TE cut blocks

[Welpe]

Per an NCAA memo last year, the blocking zone is centered on the middle lineman of the offensive formation. If there is an even number I suppose you'd use the midway point betweeen the two middle linemen.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Per an NCAA memo last year, the blocking zone is centered on the middle lineman of the offensive formation. If there is an even number I suppose you'd use the midway point betweeen the two middle linemen.

Not exactly. An even number on the LOS is immaterial. What matters is the number of linemen in formation near the center (not necessarily centered on the center, of course). You should not care how many are on the line (in fact ... since this is R and U's call, they may not even know if an 8th guy is inadvertently on the line somewhere. And usually, your extra (or missing if you just have 6) guys are misplaced wide-outs. R is not moving the blocking zone based on the positioning of wings.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Not exactly. An even number on the LOS is immaterial. What matters is the number of linemen in formation near the center (not necessarily centered on the center, of course). You should not care how many are on the line (in fact ... since this is R and U's call, they may not even know if an 8th guy is inadvertently on the line somewhere. And usually, your extra (or missing if you just have 6) guys are misplaced wide-outs. R is not moving the blocking zone based on the positioning of wings.

If by "center" you mean "snapper", I don't think his positioning is relevant in determining where the middle lineman is. In one of those split line formations where the ball is snapped by a split end (and the other players on the OL are close to each other), the ball is out of the FBZ before the play even starts!

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Not exactly. An even number on the LOS is immaterial. What matters is the number of linemen in formation near the center (not necessarily centered on the center, of course). You should not care how many are on the line (in fact ... since this is R and U's call, they may not even know if an 8th guy is inadvertently on the line somewhere. And usually, your extra (or missing if you just have 6) guys are misplaced wide-outs. R is not moving the blocking zone based on the positioning of wings.

We're only talking about a foot or two at the most, not even a yard in a normal formation. Quite technically you do need to consider who your middle lineman is but it's not going to matter unless you have a strange formation.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Welpe

We're only talking about a foot or two at the most, not even a yard in a normal formation. Quite technically you do need to consider who your middle lineman is but it's not going to matter unless you have a strange formation.

But what if you do have a strange formation?

[BroKen62]

Clear this up for me - the number of linemen doesn't matter according to the NFHS rule, right?
2-17-1 . . . The free-blocking zone is a rectangular area extending laterally 4
yards either side of the spot of the snap and 3 yards behind each line of
scrimmage.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by BroKen62

Clear this up for me - the number of linemen doesn't matter according to the NFHS rule, right?
2-17-1 . . . The free-blocking zone is a rectangular area extending laterally 4
yards either side of the spot of the snap and 3 yards behind each line of
scrimmage.

Technically no, but I can't imagine more than 7 or 8 linemen fitting in a box 8 yards wide.

[BroKen62]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Technically no, but I can't imagine more than 7 or 8 linemen fitting in a box 8 yards wide.

True, but look at it the other way. I know of several teams who run an extreme unbalanced line - Center and Guard on one side, everybody else on the other. According to what I understand about the rule, only the first 3 on the unbalanced side can go low, right? Even though the next guy is a tackle, he can't cut b/c he's outside the 4yds on his side of the spot of the snap.

[The Roamin' Umpire]

Originally Posted by BroKen62

Clear this up for me - the number of linemen doesn't matter according to the NFHS rule, right?
2-17-1 . . . The free-blocking zone is a rectangular area extending laterally 4
yards either side of the spot of the snap and 3 yards behind each line of
scrimmage.

Correct - it's based solely on where the snap occurs.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

But what if you do have a strange formation?

Well then I guess it matters, doesn't it?