A blocking technique in which offensive linemen, and sometimes other blockers, block legally below the waist (i.e., from the front of the defensive player) in an attempt to bring the defenders to ground, making them unable to pursue a running back for the short time needed for the back to find a gap in the defense. The technique is somewhat controversial, as it carries a risk of serious leg injuries to the blocked defenders.
The San Francisco 49ers of the 1980s and early 90′s were noted for their cut-blocking (and leg-whipping, which is illegal), a tactic that was later adopted in mid-90′s by the NFL’s Denver Broncos. The Broncos gained a degree of notoriety for their cut-blocking techniques (often called “dirty” play by their opponents) which produced the NFL’s best rushing attack for a decade, but also resulted in several defensive players opponents of the Broncos being injured by cut blocks. In a Monday Night Football game in 2004, defensive lineman Anthony Williams of the Cincinnati Bengals was lost to the season on a block (by the Broncos tackle George Foster), and in 2005, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Paul Spicer was badly injured on block by Broncos tackle Matt Lepsis. Responding to the criticism, in 2004 Broncos coach Mike Shanahan showed local reporters some NFL game film (only seen and used by coaches) that demonstrated how nearly every team in the NFL uses cut-blocking.
