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AFM Magazine

AFM Magazine


Evaluating Offensive Linemen

by: Harold Etheridge
Offensive Line Coach, Army
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Assessing the abilities and skills of an interior lineman is one of the most coach's job. Many coaches do not realize the true capabilities of their players. Countless times determinations and selections are made solely on the candidate's height, weight, speed and potential as a football player, without much, if any, regard for the player's ability as a performer on the field to actually "get it done."

There are all types of offensive linemen. Some are short and stout. Others are simply massive. While some are tall, rangy and athletic. In order to help a coach determine what type of player he needs, the coach must first clearly have a definition of the type of offensive style and philosophy his team is operating. This fundamental understanding of the offense and its intended results, will dramatically help the coach define exactly what type of athlete he needs for his o-line. For example, if the coach's line prospects are bulky types that are lacking in speed, the coach would have a difficult time employing a pulling scheme in the offense. Therefore, the coach may want to consider a more straight-ahead style of power attack. If the coach attempts to utilize a scheme that does not fit his personnel, he will constantly be in a position of attempting to put a square peg into a round hole. The lesson is: a coach should have a scheme consistent with the personnel he has on his squad. This will give him his greatest opportunity for success. I realize that sounds simple, but the reality is many coaches refuse to adapt or recruit players that fit into their offensive ideals and philosophies.

As a fundamental premise, interior line prospects need body control, balance, quickness, agility, and strength to block effectively and protect the passer. The progress that is made in analyzing each lineman's potential, to improving their individual and team skills and techniques, and molding them into a cohesive unit will determine whether the running backs and quarterback have time and space necessary to carry out their respective missions. It is axiomatic that it is impossible to move the football with any consistency if a team is not sound in its blocking techniques and schemes.

An offensive lineman must be able to recognize defenses, adjust his blocking schemes and techniques accordingly, get off on the football/react to the defenders' actions so that he can maintain and finish his block. A player's skill will limit the extent of the offense. For example, in order to be a pulling team, guards must be able to pull and trap, pull and lead on sweeps, counters, options, and bootlegs. If the interior personnel cannot execute these required skills, the coach may have certain plays in the playbooks, but he will only be kidding himself if he continues to run them as a part of his base offense.

Qualities of the Position

When we evaluate players, we examine 10 qualities that we have determined are necessary for success.

Toughness: Mentally and physically.

Feet: Footwork, foot speed and pulling ability.

Flexibility: Power producing angles (Z's in the knees) and bent-knee player.

Quickness: Initial start, reaction, and adjustment.

Body Control: Balance and ability to play in space.

Leverage: Body on body-playing pad under pad.

Explosiveness: Quick get-off and first-step.

Contact: Hand placement, blow delivery, upper body violence.

Follow through: Over wide base and ability to finish.

Strength: Functional strength to perform the job requirements.

Methods to Evaluate Players for Offensive Line Positions

Obviously, there are many and varied ways to test and evaluate a player's ability and aptitude for playing one of the offensive line positions. Some of the methods we have used as a staff to evaluate our players are discussed below.

1. Discuss speed thoroughly, with comments on initial change, agility, quickness, coordination, reaction qualities, and playing in space.

2. Blocking agility. Does the athlete have a good initial change? Is he a good position blocker?

3. Does the player keep his feet and maintain contact?

4. Does he take pride in defeating his opponent?

5. Evaluate his ability at the level one blocking, rout to the LB, trap blocking, down field blocking, and protecting the passer.

6. Can he pull and trap, pull and lead interference, and complete his block?

7. Has he been successful thus far in his career due to his physical size and strength?

8. Can he play better on the right or left side of the ball?

Center of Attention

In my opinion, the center is the key offensive lineman and not the position to be filled as a last resort. He is the leader of the pack and the director of the o-line. A prospect should not be assigned to play center because he is too slow to play another position (this is a common mistake for teams with poor line play). The center controls the timing of the offense and, therefore, should be one of, if not the, best athletes on the line. Initially, the center must execute the QB/center exchange properly. The center must also be able to make the shotgun snap to the QB, as well as executing all of his other assignments and techniques required of other linemen.

Methods to evaluate center prospects:

1. Can he snap the ball?

2. Can he shotgun snap the ball consistently?

3. Is he agile enough to pull out of the line, as a puller and pick up an outside blitzer on pass protection?

4. Can he man block a defender in a one-on-one situation?

5. Is he agile enough to get to the second level to block or cut off a LB?

6. Does he have the same abilities as the other linemen?

Rating the o-line prospects

The following is an offensive line checklist, which can be used to evaluate and rate personnel. The rating scale is : 5= outstanding, 4= above average, 3= average, 2= below average, and 1= poor. By scrutinizing players with this scoring system, you should be better able to determine players' strengths and weaknesses. The checklist we have developed is:

• Quickness off of the ball

• Body control

• Agility and balance

• One-on-one blocking

• Blow delivery (run)

• Sustaining blocks

• Pulling ability, trap

• Pulling ability, lead

• Down field blocking

• Aggressiveness and sense of recklessness

• Second effort and desire

• Pass sets

• Finishing blocks

• Reactions/adjustments

• Route to LB

• Speed for position

• Blow delivery (pass)

• Pass blocking skills

• Upper body strength

• Lower body strength

Conclusion

As a coach, it is a demanding task and extremely time consuming to evaluate personnel, but I believe it is the most important aspect of your job. Ask yourself where each player can be put by position to do the best job possible for your offense to be successful and reach its potential. Put them in drills to evaluate them. Remember, it is the coach's job to find the best place for his players to play.

Finally, when looking for prospective football players, I think a coach should always ask himself these questions about the young man in question.

1.Does he have good athletic ability?

2. Does he have a good attitude?

3. Does he have a good work ethic?

4. What is his family background?

5. Does he have good character?

6. Can I trust him?

7. Is he a tough guy?

8. Does he love the game of football?

9. Does he understand the game of football?

10.Does he have football intelligence? (Do not confuse academic intelligence for football intelligence.)






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