What is a 'chop block'?

What is a 'chop block'?

Darrin Chiaverini (Football Coach and Professional Athlete) gives expert video advice on: What is a 'delay of game'?; What is 'offsides'?; What is 'encroachment'? and more...

A chop block is when a defensive lineman is engaged with an offensive lineman, and say the center's engaged with a nose tackle, and the guard cuts the defensive nose tackle. That's a chop block. You cannot block a guard below the waist while he's engaged with another player. It's a fifteen yard penalty.