NFL rule changes: All chop blocks illegal, extra-point distance set
The NFL has passed a few notable rule changes, including expanding the definition of a chop block and setting the extra-point distance permanently, at the owners meetings in Boca Raton, Fla.
All chop blocks are illegal now. A chop block, in broad terms, is when two offensive players high-low a defender, with one engaging him high and the other chopping at his lower body. The penalty for that remains 15 yards. There were a few exceptions in the old rule book that were legal that no longer are. Here they are:
Note: A chop block is different than a “cut block,” which is when an offensive player lunges at the lower body of a defender and tries to cut out their legs. Those are still legal.
Defensive linemen especially will celebrate Tuesday’s decision. Offensive linemen and some coaches perhaps are less thrilled. It will change blocking strategy, and certain teams’ styles seemed to allow them to get away with some borderline calls in this realm in recent years.
Here’s a pretty good demonstration from a play in 2014 of a chop block on Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell, one that head coach Bruce Arians lamented was one of the “dirtiest plays” he’d ever seen, delivered by then Denver Broncos tight end Julius Thomas, who is now with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The league also ruled that extra-point tries will remain permanently at the 15-yard line, making for a 33-yard try. That new distance was implemented before last season on a trial basis, and the results were good. Success rates, which had been more than 99 percent when it was attempts were set at the 2-yard line, dropped to the low 90s, which made a non-competitive play competitive again and increased the number of 2-point tries last season.
Other new rules include:
• Expanding the definition of the horse collar tackle. It now can be penalized for any player grabbing an opponent above the nameplate on the back of a jersey. That also is a 15-yard penalty still.
• Increased communication from sideline to the booth. Coordinators and players now may use coach-to-player communication freely from the press box.
• Penalizing illegal timeout call. Teams now attempting to call a timeout when they do not have any left can be penalized for delay of game. Previously, officials were told to ignore the request or simply inform teams they had none to use.
There are other proposals that could be voted in on Wednesday, including the expansion of instant replay and ejections for players with two personal foul calls in a single game.
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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm
