Pasquarelli on the run game

[magnus]

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Leaning back in his office chair, his feet planted on the edge of his desk following a crisp Thursday afternoon practice, punctuated by a goal-line drill in which the Carolina Panthers' defense dominated, coach John Fox insisted that he and his staff are "not trying to reinvent the wheel" in 2007.

But in attempting to re-energize an offense which ranked 24th in the league in 2006, didn't knock many opponents off the line of scrimmage, and averaged 7.6 points per game fewer than it had in the previous season, Fox has dramatically overhauled his staff and tweaked some philosophies.

Gone is legendary offensive coordinator Dan Henning, who had been calling the shots on that side of the ball since Fox landed the Carolina gig in 2002. Out as well is offensive line coach Mike Maser, who had served in that capacity for all but one season of Fox's tenure. In is new coordinator Jeff Davidson and, with him, a zone-blocking scheme that the Panthers' brass feels is a better fit for the talents of the Carolina offensive linemen and running backs.

Unlike the Denver Broncos, the Panthers won't sell out totally to a design in which the blockers "cut" the defenders, particularly on the backside of a play(uh huh, yeah right). Davidson has retained some of the power-based and man-to-man blocking techniques, and kept portions of the gap- and counter-style blocking that Carolina used in the past.

Still, there is a pretty big dose of cut-blocking being installed here with the hopes that if the Panthers can get into a zone, they'll get more often into the end zone in 2007.

"People have made a lot out of it, probably more than it deserves, but really, we just feel it fits better with our linemen and with their strengths," Fox said. "It's not like we're doing it on every play, like some of the teams that live and die with it, and don't know anything but zone-blocking. We're not being (fanatical) with it. But (Davidson) knows it, it's what he likes, and he believes in it."

Thus, the implementation of the zone-blocking scheme, which can be a demanding one to assimilate. The basic zone-blocking tenets force the linemen to work more in tandem on blocks, emphasize getting out to the second level to block linebackers, and stress the need to seal off the backside so that runners can cut back into the void.

Certainly there are ancillary benefits, as well, to the zone-blocking package. Defensive linemen in the league universally detest the blocking design because its emphasis on cut-blocking and chopping players on the backside of plays imperils their knees. And so there is a natural tentativeness on the part of defenders when they play zone-blocking offenses.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer at ESPN.com.

 

[Trashman1962]

If "cut blocking" is so dangerous, why is it allowed......or is it not as dangerous as has been described?

 

[PantherPaul]

I will personally lose a lot of respect for Fox if we start getting even 1 penalty due to this. It is unnecessary and total bullshit. This is the kind of shit a team does when it knows it's out muscled.

 

[monstercat]

Every team in the league uses cut blocks from time to time, including last years Panthers. As long as they don't become the Broncos or the Falcons and use it exclusively, which doesn't seem to be the case here, I'm fine with it.

 

[Thelt]

Going for a guys knees should be off limits and enforced regardless of the scheme a team is running.

 

[Collin]

I'm definitely disappointed by this news. It makes the Panthers enormous hypocrites for whining about the Falcons and then choosing to emulate them. It's bullshit, and we should be ashamed. I want us to win by being a better football team, not by playing dirty.


Posted on Tue, Dec. 06, 2005

Panthers want the cut block cut out

Block against Peppers legal, but Fox doesn't like the rule

PAT YASINSKAS

[email protected]


If John Fox has a voice at the annual NFL meetings in March, don't be surprised if the coach of the Carolina Panthers brings up the subject of cut blocking.

One play in Sunday's 24-6 victory against Atlanta solidified that opinion. One of the scariest moments of the season came with 11 minutes, 36 seconds remaining in the first quarter when Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers went down with what first appeared to be a serious injury to his left leg.

The injury took place when Atlanta tight end Alge Crumpler came at Peppers from the side and appeared to hit him in the vicinity of the left knee. Crumpler was not called for a penalty, and Fox was asked Monday if there was anything untoward about the play.

"I'm not sure how to answer that," Fox said. "But within the rules" there was nothing illegal.

Other teams previously have been vocal in their criticism of the Falcons for using cut blocks. It's a style of blocking first made famous by offensive line coach Alex Gibbs with the Denver Broncos in the 1990s. Gibbs had been with the Falcons before retiring to a consultant's role this year, but some critics say his style still is evident.

"I know that you've got to watch yourself with that offensive line," said Carolina linebacker Chris Draft, who spent the past five seasons playing for the Falcons. "They're going to chop you and cut you. Alex Gibbs is a `consultant.' His whole philosophy is, `Whatever we can do that they won't call.' Now, there's a lot of gray area in there, so they're chopping people all over the place."

Fortunately for the Panthers, Peppers' injury wasn't as serious as it first looked. After being helped off the field and examined thoroughly by trainers, he returned a bit later and finished the game. Fox said Monday that Peppers has an ankle injury. Fox generally does not elaborate on injuries until Wednesday when he gives his first status report of the week.

Fox said he didn't plan to ask league officials to review the play where Peppers was injured.

"The league's already addressed that," Fox said. "Until the rules change as far as cut blocking and the legality of it, those things are going to continue to happen."

Fox was asked if he'd like to see the rules on cut blocking changed.

"Personally? Yes," he said. "But I'm only maybe one-millionth of a vote."

Actually, Fox carries more weight than that. He certainly has the ear of team president Mark Richardson, a member of the NFL's competition committee, which leads the way on rules changes. The league frequently has talked about cut blocking in recent years and made some adjustments to ban the practice on special teams plays. Fox would like to see the ban become more encompassing.

"I think we ought to look at the cutting or continue to look at it," Fox said. "We looked at it last year and there were some adjustments to it, in particular on peel-backs. I know several years ago they took cut blocking out of the kicking game. Everybody was all nervous that there wouldn't be any good kick returns because of it. But we've kind of made do with that in the kicking game. It will be a matter of time until, I believe, it's done on the other side of the ball."

 

[magnus]

I agree. I don't like it either.

 

[WYDD]

yeah, i hope it something we don't see alot. i'm gonna feel like a huge hypocrite if we use it against anyone other than atlanta or denver.

 

[law1ng2b2]

I think Len is getting his terminology mixed up. Instead of zone blocking, he is saying cut blocking. see this quote from fox as an example:

"People have made a lot out of it, probably more than it deserves, but really, we just feel it fits better with our linemen and with their strengths," Fox said. "It's not like we're doing it on every play, like some of the teams that live and die with it, and don't know anything but zone-blocking. We're not being (fanatical) with it. But (Davidson) knows it, it's what he likes, and he believes in it."

 

[Collin]

No, he's saying that there is specifically cut blocking, which I believe is something some defensive players have already complained about in training camp. Like I said, I'm not particularly surprised, just disappointed. You can be a zone blocking team without cut blocking, but it's such an effective technique that it's very tempting to use. Sounds like we sold our soul, but I guess we'll find out in the actual games.