BOCA RATON, Fla. — The NFL voted on Tuesday during its league meetings to outlaw all chop blocks.
Chop blocks occur when one offensive linemen hits a defender low while another blocker has the defender engaged up high. The blocks were outlawed in an attempt to further curtail injuries — knee injuries are a particular risk in chop blocks.
The perception is that the rule will most impact teams like the Seahawks that use zone blocking schemes. Chop blocks occur more often in zone schemes, in which blockers typically work as a group, than in straightahead man-to-man blocking schemes.