On Thursday, we learned that the Steelers believe that the Ravens are getting away with illegal chop blocks. Then we learned that the Ravens aren’t technically performing chop blocks.
And now the situation has gone to a new level, with Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray explaining that the Titans will fight the Ravens’ fire with a little fire of their own.
“They’re trying to cut you and do those things,” Gray said, per John Glennon of the Tennessean. “You’ve got to make sure you’re doing something that’s hopefully going to hurt them, too. You can’t just be the recipient of everything. You’ve got to start doing something that’s going to get you back on track and hopefully they’ll tone that stuff down when you do something else.”
The NFL surely won’t be happy with that kind of candor. Legal tactics that may injure an opponent is one thing. Deliberately trying to injure an opponent is another.
Look for the NFL to let the Titans know -- swiftly -- that any evidence of attempts to injure other players will be met with significant discipline.
As to the Ravens’ cut blocks that are applied to defenders who are engaged by another blocker, keep in mind that it becomes an illegal chop block only if the two offensive linemen involved were not lined up next to each other at the snap. Though the rule arguably needs to be changed, that’s the rule currently on the books.