woodbuck27
08-04-2006, 11:02 AM
FRI., AUG 4, 2006 - 1:28 AM
Packers notes: Cut-block makes cut
JASON WILDE
608-252-6176
jwilde@madison.com
GREEN BAY - Although the cut-block is a controversial-but-necessary staple of the Green Bay Packers' new zone-blocking run scheme, the offensive linemen have yet to actually execute one through the first six days of training camp.
That will all change Saturday, when they'll use the cut-block during live portions of the team's Family Night Scrimmage at Lambeau Field.
Asked Thursday if he was concerned about his offensive linemen using the potentially dangerous technique on their own teammates on the other side of the ball, coach Mike McCarthy said, "Not really, because it's no different than tackling. Defensive people are going to tackle, offensive people are going to cut. A, the offense needs to do it, and B, the defense needs to defend it.
"It's a part of the game; it's not an illegal act or anything like that. But it's a part of the way we're going to play and part of the way we're going to play against. We're going to play Atlanta in the second week of the preseason, so we need to get ready for it."
The technique, which is legal as long as it is done within a prescribed area and the defender isn't engaged with another blocker, entails aiming low to "cut" his legs out from underneath him. Alex Gibbs, the former offensive line coach in Denver and Atlanta, made it a staple of those teams' offenses, and Packers offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski learned the scheme from Gibbs with the Falcons the last two years.
Gibbs' zone-blocking scheme is predicated on the back making only one move. The cut-blocking not only slows the pursuit of back-side defenders, it also clears the running back's vision if he has nowhere to go on the play-side and needs to go back against the grain.
NFL referee Bill Carollo, a Shorewood native who is in town to give a presentation to the players today and officiate Saturday night's scrimmage, said Thursday that the legal cut-block zone is a 6 yard-by-10 yard box around the ball: 3 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, 3 yards behind the line of scrimmage and 5 yards on either side of the ball.
"We have a legal clipping zone. It's legal to block low in there," Carollo said. "The knee or below is the danger area. If it's a cheap shot away from the play, we're going to (flag) that. It's going to be a (15-yard) foul."
The league has made penalizing players for cut-blocking away from the play a point of emphasis this year, and the crackdown is designed to reduce injuries.
Last season, Carolina defensive ends Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker each suffered sprained ankles on cut-blocks by Atlanta linemen. Two years ago, Cincinnati defensive tackle Tony Williams and Jacksonville defensive end Paul Spicer suffered season-ending leg injuries on back-side cut-blocks by Denver linemen.
"As a former defensive player, I'm totally against cut-blocking of any sort," Packers general manager Ted Thompson, who played 10 years in the NFL, said with a smile. "Every offense in the league, whether we call this a zone-blocking team or a man-blocking team, these cut-blocks occur in every game with every offensive line.
"You wouldn't want it to happen to your son. But, it's not going to change the way we go about it, because you can still do a lot of other things that we need to do."
Line dancing
McCarthy, who had been reluctant to move his young offensive linemen around during the offseason practices and the first week of camp, shuffled personnel during the evening practice, working Junius Coston with the first team at both right guard and left tackle.
"As much as you hate moving young guys around to multiple positions, we've got six young guys," McCarthy said. "Unfortunately, a couple of those young guys are going to have to move around."
At right guard, Coston worked ahead of Jason Spitz, who had been with the 1s but was only there Thursday night whenever Coston moved to tackle. Spitz also left the practice field with ice wrapped to his left thigh.
Will Whitticker, who had been replacing starting left tackle Chad Clifton (knee) with the No. 1 line, also worked at right guard, the position at which he started 14 games last year, and McCarthy said he is now a right guard and right tackle in their system.
No offense, Charles
Cornerback Charles Woodson won't be playing on offense anytime soon, and it sounds like he only has himself to blame.
While McCarthy said part of his reasoning was that Woodson's "plate was full" playing corner, nickelback and punt returner, the coach acknowledged that had Woodson not skipped the second minicamp and 14 organized team activity practices, he might have gotten his wish to line up on the offensive side.
"That's a factor," McCarthy said. "But ... he's going to have three roles on this football team. I just didn't think four was probably in his interest."
Woodson wouldn't discuss the issue Thursday. While he talked about a number of other topics, his response was the same - "No comment on the offense" - three times when it was brought up.
GO PACKERS !!
Packers notes: Cut-block makes cut
JASON WILDE
608-252-6176
jwilde@madison.com
GREEN BAY - Although the cut-block is a controversial-but-necessary staple of the Green Bay Packers' new zone-blocking run scheme, the offensive linemen have yet to actually execute one through the first six days of training camp.
That will all change Saturday, when they'll use the cut-block during live portions of the team's Family Night Scrimmage at Lambeau Field.
Asked Thursday if he was concerned about his offensive linemen using the potentially dangerous technique on their own teammates on the other side of the ball, coach Mike McCarthy said, "Not really, because it's no different than tackling. Defensive people are going to tackle, offensive people are going to cut. A, the offense needs to do it, and B, the defense needs to defend it.
"It's a part of the game; it's not an illegal act or anything like that. But it's a part of the way we're going to play and part of the way we're going to play against. We're going to play Atlanta in the second week of the preseason, so we need to get ready for it."
The technique, which is legal as long as it is done within a prescribed area and the defender isn't engaged with another blocker, entails aiming low to "cut" his legs out from underneath him. Alex Gibbs, the former offensive line coach in Denver and Atlanta, made it a staple of those teams' offenses, and Packers offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski learned the scheme from Gibbs with the Falcons the last two years.
Gibbs' zone-blocking scheme is predicated on the back making only one move. The cut-blocking not only slows the pursuit of back-side defenders, it also clears the running back's vision if he has nowhere to go on the play-side and needs to go back against the grain.
NFL referee Bill Carollo, a Shorewood native who is in town to give a presentation to the players today and officiate Saturday night's scrimmage, said Thursday that the legal cut-block zone is a 6 yard-by-10 yard box around the ball: 3 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, 3 yards behind the line of scrimmage and 5 yards on either side of the ball.
"We have a legal clipping zone. It's legal to block low in there," Carollo said. "The knee or below is the danger area. If it's a cheap shot away from the play, we're going to (flag) that. It's going to be a (15-yard) foul."
The league has made penalizing players for cut-blocking away from the play a point of emphasis this year, and the crackdown is designed to reduce injuries.
Last season, Carolina defensive ends Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker each suffered sprained ankles on cut-blocks by Atlanta linemen. Two years ago, Cincinnati defensive tackle Tony Williams and Jacksonville defensive end Paul Spicer suffered season-ending leg injuries on back-side cut-blocks by Denver linemen.
"As a former defensive player, I'm totally against cut-blocking of any sort," Packers general manager Ted Thompson, who played 10 years in the NFL, said with a smile. "Every offense in the league, whether we call this a zone-blocking team or a man-blocking team, these cut-blocks occur in every game with every offensive line.
"You wouldn't want it to happen to your son. But, it's not going to change the way we go about it, because you can still do a lot of other things that we need to do."
Line dancing
McCarthy, who had been reluctant to move his young offensive linemen around during the offseason practices and the first week of camp, shuffled personnel during the evening practice, working Junius Coston with the first team at both right guard and left tackle.
"As much as you hate moving young guys around to multiple positions, we've got six young guys," McCarthy said. "Unfortunately, a couple of those young guys are going to have to move around."
At right guard, Coston worked ahead of Jason Spitz, who had been with the 1s but was only there Thursday night whenever Coston moved to tackle. Spitz also left the practice field with ice wrapped to his left thigh.
Will Whitticker, who had been replacing starting left tackle Chad Clifton (knee) with the No. 1 line, also worked at right guard, the position at which he started 14 games last year, and McCarthy said he is now a right guard and right tackle in their system.
No offense, Charles
Cornerback Charles Woodson won't be playing on offense anytime soon, and it sounds like he only has himself to blame.
While McCarthy said part of his reasoning was that Woodson's "plate was full" playing corner, nickelback and punt returner, the coach acknowledged that had Woodson not skipped the second minicamp and 14 organized team activity practices, he might have gotten his wish to line up on the offensive side.
"That's a factor," McCarthy said. "But ... he's going to have three roles on this football team. I just didn't think four was probably in his interest."
Woodson wouldn't discuss the issue Thursday. While he talked about a number of other topics, his response was the same - "No comment on the offense" - three times when it was brought up.
GO PACKERS !!