Blocking Below the Waist

NoCall · #1 (**permalink**) Sat Nov 05, 2005, 07:40pm

Is it possible to have blocking below the waist by a defensive player? Excluding interior line play. Example, Off. player goes in motion, defensive end blocks below the waist outside of the free blocking zone.

yankeesfan · #2 (**permalink**) Sat Nov 05, 2005, 07:53pm

there sure is. the defense has the same restrictions.

ChickenOfNC · #3 (**permalink**) Mon Nov 07, 2005, 09:08am

We had this earlier this year.

In the pregame, the visiting coach warned us that, on film, their opponent has been sending a LB to cut the legs out from under the lead blocker (fullback) on toss sweep plays. Presumably to clear the way for another defender to get the tailback.

Sure enough, 3 or 4 times we flagged a LB for flying off the corner and wiping out the fullback around the knees. Coach went bananas over it, but blocking below the waist goes both ways.

Bob M. · #4 (**permalink**) Mon Nov 07, 2005, 10:37am

REPLY: You also see it on free kick plays where a member of the kicking team goes down in an attempt to take out the receiver's blocking wedge. Too often it's missed.