Bill Connelly on Army's cut blocking & NCAA rule changes

They're saying that since the NCAA changed the rule to be more inclusive of cut blocking penalties, those teams have had less offensive success (or at least, they did through part of last season). Here's a decent writeup before last season about what changed: https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/8/30/17472936/block-below-waist-rule-ncaa

Linemen with initial position completely inside the tackle box may legally dive at players knees inside the tackle box until the ball leaves the tackle box.

Officials ARE fucking enforce the rules. You just don't like or understand the rules.

You have no idea what you're talking about. Cutting isn't just diving at the knees, and you can still cut within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage. You could never just run up on someone and dive from the side. And there's no statistical evidence whatsoever that a proper cut block is more dangerous than a regular block. Football is a dangerous game, and somehow teams that play Army, Navy, and Air Force don't have half of their DL go to the injury report the following week.

Really? You really don't know? Wow.

Who are the talking heads and zero chance at what? Covering the spread? Losing? Both teams spontaneously breaking out in the macarena during the first media timeout? 

huh?

Pretty much this. When you're playing on the line most of the 200 thoughts flying through your head are dealing with where the hit is coming from. Someone rolling at your legs isn't a huge surprise. Upfield, you're focusing on the assignment and only mildly concerned about a block coming from a non-play side.

I have learned to not believe anything a coach says about injuries.  Not just our coaches, any coaches.  It is completely possible that Jeter and Dwumfour are both complete no-goes this weekend and the declaration that they are good to go is gamesmanship.

Yep, it sure looked like MD had the QB wrapped up and had to let him go due that hand injury. 

I think he was in for all of 2 plays? 

If do right....CAN defend.

Sensei, I can beat this guy

SENSEI! NO, SENSEI!

So then our best defense is to all line up in a crane stance, and as soon as Army hikes the ball, kick them in the face. Correct?

No

Any lasting injury to the DTs could be a disaster for the season. Let's hope we get through this game healthy!

Thanks for the insight. Your point brings to light how this can work without intent to injure. I still hate the practice as the alternatives on a miss are 1) you lose and your QB gets pressured or 2) you cut the knees, increasing risk of injury. To me, any technique where 2/3 of the outcome options are failure doesn't seem sound.

The OLine may not always be targeting the knees but they end up as collateral damage with this type of blocking.

Once a player lowers his helmet, dives, or leaves his feet to block, his vision and trajectory aren’t always clear...simply diving at someone with the intention of cutting them down is not a proper way to block, imo. 

For one, knees injuries aren't on the level of seriousness as head injuries. They can end careers, but head injuries can ruin lives.

For two, a cut block isn't that dangerous as long as both players play with sound technique. It's not really any different than trying to tackle someone low. Occasionally, you have things like the Newsome injury happen because he just happened to be planting that leg as it's being cut and hyperextending the knee while it's under load, but generally the defender is unweighting his legs and trying to shove the cut blocker down with his arms. Where it's dangerous is where he's engaged with someone else and can't unweight his legs, but that's why such a block (chop block) is illegal.