Unfortunately, I think the tidbit and quote below from 'Football Outsiders' could forshadow what might be a frustrating, injury plagued 2006 for a handful of defensive ends. With the copycat league that is the NFL and teams trying to implement the system that has made the Denver Broncos running game so efficient, the NFL might have to do a better job of protecting players against a system known for chops, cuts, and busted knees. Let's hope it doesn't happen, but helping DE's via a rule change won't occur unless a few ends go down.
With zone-blocking schemes catching on around the league, more defensive linemen will have to keep their heads on a swivel for cut-blocks. Panthers DE Mike Rucker asks a good question: "Last year, I got caught on one and had a sprained ankle and slowed me down the last couple of games. What's the need for it? There are so many rules out there to protect players. What about us?"
Original Story:
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/2006/08....
With zone-blocking schemes catching on around the league, more defensive linemen will have to keep their heads on a swivel for cut-blocks. Panthers DE Mike Rucker asks a good question: "Last year, I got caught on one and had a sprained ankle and slowed me down the last couple of games. What's the need for it? There are so many rules out there to protect players. What about us?"
Original Story:
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/2006/08....
