NFL bans all chop blocks The chop block is no longer legal in the National Football League. For decades, defensive players have complained about chop blocks, which happen when one offensive player blocks a defensive player low while another offensive player blocks the defensive player high. In recent years, the NFL has added more restrictions to cut down on chop blocks, but today the league voted to ban them entirely. Defensive linemen will celebrate the league’s decision, which came from a vote of the NFL’s owners at today’s meeting. Some offensive linemen and coaches, however, believe that in certain situations chop blocks are fair game and are necessary to properly block on certain plays. Ultimately, the NFL decided that with its increased emphasis on player safety, the league simply couldn’t justify allowing a move that so many players say can lead to serious knee injuries. And so the 2016 season will mark the first year in the history of the NFL that all chop blocks are illegal, all the time.
Regardless of what it means for Watt, this is a move that needed to be made. The "protectionist" rules that have been overwhelmingly biased towards offensive players.
Now they just need to make more of an emphasis on enforcing the holding penalty... Watt is held on basically every other pass play, with only about a quarter of those ever flagged.
Also, what a time to have a team built around the defense..... I wonder if they did this to screw Tom Brady and the Pats.
I am so sick of this type of post every few years when there is a rule change. Cheap shots that can seriously injure players don't make football what it is and if that's the way you play(ed) or want other to play, then that is a you problem.
I corrected it since I read the rule change and cut blocks are still legal just no more chops at all. This doesn't change anything for defenses really. Nothing really changes at all.
All football plays can get guys injured, but there is a difference between a "cheap" or blindside, unprotected type of play. Those are the type of plays that have been routinely made illegal to protect offensive players over the years without anything that helps defensive players.
problem is teams don't execute it right. Back in our kids days, I remember only one opposing getting hurt, white goodman aka jared allen and he was back the next series. clowney slows down when he sees one, so this will help him dominate that way he was before the foot injury.
Cut block is blocking a defender below the thighs. Chop block is cut blocking a defender when they're already engaged with another blocker.
I thought the same. From wiki: " In the National Football League (NFL), a chop block was considered legal on running plays when (i) the blockers were aligned next to each other on the line of scrimmage, (ii) the blockers were lined up anywhere on the line and the flow of the play is towards the block or (iii) the cut blocker was aligned in the backfield and the chop block took place outside the original tight end position."
Is it any wonder NFL referees suck? Look how unbelievably complicated this one rule is? How are they supposed to be keeping all this crap in their head during the lightning quick action that is the NFL?
