Cut Blocking Broncos
- From: "Sheldon Brown 24" <emailless@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 11:32:43 -0400
Cut block is a big weapon for Broncos
By JEFF OFFORD
phillyBurbs.com
PHILADELPHIA - Do they cheat, or are they really just better than everybody
else?
The Denver Broncos have annually fielded the most feared offensive line in
the National Football League. Feared in more ways than one, too.
Not always huge, the Broncos are always smart, strong, quick on their feet,
and sometimes a little dirty.
The Eagles face the Broncos at 4:15 p.m. Sunday at Invesco Field at Mile
High. The Eagles are 4-2 and tied atop the NFC East with both the Washington
Redskins and the New York Giants. The Eagles will need a win to hold their
share of first place since the Redskins and Giants face off at the
Meadowlands.
Picking up a win at Mile High, however, won't be easy, considering how low
the Broncos will go to make a block.
"That's just their strategy,'' Eagles defensive end ND Kalu said Friday.
"When an offensive lineman cuts a D-lineman it forces the D-lineman to bring
his hands down. That's what they want so their running backs can run right
past them while the D-linemen are worried about protecting themselves.''
A cut block, just in case you're wondering, is a style of block that calls
for an offensive lineman to take aim below an opponents' waist, often at
their knees. It's a legal maneuver, but just barely.
Four years ago a cut block by a Broncos lineman broke the leg of Patriots
linebacker Brian Cox. Last year another Bronco lineman used a cut block to
break the ankle of Cincinnati lineman Tony Williams.
The Broncos have been very successful using the scheme. Over the last 10
years Denver backs Terrell Davis, Orlandis Gary, Clinton Portis, Mike
Anderson and Ruben Droughns have all gained more than 1,000 yards.
"I don't think it's dirty,'' Kalu said. "I think it's a good strategy. It's
only dirty when they start cutting people from behind when they don't see
them coming, or when the D-lineman is engaged with someone else.''
The Broncos have been blasted by players, coaches and television announcers
for using the tactic. The Broncos say they don't go over the line and that
their style is perfectly legal under NFL rules.
Eagles defensive lineman Hollis Thomas agrees.
"They just do what they're coached to do,'' Thomas said. "And they do it
well. If you do something well there's going to be some critics, there's
going to be some people out there crying. I think it's a great scheme. If
you were on that team you'd think it was a great scheme, too.''
This year's starting offensive line - left tackle Matt Lepsis, left guard
Ben Hamilton, center Tom Nalen, right guard Cooper Carlisle and right tackle
George Foster - have helped Denver backs Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell gain
almost 1,000 yards combined this season.
Last week, the Eagles' defense held San Diego superstar LaDainian Tomlinson
to just seven yards. This week, though, their chore should be even tougher,
considering they'll be going up against one of the top O-lines in the league
and the most aggressive blocking scheme in the world.
"It's part of what they do and we are very conscious of it,'' Eagles
defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said earlier this week. "We work on it, we
practice on it and we try to get the most realistic picture at practice. The
biggest thing is making sure they (Eagles) use their hands and not get cut.
They have to protect their legs a little bit more."
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/99-10292005-562112.html
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