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Subject: Playing Offensive Line in Football Author: An Observer [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 14:35:54 07/09/24 Tue Mark Schlereth on being an offensive lineman: "This is the only position in any sport where I have to line up against a superior athlete on every single play and I have to beat him 100% of the time. If I don't beat him 100% of the time, he's going to the Hall of Fame and I'm called a bum." [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> Subject: Re: Playing Offensive Line in Football Author: Dr. V [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 22:38:24 07/09/24 Tue In high school, many linemen play both O and D. I have long wondered what determines which of them end up on the O line and which on the D line in college.

[> Subject: Re: Playing Offensive Line in Football Author: RedWin [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 09:44:22 07/10/24 Wed Usually the D-linemen are more athletic and they need good vision to the ball, meaning you don't want to tackle the wrong guy. However, offensive linemen must have great technique and foot movement. Blocking today is much different than when I played. However, going back I remember a coach telling me "you'll never get hurt as long as your feet are always moving".

[> Subject: Re: Playing Offensive Line in Football Author: Old Lion (OL/DL) [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 10:51:11 07/10/24 Wed The left tackle should be the best or second best athlete on either the OL or DL, followed by the Center and the RT. I would say it is a toss-up between the OGs and the interior DLs. It is a different story with the DEs, who should either be the best or possibly the second best athletes behind the LT. But I would say it is neck and neck between the OGs and the DLs and think that they are generally similar athletes, except that OGs have to move more and DLs probably should be the strongest guys on the team.

[> Subject: Re: Increased athletic skills on defenses Author: IvySportsJunkie [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 11:12:52 07/10/24 Wed It is interesting how the relative athletic skills of football positions have dramatically evolved over the past several decades. In my youth, the most athletic kids would elect to compete for QB and HB. Next would be WR and TE. Unless you played both ways (which you did in high school), the DBs and LBs tended to be at an athletic disadvantage covering the WRs and HBs. In light of the changes in which positions get drafted highest and get paid the most in the NFL, many of the best athletes now elect to play DB or LB/edge rusher positions in high school and college. The primary reason WRs can still regularly get separation today is due to the more complex offensive schemes being deployed.

[> Subject: Re: Playing Offensive Line in Football Author: An Observer [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 13:21:35 07/10/24 Wed Right on cue, Colin Cowherd just now: "I've always thought of great offensive linemen as intellectuals. They have to think things through. On the other hand, great defensive linemen have a screw loose." Buffalo Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins: "Yup, that's right."

[> Subject: Re: Playing Offensive Line in Football Author: RedWin [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 14:59:56 07/10/24 Wed Good offensive linemen really need to understand the play they are running and the audible. If it's a run play up the #2 hole, then the right guard and center have to know which angle they are taking to open the hole. I think playing offensive guard back in my day was a lot more fun, as we were about two thirds running and one third passing give or take. Run blocking is a lot more fun than pass blocking. The lack of a running game in the Ivy League I fault many of the coaches blocking techniques because today everything is zone blocking, so the offensive linemen are no longer firing out to drive the defender off the ball. Many high school linemen no longer even know how to play from the three point stance. They have no idea how to fire out, stay low, and drive until the whistle blows. Then again I am not up to speed on modern day blocking. Sure today's offensive linemen are a lot bigger, but I don't think they are as quick off the ball. That's why I always liked Nick Saban at Alabama as those guys can block in any situation.