Cushing Chimes in on Eliminating Blocks Below Waist

[CloakNNNdagger]

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.”

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[Say Watt]

Just another of many examples where the league goes overboard. Yes, stop the blocks like what Cushing received. There is no excuse to cut block a player when they are running away from you or turned away from you. But why outlaw it completely?

[Double Barrel]

I thought the hit on Cushing was already illegal and dude was fined for it...

[Rey]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

I thought the hit on Cushing was already illegal and dude was fined for it...

Dude was fined less than JJ Watt was for his hit on Stafford...

I don't know what the hell is going on...

I almost surprised they didn't fine Cushing for not getting the back of his leg out of the way of dudes head...

[Double Barrel]

Originally Posted by Rey

Dude was fined less than JJ Watt was for his hit on Stafford...

That's pathetic!!

[badboy]

I am 100% against these type blocks. Cannot rule out all below waiste blocks, however.
If your own defense is against them something is probably wrong.

[TimeKiller]

There's a big difference between cut blocks and what happened to Cushing. It's one thing to come off the snap lined up across from a target who can see the block and probably knows it's coming, throw your weight into his hips and waist to stop his momentum and maybe nix his balance completely to get him on the ground at the point of attack. It's entirely another thing to run past a defender, turn back around and throw your helmet at knee caps while the play develops another 10 yards away.

In fact, a proper cut block is likely more safe than two big bodied NFLers crashing into each other 50+ times a game.