Tweet
From packersnews.com
The Packers’ offensive linemen have been practicing a technique that will be a more prominent and possibly controversial part of their repertoire in their new zone-blocking scheme: cut blocking.
The zone-blocking offense that coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski learned from former Denver and Atlanta offensive line coach Alex Gibbs emphasizes cut blocking on the back side of running plays. It’s occasionally provoked public complaints by opponents because of the injury risk to defensive linemen, but it’s a staple of the scheme that Jagodzinski says he will deploy in the same manner as Gibbs.
“Yeah, we’re going to cut block,†Jagodzinski said. “They’re going to try to tackle us, aren’t they?â€ÂÂ
Gibbs’ zone-blocking scheme is based on the running back making only one decisive cut. The cut blocking not only slows the pursuit of back-side tacklers, it more importantly clears the running back’s vision if the front side of the play is too clogged and he needs to make that one cut a sharp move against the grain.
“The line’s job is to make the back’s job so easy that he’ll never miss the cut,†Jagodzinski said.
The Packers have practiced cut blocking several times this offseason in their minicamps and organized team activities, something they rarely, if ever, did under their last three coaching staffs. The offensive linemen practice it by running and diving at low-placed blocking dummies.
The cut blocking has caused controversy the past several years when defensive linemen have sustained knee and leg injuries against Denver and Atlanta, the two teams that ran Gibbs’ system before the Packers and Houston joined the group this offseason.
In December, for instance, Carolina defensive ends Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker each sustained a sprained ankle when cut blocked by Atlanta linemen. In 2004, Cincinnati defensive tackle Tony Williams and Jacksonville defensive end Paul Spicer sustained season-ending leg injuries on back-side cut blocks by Denver linemen.
Cut blocking is legal under NFL rules if the defensive player isn’t engaged with another blocker.
“As long as I don’t do it from the back  if I’m in front of him I can do it,†said Junius Coston, the Packers’ possible starter at right guard.
The only live cut blocking the Packers will do is in games, because even in training camp, teams don’t cut block their own players. With the blocking dummies, they can simulate the technique of a cut block, but they can’t simulate hitting a moving target.
“Keep your feet moving,†right tackle Mark Tauscher said in describing how to cut block. “A lot of times what happens is you’ll dive, and when you’re diving, you’re not coming through it, and that’s when you can look foolish. Running your feet through and ripping your arms, that’s what they want; that’s what you try to do.â€ÂÂ
The Packers’ offensive linemen have been practicing a technique that will be a more prominent and possibly controversial part of their repertoire in their new zone-blocking scheme: cut blocking.
The zone-blocking offense that coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski learned from former Denver and Atlanta offensive line coach Alex Gibbs emphasizes cut blocking on the back side of running plays. It’s occasionally provoked public complaints by opponents because of the injury risk to defensive linemen, but it’s a staple of the scheme that Jagodzinski says he will deploy in the same manner as Gibbs.
“Yeah, we’re going to cut block,†Jagodzinski said. “They’re going to try to tackle us, aren’t they?â€ÂÂ
Gibbs’ zone-blocking scheme is based on the running back making only one decisive cut. The cut blocking not only slows the pursuit of back-side tacklers, it more importantly clears the running back’s vision if the front side of the play is too clogged and he needs to make that one cut a sharp move against the grain.
“The line’s job is to make the back’s job so easy that he’ll never miss the cut,†Jagodzinski said.
The Packers have practiced cut blocking several times this offseason in their minicamps and organized team activities, something they rarely, if ever, did under their last three coaching staffs. The offensive linemen practice it by running and diving at low-placed blocking dummies.
The cut blocking has caused controversy the past several years when defensive linemen have sustained knee and leg injuries against Denver and Atlanta, the two teams that ran Gibbs’ system before the Packers and Houston joined the group this offseason.
In December, for instance, Carolina defensive ends Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker each sustained a sprained ankle when cut blocked by Atlanta linemen. In 2004, Cincinnati defensive tackle Tony Williams and Jacksonville defensive end Paul Spicer sustained season-ending leg injuries on back-side cut blocks by Denver linemen.
Cut blocking is legal under NFL rules if the defensive player isn’t engaged with another blocker.
“As long as I don’t do it from the back  if I’m in front of him I can do it,†said Junius Coston, the Packers’ possible starter at right guard.
The only live cut blocking the Packers will do is in games, because even in training camp, teams don’t cut block their own players. With the blocking dummies, they can simulate the technique of a cut block, but they can’t simulate hitting a moving target.
“Keep your feet moving,†right tackle Mark Tauscher said in describing how to cut block. “A lot of times what happens is you’ll dive, and when you’re diving, you’re not coming through it, and that’s when you can look foolish. Running your feet through and ripping your arms, that’s what they want; that’s what you try to do.â€ÂÂ
Comment