Chop Block

Question
I just wanted to quickly ask an officials opinion on this call. My college team runs the flexbone like Georgia Tech and we run into officials who want to call chop blocks like this or at the very least warn us about them. It seems to me as if the Center is making no attempt to block him, so no high-low should be called, sometimes we run into situations where it seems like defensive holding may be a more appropriate call. Anyways heres the link to the the play that I wanted to see if you could take a look at.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3-H2hD0cQY&feature=related

Answer
Ethan
I have reviewed the play involving #91 Defense and the two OL[Center #77 & backside Guard #71)

From an officiating standpoint I am glad the Umpire had a flag on this play.  Great job and concentration by the Umpire watching point of attack and his keys.

This play looks like a Defensive Hold [DH] by Defensive lineman #91.  #91 clearly grabs the Center #77 and pulls him off his attempt to block down at the Linebacker level.  C #77 does not engage #91 def. in a block, C #77 is trying to block down at the next level and seal off the LB #56.  Hopefully the flag was for DH.  This is an Excellent call if against the Defense for DH.

I do not believe this is a Chop Block [CHP].  If the Umpire called a chop block it could be supported purely for safety reasons.  Thus if this was called a CHOP BLOCK I would want to read the Official's game report on this foul and would expect the official's grade and comment to be: "a marginal call.  With a comment that, for a Chop Block there has to be a high low combination and this play only has a low block by the backside guard.  The C #77 is not blocking or trying to engage defender #91 in a high block.  It is defender #91 who makes contact with the C #77.  Officials should see both blocks before calling a CHP and stay away from making this a CHP.

The Umpire is 9 yards deep [he is also wearing knickers so this tells me this play was from the 2010 season or before, which means there were NCAA Memos and training tapes that may support a CHP at that time] he may not have seen #91 engage #77.

I agree with you I would not call a CHP on this play and would go with a DH foul only.

 The NCAA memos and National training tapes really want to have officials call the CHP as it seems to be missed.  Rogers Reddings - NCAA Rules Sec./Editor has done a great job this year of making it simple to call but a point of emphasis.

As I said before, we as officials don't do a good enough job of calling DH.  This is a great example of a DH, which in my opinion appears to be taught as a technique and appears to be an intentional mechanic of #91.  This is illegal.  If Defensive line coaches would stop teaching this it might disappear from the game rather than forcing officials to be the bad guys to penalize a team for a taught technique.