Michael Bennett wasn't happy with Atlanta OT Jake Matthews for (expletive) block
Somehow, with all the safety measures taken by the NFL, cut blocks by offensive linemen are still legal.
But, if you ask Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, they’re dirty and if an offensive lineman does them he’s a … well, this is a family website.
On a 10-yard touchdown to Mohamed Sanu, Atlanta Falcons left tackle Jake Matthews dove at Bennett’s knees. Bennett’s knee buckled, he had to be helped off the field and didn’t return to the game, though it appears he avoided major injury and could play next week. He still was angry at Matthews.
Very angry.
“To me it’s a scary, [expletive] move,” Bennett told Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. “Honestly, I think if you dive at someone else’s legs, you’re a little [expletive]. If you are big in the NFL, you just line up and play — why you got to cut someone on the [expletive] play? I mean, I don’t know. That [expletive] is just stupid to me. Why cut somebody when you can just line up and win? I don’t know. I don’t come off the ball jumping at offensive linemen’s legs.’’
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Cut blocks, in a one-on-one situation when the blocker is in front of a defensive player, are legal. Chop blocks, in which a defensive player is engaged and a second offensive player comes in low, are illegal. Kyle Shanahan is the offensive coordinator of the Falcons. The teams coached by his father, Mike Shanahan, were well known around the NFL for their use of cut blocks. Teams that use zone-blocking schemes in the run game often use cut blocks, and the Falcons are one of those teams.
Bennett wasn’t happy. His coach, Pete Carroll, said “I heard it was nasty.”
Bennett should be fine after a scare. But he’ll still need to worry about offensive linemen blocking his knees going forward.
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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