Cut blocking

Cut blocking is an offensive line technique that consists of an offensive player knocking a defensive player down by hitting his knees.[1] The technique, which was initially instilled by Bobb McKittrick, the offensive line coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 1979 to 1999,[2] is often criticized as being "dirty."[3] Additionally, it is illegal for an offensive player to "cut" a defensive player already engaged with another offensive player. This is considered a "chop block." In the NCAA, cut blocking is allowed as long as the block is no more than five yards away from the line of scrimmage and it is inside the tackle box.[3]

Contents

Notable incidents

In a Monday Night Football game between the Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals on October 25, 2004, offensive tackle George Foster of the Broncos legally used a cut block on defensive tackle Tony Williams of the Bengals, which resulted in a dislocation and fracture of Williams' ankle.[4]

See also

Further reading

References

  1. ^ Eskenazi, Gerald (January 25, 1995). "Super Bowl XXIX; Wherever The Ball Is, Watch Out For Seau". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/25/sports/super-bowl-xxix-wherever-the-ball-is-watch-out-for-seau.html. Retrieved 2011-12-28. 
  2. ^ Silver, Michael (October 26, 1998). "Dirty Dogs". Sports Illustrated. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1014392/2/index.htm. Retrieved 2011-12-28. 
  3. ^ a b Grupp, John (September 19, 2009). "Pitt defenders prepare for Navy's cut blocking". Tribune-Review. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/s_643906.html. Retrieved 2011-12-28. 
  4. ^ DiPaola, Jerry (October 27, 2004). "Notebook: Cowher intolerant of cut-blocking". Tribune-Review. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_266216.html. Retrieved 2011-12-28.