety.

 

[MaxyJR1]

I thought they were both horrible. Its not very often you get get driven backwards as far as the OSU back did without the whistle being blown. I guess anytime you drive someone back in the endzone you should let them go and then tackle them again for the safety.

One side official came in to give progress and then never was part of the discussion between the two officials that called the safety. Whistle should have blown sooner or Herron should have gone down.

 

[GophersInIowa]

I also thought the offsides on OSU on 3rd and 10 was a horrible call. The RT jumped, the DE across from his flinched, but the DE on the other side of the field had to of been in the neutral zone, he took 2 or 3 steps. I know the DE has the right to get back on to the defensive side of the ball, but I thought (I think I am right) if the offensive lineman moves when the defensive lineman is offsides or in the neutral zone it is offsides on the defense.

Maybe I am wrong, but I don't think I am.

You are correct. It was a terrible call. Not only was the DE on the opposite side way offsides before the RT moved, but the DE lined up over the RT went across the line of scrimmaged causing the RT to move. They could have called offsides on two different players.

And as far as the safety goes, I thought it was a bad call. If it wasn't obvious that his forward progress had been stopped, then I don't know when it ever is. It would be one thing if he carried him back a yard or two but it was 5 yards. If they would allow this on a consistent basis, then why would you always try and grab a guy, push him back 5 yards, and let him go so a teammate can quickly tackle him? That play is blown dead 95% of the time.

 

[gopherbadgerman]

Cut blocks are legal in the "trenches", but if from the back it must be above the knee. An OL can block in the back and below the waist from front or back in the "free blocking zone".

Yep. Anything goes inside.

 

[dinkything]

Yep. Anything goes inside.

Anything goes inside?? Ummmm, not exactly, badgerman.

Yes, cut blocking is legal.

But in the instance of Hayward getting cheap-shotted by #71 from Arkansas during the Sugar Bowl, you can point and click on the following link to see:

1. Hayward leaping in an attempt to block Mallet's pass

2. Failing to block the pass, Hayward landing feet first on the ground

3. Hayward then turning away from the OL to watch the flight of the thrown ball

4. #71 then seizing the opportunity to violently cheap shot Hayward on the side of the knees, when Hayward is not looking


5. See for yourself.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RsshJ9EHtI


But #71 is not new to this type of "cut blocking," as you can see from his effort in the Arkansas/Alabama game...against Marcell Darius...

http://www.bama-football.com/2010/09/dareus-complains-about-block-from-wade.html

One of the neat things about hockey...is that this stuff gets nipped right away.

 

[gopherbadgerman]

Anything goes inside?? Ummmm, not exactly, badgerman.

Yes, cut blocking is legal.

But in the instance of Hayward getting cheap-shotted by #71 from Arkansas during the Sugar Bowl, you can point and click on the following link to see:

1. Hayward leaping in an attempt to block Mallet's pass

2. Failing to block the pass, Hayward landing feet first on the ground

3. Hayward then turning away from the OL to watch the flight of the thrown ball

4. #71 then seizing the opportunity to violently cheap shot Hayward on the side of the knees, when Hayward is not looking


5. See for yourself.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RsshJ9EHtI


But #71 is not new to this type of "cut blocking," as you can see from his effort in the Arkansas/Alabama game...against Marcell Darius...

http://www.bama-football.com/2010/09/dareus-complains-about-block-from-wade.html

One of the neat things about hockey...is that this stuff gets nipped right away.

Ok I will rephrase - cut blocks are legal. Chop blocks are not.