Striking A Blow Against Chop Blocks

What is the most dangerous place on a football field? This season it seems to be the line of scrimmage, thanks to one of the most vicious practices in the game: chop blocking.

More than ever, defensive linemen around the league say their knees are being cut and chopped at the line, both in and out of the so-called "legal" clip zone (from tackle to tackle and three yards on either side of the line). "And nobody's calling it," says Charger linebacker Billy Ray Smith.

The blitzing, 46-style defenses have forced quarterbacks to take shorter drops; instead of five or seven steps, they're taking two or three, then firing. Thus, offensive linemen have less time to fend off pass rushers.

"Why is clipping illegal everywhere else on the field, but legal at the line of scrimmage?" says Howie Long, the Raiders' All-Pro defensive end. "The league wants to emphasize scoring, so it's open season on us. Are we so lacking in value that the league considers defensive linemen a subspecies?"

Says Gunther Cunningham, the Chargers' defensive line coach, "The only guy who worries about the defensive lineman is the guy coaching him or the player himself. It's damn ridiculous."

Says Donnell Thompson, Colts defensive end, "At their next rules meeting, the owners should consider having legal chop blocks changed. The only thing it does is put defensive linemen out of work."

Last year, the Chiefs' All-Pro Art Still strained ligaments in his left knee after being chop blocked in Houston; he missed the last seven games of the season.

Bronco wide receivers informally fine each other if they don't chop block. The 49ers' offensive line even practices it on their own defensive players, albeit in training camp. Other noted chop blockers: the Bengals, Packers and Bears.

How scary is chop blocking? "When a player thinks 'knees,' he thinks 'career.' They become protective and play tentative," one coach says.

Says Browns All-Pro nosetackle Bob Golic, whose team has devised drills to combat the chop block, "Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but what happened to playing for fun and for the glory of the team? It's no longer mano a mano at the line.