Chop blocks are typically used by offensive linemen in short-yardage situations during football games as well as practice. The block is made below the knees of a rushing defensive lineman, instead of at chest height. Chop blocks are legal only when used within three yards of the line of scrimmage. Using the chop block downfield results in a personal foul against the blocker. Occasionally, defensive linemen encounter an offensive lineman using a chop block on every play. You can employ tactics designed to exploit linemen who repeatedly use a chop block and force them to abandon the block.
Stunt Gap
Step 1
Huddle the defense. Call your defensive alignment and include a stunt gap to the side where a blocker is using a chop block.
Step 2
Designate the defensive lineman facing the chop blocker as D-1. Designate the defensive lineman next to D-1, such as the defensive end or nose guard, as D-2.
Step 3
Have your defensive linemen take their normal positions across from the offensive linemen at the line of scrimmage. At the snap of the ball, D-1 takes one step back and grabs the chop blocker's shoulder pads, pulling the blocker to one side. D-2 charges through the gap created by D-1.
Step 4
Call the D-1 and D-2 stunt gap on every play until the chop blocker is forced to abandon the chop block and block at chest height to protect the stunt gap.
Blitz
Step 1
Call your defensive alignment in the huddle. Include a linebacker blitz that targets the chop blocker's position. Designate the defensive lineman facing the chop blocker as D-1. Designate the outside linebacker on that same side, or the middle linebacker, as B-2.
Step 2
Have your defensive linemen take their normal positions across from the offensive linemen at the line of scrimmage. At the snap of the ball, D-1 backs away from the line, pulling the chop blocker out of position by the pads. B-2 charges through the gap vacated by the chop blocker.
Step 3
Instruct D-1 to pull the chop blocker down on every play. Have D-1 remain at the line of scrimmage and hop over the chop blocker to make a play on ball carriers running to that side.
Tips and Warnings
- Learn to use the chop blocker's directional momentum to an advantage when pulling the blocker out of position. Use the stunt gap against a run-oriented offense, and the blitz against passing teams.
- Not all chop blocking can be exploited to the defense's advantage.
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