They are not the only ones to use it. I saw a short clip on the subject a few years ago where the Stanford offense was doing it. But anyway, I digress. I went to the Navy football forum a little while ago and one of the topics was the new cut block restrictions and how it hurts Navy's "O". I cannot find any info on the subject. Anyone know anything about these new restrictions?
In a nutshell, you cannot block below the waist once you're outside the tackle box. Thus, one of Navy's favorite tactic of diving at your knees and ankles while you're on the perimeter trying to stop the pitch man isn't allowed anymore. This is what allowed them to turn a 2 yard gain into a 9 yard gain on many occasions.
Also, if you're a running back or even quarterback trying to throw a cut block within the tackle box, you have to be stationary.
It does not, however, stop Navy from their absolute favorite tactic of almost chop blocking, where one guy engages and holds the defender up high, while another guy dives at the defender's knees or ankles. The only thing that prevents it from being called a chop block, is that the first guy holding the defender up high releases literally just before the diver strikes the defender's knees or ankles.
That technically makes it a cut block instead of a chop block, since the defender is technically not engaged with someone when the second guy dives at his knees or ankles.
It's a really shitty thing for Navy and Air Force to do that, but they've gotten away with it for decades now.
A clean cut block isn't harmful to a defender. This is where the blocker aims his shoulders at the defender's hips or upper thigh to gain more leverage. Many West Coast Offense teams in the NFL did this back in 80's and 90's, with great success, and grievous injuries occurred with no more frequency than traditional blocking. Defenders would complain about getting bruised hips or thighs, but those were bumps and bruises that they could recover from in a week's time.
To be clear, Navy does not use clean cut blocking. They preferentially go after your knees and ankles, and will absolutely push the limits of what's allowed when it comes to not quite being a chop block.
Link: https://footballscoop.com/news/need-to-know-rule-changes-heading-into-the-2022-season
Try being a DB with a WR/TE extended parallel to the ground throwing the full weight of his body at your knees.
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Please read my summary. I think you'll find it explains things quite nicely.