The Problem With HS Offensive Linemen
- Coach David Frederick
- Nov 5
- 5 min read
The old days of being a big fatty and clogging up the hole as a HS offensive linemen is long gone. Today's offensive linemen are...and should be, athletes. Smart, communicative, physical, aggressive and able to make plays. The offense doesn't work or score points if the O Line doesn't do their job. Simple as that.
I once heard Patriots Left Tackle Will Campbell say "You have to love violence to be able to play on the offense and defensive line… It’s a dog eat dog world. Whenever you’re going out there, it’s either you or him, and I want it to be me every time.” That is the attitude that makes a great offensive linemen.
I have seen a lot of HS film this year at every level where the offensive line is pathetic. You may be saying, geeez coach, thats a bit rough. It's the truth. If you want to be elite and play at the highest levels and earn a chance to play at the next level, you will need to be much better. Teams will need to be better if they want to win. Better doesn't just mean catch the ball, run the ball, etc. The O Line is key! In fact, look at the top 25 teams in the US, every player is doing their job. Every unit is firing on all cylinders. The O Line is fast, aggressive, blocking, etc. EVERYONE is doing their job the vast majority of the time which enables your skill players to make plays and score.
Here is what I am seeing on film:
Lack of aggression and violence
A patty cake fest at the Line of Scrimmage
Lack of explosiveness off the line
Standing straight up
Poor footwork
To slow in pass protection getting caught flat footed
Poor use of hands
Getting beat by the DE or DT
Guards that are too slow where the Running Back or Motion Receiver is outrunning the block
Not blocking to the whistle
Watching the play
Not finding someone to block at the second level
And more!
Coaches may be saying..."Not my team". Players may also be saying, "Coach, your crazy". Am I? I have watched film of the top teams in the country as well as ones, that are not. They all have this problem. Admittedly, to varying degrees. Top teams like IMG, Bishop Gorman, Mater Dei, Sierra Canyon, Bosco, are far more fundamental and disciplined. They are succeeding. There is a reason why they are the best in the country. But thats no excuse for less elite schools to not hold their O Line to a higher standard and coach them up.
Anyone can be aggressive, block to the whistle, improve their footwork, etc. Now I realize this blog post is coming at the end of the season and during play offs, but its never to late to get better unless you don't, and then you lose.
Coaches and Players, if you want to execute your offense and put points on the board, work your O Line and coach them up...even if you don't have a dedicated top O line coach, you can still coach your players up on the following. Player, you can also work on this on your own, during indies, etc.
BLOCK TO THE WHISTLE! Don't make contact and then watch the play or your QB/RB getting blown up! Block his ass into the stands!
DO NOT STAND UP! Explode out aggressively and maintain contact until the whistle (unless if a combo block, etc.). If you have Chutes, work them! To many offensive linemen stand straight up on the snap. Ineffective. How many times have you heard, LOW MAN WINS! Leverage. USE IT!
DEVELOP LIGHT FEET / FOOTWORK! You wont be able to execute or get out of your own way, if your to slow and heavy footed. WORK your stance and steps! This applies to pass blocking and run blocking. If you are a guard, you better have your steps down or you are going to get in the way or run over or worse, blow up the play.
STEP TO RUN! If you are a guard or a tackle who is pulling, MOVE YOUR ASS! Your assignment requires speed to get to where you need to be and once you get to your blocking assignment, block, block, block to the whistle!
COMMUNICATE! Linemen must communicate changes in pass protection or the play change from the QB, defensive GAP assignment or shifts, etc. The fans should hear the O Line communicating! That is the sign of a good offensive line!
HANDS! An offensive linemen should be a master at using their hands to manipulate the defensive player. You must be fast to gain and maintain leverage so you can drive the defender anywhere you want to. Remember, the NG, DT or DE will using their hands to shed you. Who is going to win?
FINISH! If you are double teaming or combo blocking do your job. NO half assing and assuming your blocking partner will handle it. Blow the defender up! Pancake him!
HANDS PART 2 - Get your hands inside of the shoulder pads and drive your defender. I was always ok with 1 or 2 holding penalties on my O linemen if there hands were inside. If they were outside on the shoulder pads, I am gonna be pissed. That tells me you got burnt and were lazy executing a last ditch effort that just cost us a penalty.
REACH STEPS! These must be large enough to stretch the defense. Half assed reach steps will not accomplish the execution of the play. ALL 5 linemen must work in concert on this and take the same large reach step.
SPLITS! Splits should be based on play design and execution. To many teams are shrinking splits because they can't zone block or pick up the blitz. I have seen so many teams run zero splits on inside run plays. Not effective. This is the 21st century. High School programs should be running plays that enable zone blocking. Even Gap On Down should not be zero splits. Coach your players up! If they have aspirations to play at the next level, NO ONE is running zero splits in college except the FG/PAT Unit.
Lastly, the most important thing I would coach my offensive linemen (and D line) on, something I termed VASE - VIOLENCE - AGGRESSION - SPEED - EXECUTION. Honestly, this could also apply to whole offense and not just the O line.
You must be violent. Just like Will Campbell. You must be aggressive! You must be fast! You must execute. IF you don't do any of these things, the offense will struggle to execute. Running Backs wont have holes to run through and Quarterbacks wont have pass protection to pass. This equates to losing. All 11 guys MUST DO THEIR JOB or the machine breaks. Its that simple.
Players incorporate VASE. Coaches, coach your players up on VASE and the points above. Lastly, DISCIPLINE! Your players minds must be engaged all 4 quarters and be disciplined. NO FALSE STARTS. Pay attention. Know the snap count. Listen to the QB for changes. DISCIPLINE!
Offensive linemen are athletes. They must poses the same level of football IQ as receivers, running backs and quarter backs. They too need to be "skill" players. If you want to win more games, incorporate this information. I don't care if your IMG or the last place team in a small town. Football demands constant improvement. Football is not static. Offensive success starts and ends with the O Line.
Invest in boards for O Line Footwork. Invest in Chutes, hand shields, etc...if you don't have the budget, improvise. There is always a way. Condition your O line. They should be making the D Line gassed not the other way around. Train eyes and field vision. Train Hands and reaction time...you can use tennis balls, etc. There is always a way. If you need help, reach out.
LFG!
Coach David Frederick
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