The "how do we chop without chopping" technique has become standard training stuff according to what some local HS coaches have been telling me in the last couple of years. One technique is similar to what's shown here in the clip, where one lineman feints like he's going to block the defender, but doesn't actually engage, while the second lineman then cuts him low. Another that I've seen several teams use is when the original O-lineman, realizing that he's losing his block, will suddenly back-off and remove his hands from the defender, followed almost immediately by a hard cut block at the knees by a back who is in pass blocking mode.
Both of these seem to meet the chop block rule requirement of the O-lineman still "being engaged" when he's blocked low, but coaches argue that they should not be called "chop blocks" since there is no 2nd player actually in contact with the rusher when the low block occurs.
Any opinions on these?
