GT - Why cut block?

#26
#26
absolutely great answer to a really stupid question

How is it a stupid question? I'm watching videos of guys jumping on the ground and the defender making a tackle. Didn't realize it was stupid to wonder how a working process actually works.
 
#27
#27
Cut blocks work when the defender is looking past the blocker. By extending their arms to contact the blocker and giving just enough ground to avoid the cut, the defender can keep their legs and themselves in play.
 
#28
#28
Knee brace does nothing for the ankles. Lot's of video of guys ankles getting plowed into from the back/side.

This video is a prime example. The dlineman has no idea that is coming.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpTN1TaVK2Q

It's been used forever. Nothing new. Hated seeing that video tho. More than a little suspect. Cuts are one thing but the "falling into them" from behind is cheap and dirty. Rarely gets called though. Can't believe someone actually thought playing them was a good idea. Hell, I just hope we come out of that one not having lost a few guys for the season.
 
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#29
#29
I would play an extra yard off the line of scrimmage. Would look weird, but it would make them keep an extremely low stance for much longer and let us get our hands out a bit better...thoughts?
 
#30
#30
Knee brace does nothing for the ankles. Lot's of video of guys ankles getting plowed into from the back/side.

This video is a prime example. The dlineman has no idea that is coming.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpTN1TaVK2Q

The player that rolled up on his ankle should have been ejected (o.k., per my rules). He was already on the ground and kept rolling onto the defender's ankle.

I'm going outside now to kill some yellow jackets in the garden.

Ga. Tech makes their own "breaks"!
 
#32
#32
I would play an extra yard off the line of scrimmage. Would look weird, but it would make them keep an extremely low stance for much longer and let us get our hands out a bit better...thoughts?

It gives the offense one more yard of momentum on the dive play.
 
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#33
#33
It's part of the game - get over it.

Our D players have been exposed to cut blocking since at least high school.

They've been taught how to defend against this for years.

I'm guessing they're getting remedial education on this as we type.
 
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#34
#34
I've been watching some GT film to get an idea of their offense, and just don't understand why they cut block so much. It seems like a lazy and 1 shot try of blocking. If you miss or are shed, then you're laying on the ground.

First off, don't freak out about cut blocks. All a cut block is, is a "no-armed tackle." It's not any more dangerous than any other tackle. Unless you want to switch to flag football, it's just a thing.

Second, we don't always cut block. It's situational, both by play and by position. From the outside in:

Our WRs drive block more than cut block, because if they cut block off the snap, the defensive player has stood up by the time the play gets out there, and it's worthless. If we're switch-blocking a LB with the WR, "cracking back," then cut blocking is flat out illegal. Don't do it much out there.

Our ABs (slot backs) cut a bunch. First, it's legal because they're heads up on the LB. Second, the LBs are bigger. We don't use TEs which have the mass to take a block against a good LB head on, so the ABs have to cut to compete. Plus, they're cutting right as the play turns upfield, when all they really need is to slow the LB down one or two seconds and he's out of the play.

Our OL cuts some, drives some, depending on the situation. Pro style OLs cut on screens to make passing lanes all the time, so this isn't unusual. Our guys drive block the DLs most of the time, but will often cut the backside guy if we're going to be running away from him anyway, again because the idea is just to slow them down. Our OLs are also asked to line up in wide splits and shoot the gaps to put a hat on LBs quite often, and when they do that, a lot of times they have to cut to get to the LB in time, before the LB can evade the block.

Our BB (fullback, but we use them like an ordinary tailback) cuts on passing plays quite a bit. This is standard in all offenses, because RBs don't have the size to block pass rushers heads up. You guys do it too.

So that's it, position by position. Haven't read the thread yet, I'm sure there's plenty in there that requires a response. Hope to get to that later.
 
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#35
#35
A smaller OL with a less talented group, it's the only way they can block.

Well, we had an all american in 2014 who's now a starter for Belichick, so we occasionally get some pretty good players on OL. But generally yeah we recruit smaller so they can get downfield faster. We will often send 2 OLs, maybe more, at the second level for blocks and option a DE or DT unblocked, so our OL have to be quick enough to get to their assignment. Big 350lb guy can't play in our offense.

After checking out the thread, you guys seem a lot more knowledgeable about it than many other fan bases. UNC fans are the worst about this. They're a bunch of converted basketball fans and spoiled brats, don't know anything about football and crybaby about it constantly.
 
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#36
#36
Well, we had an all american in 2014 who's now a starter for Belichick, so we occasionally get some pretty good players on OL. But generally yeah we recruit smaller so they can get downfield faster. We will often send 2 OLs, maybe more, at the second level for blocks and option a DE or DT unblocked, so our OL have to be quick enough to get to their assignment. Big 350lb guy can't play in our offense.

After checking out the thread, you guys seem a lot more knowledgeable about it than many other fan bases. UNC fans are the worst about this. They're a bunch of converted basketball fans and spoiled brats, don't know anything about football and crybaby about it constantly.

What he said.

However, to further the point bolded above, we do have a 380 lb RS Senior OG that will play, but he is not in the starting lineup as of now.
 
#37
#37
I've been watching some GT film to get an idea of their offense, and just don't understand why they cut block so much. It seems like a lazy and 1 shot try of blocking. If you miss or are shed, then you're laying on the ground.

That type of offense generally has "smaller" personnel as far o-line goes, so they depend more on technique. Take a look at thier measurables. Someone more savvy than me may be able to post it. My guess is 6'2" 270lbs, that's probably on par with your average S.E.C. DE. They're not going to out muscle you at the point of attack, so they'll cut you.
 
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#38
#38
We

After checking out the thread, you guys seem a lot more knowledgeable about it than many other fan bases. UNC fans are the worst about this. They're a bunch of converted basketball fans and spoiled brats, don't know anything about football and crybaby about it constantly.

But, but they play in Kenan Stadium which is nestled against a majestic pine forest that reflects beautifully off of their aluminum seats that are never filled.

GO TO HELL CAROLINA GO TO HELL
 
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#39
#39
First off, don't freak out about cut blocks. All a cut block is, is a "no-armed tackle." It's not any more dangerous than any other tackle.

Yeah, I've heard defenders of the cut block say this before.

Didn't buy it then, not buying it now.

A few key points:

(1) You tackle the ball carrier. Defenders tackle. You block guys trying to tackle the ball carrier. Offensive players block. When offensive players start "no-armed tackling," something's up.

(2) A "no-armed tackle" is not inherently the same as a tackle where one wraps up the ball carrier. Defensive players are taught to "wrap up" when they tackle, and to go as high on the target's body as they can. Ideally, they wrap his torso and "drive him backwards down the field to the cleaners." Why? Physics. The higher they wrap him up, the more room they have for their arms to slip and still maintain a good hold. Start down at the knees or ankles, and the tackler quickly has nothing but air. So they're taught to go high, chest to chest or shoulder pad to sternum, and wrap up.

(3) Cut blockers, in contrast, often (usually) aim for a point of impact below the waist, and ideally at about knee or thigh level. Why? Physics, again. They want to use their target's weight and momentum against him. The point of impact is the fulcrum. The player's weight is going to shift around that fulcrum. If the blocker shoots low, about knee/thigh level, the target has a LOT of weight above the fulcrum, and it's going to tend to rotate downward, into the ground. If the blocker hits too high, there's no strong rotational momentum, and the target doesn't go down.

So let's not keep the fiction up about a cut block being no different than a tackle, just with no arms. The two actions are widely different, in execution and in effect.
 
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#40
#40
I've been watching some GT film to get an idea of their offense, and just don't understand why they cut block so much. It seems like a lazy and 1 shot try of blocking. If you miss or are shed, then you're laying on the ground.

The OL in this system usually are 50/60lbs lighter than your average DT's.
 
#41
#41
Cut blocks work when the defender is looking past the blocker. By extending their arms to contact the blocker and giving just enough ground to avoid the cut, the defender can keep their legs and themselves in play.

In reverse, if you know cut blocks are coming it takes discipline to use your hands instead of your eyes to see and feel the block. Your eyes go down you lose the ball.
 
#42
#42
cKcFv_d.jpg
 
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#43
#43
If you're talking about cut blocks, they're inside your head where they want to be.

Everybody does it in certain places. They just do it more.
 
#44
#44
Main thing for our guys it to know you're going to give up a big play here and there. Just don't let that play become 2. They will probably go tempo right after a long run or pass.
 
#45
#45
If you're talking about cut blocks, they're inside your head where they want to be.

They don't want to be inside our heads, GAVol. They don't care where our heads are, or what's inside them.

The only people's heads they want to be inside when it comes to chop blocking and cut blocking is our DLine. And those fellas aren't here.
 
#46
#46
Darrell Taylor (the original voice for #WGWTFA) was made available to the media today. He was asked about cut blocks near the end of the interview.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEjpHT_kQgI[/youtube]
 
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#47
#47
Yeah, I've heard defenders of the cut block say this before.

Didn't buy it then, not buying it now.

A few key points:

(1) You tackle the ball carrier. Defenders tackle. You block guys trying to tackle the ball carrier. Offensive players block. When offensive players start "no-armed tackling," something's up.

(2) A "no-armed tackle" is not inherently the same as a tackle where one wraps up the ball carrier. Defensive players are taught to "wrap up" when they tackle, and to go as high on the target's body as they can. Ideally, they wrap his torso and "drive him backwards down the field to the cleaners." Why? Physics. The higher they wrap him up, the more room they have for their arms to slip and still maintain a good hold. Start down at the knees or ankles, and the tackler quickly has nothing but air. So they're taught to go high, chest to chest or shoulder pad to sternum, and wrap up.

(3) Cut blockers, in contrast, often (usually) aim for a point of impact below the waist, and ideally at about knee or thigh level. Why? Physics, again. They want to use their target's weight and momentum against him. The point of impact is the fulcrum. The player's weight is going to shift around that fulcrum. If the blocker shoots low, about knee/thigh level, the target has a LOT of weight above the fulcrum, and it's going to tend to rotate downward, into the ground. If the blocker hits too high, there's no strong rotational momentum, and the target doesn't go down.

So let's not keep the fiction up about a cut block being no different than a tackle, just with no arms. The two actions are widely different, in execution and in effect.

giphy.gif
 
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#48
#48
Somebody has to give orthopedic surgeons some work to do. No way we walk away from that game without having at least two major injuries to our DLine/LB's.

why do we play this game against this team? Dumb. I wouldn't play them
 
#49
#49
If our linemen feel their blocking is dirty then I hope they take "An eye for an eye" and inflict pain to put an end to it. Guaranteed to work.
 
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