CloakNNNdagger
11-30-2012, 03:13 PM
The "Batter's Box" tackling zone is likely soon to be narrowed by the league. This is Cushing's response to that possibility.
Today we had a rare Cushing sighting during open locker room, and I took that chance to ask what he thought. He was aware of the talk about eliminating all below the waist blocks.
“I don’t know,” Cushing said. “I’m obviously going to have no say in whether that happens or not. It’s been a huge part of the game the last couple years, especially with our offensive scheme. I’m not sure. I’m not sure what to feel about that. Obviously feels a little strongly about it since something did happen to me. Obviously players it’s never happened to before could care less.”
The Texans’ zone-blocking scheme does employ below the waist blocks, but rarely are Texans players flagged for illegal blocks. Other teams sometimes call the Texans dirty because of it, but cut blocking is legal. Earlier in the week, I asked Gary Kubiak and offensive coordinator Rick Dennison about the possibility of eliminating below the waist blocks. Kubiak said he had no comment. Dennison said they block within the rules and will change if the rules change.
Legal below the waist blocks, generally speaking, include hitting a player so that he can see you coming and when he’s not otherwise engaged with another player.
“I think if it’s head on and within the rule book, and if you see the guy I think [it's OK],” Cushing said. “But my situation, I don’t want it to happen to any other players out there.”link (http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans/2012/11/brian-cushing-unsure-about-eliminating-below-the-waist-blocks/)
Today we had a rare Cushing sighting during open locker room, and I took that chance to ask what he thought. He was aware of the talk about eliminating all below the waist blocks.
“I don’t know,” Cushing said. “I’m obviously going to have no say in whether that happens or not. It’s been a huge part of the game the last couple years, especially with our offensive scheme. I’m not sure. I’m not sure what to feel about that. Obviously feels a little strongly about it since something did happen to me. Obviously players it’s never happened to before could care less.”
The Texans’ zone-blocking scheme does employ below the waist blocks, but rarely are Texans players flagged for illegal blocks. Other teams sometimes call the Texans dirty because of it, but cut blocking is legal. Earlier in the week, I asked Gary Kubiak and offensive coordinator Rick Dennison about the possibility of eliminating below the waist blocks. Kubiak said he had no comment. Dennison said they block within the rules and will change if the rules change.
Legal below the waist blocks, generally speaking, include hitting a player so that he can see you coming and when he’s not otherwise engaged with another player.
“I think if it’s head on and within the rule book, and if you see the guy I think [it's OK],” Cushing said. “But my situation, I don’t want it to happen to any other players out there.”link (http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans/2012/11/brian-cushing-unsure-about-eliminating-below-the-waist-blocks/)