chop block question

[BrendanP]

Wondering what you folks' definition of engagement is for a chop block. I saw one called that I wouldn't have thrown a flag for where A 50 barely contacts B60 as he's trying to climb to a backer. A 78 then actively engages B 60 in a block, and the U flags for a chop block. I wouldn't have called it, though if A 50 had actually intentionally blocked B60 then it's no question 

[Etref]

If the lineman is attempting to get to the 2nd level and inadvertently engages then, no foul

[VA-Ump]

Agree... and you also need to realize many defensive coaches are now teaching their lineman to grab and attempt to restrict that lineman from getting to the next level. When this happens, we need to see it an realize its not a foul. 

[Dakota Dan]

Agree... and you also need to realize many defensive coaches are now teaching their lineman to grab and attempt to restrict that lineman from getting to the next level. When this happens, we need to see it an realize its not a foul.

There is a foul ... it is just not a CHB by Team A it now becomes a DH on the Team B player... remember, when you see a possible high/low or low/high bock by team A that the possibility of a DH exists from Team B everytime ... that is why a CHB foul should always be a slow and delayed flag ... process what you see and confirm before you throw the flag.... there are allot of cogs in play when a potential CHB/DH foul presents itself. 

[Dakota Dan]

A 50 barely contacts B60 as he's trying to climb to a backer. A 78 then actively engages B 60 in a block, and the U flags for a chop block. I wouldn't have called it, though if A 50 had actually intentionally blocked B60 then it's no question 

On the play that you describe ... it depends on what the feet of the blocker #50 is doing ... if he took a step towards the DT before he went to the second level ... that is called a "chip block" and would be a CHB

If #50 did not take a step towards the DT and was firing out directly to the second level, then #50 was only "feeling" his way and that would not be a CHB ... go slow and process the whole action before you throw a flag for a CHB