re: Rant O-Lineman- I have a question

quote:

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Basic OL technique varies from play to play. For most running plays, the OL wants to initiate contact from a lower, leveraged position, arms extended, and drive the DL to the target area with leg drive and forward momentum. In those situations, body-to-body contact is expected and desireable as that is going to be what moves him.

Basic pass blocking, the roles are a little reversed - particularly in the interior (DEs and OTs are dealing with all kinds of stuff on the end - virtually every play goes a little differently) - the DT in that case, tries to initiate contact, and from a leveraged position, but slightly off of square, depending on his target rush line. He is trying to get the OG or C out of his way, so he can disrupt the passer (or in some cases, he wants to drive the blocker into the passer or passing lane). In these situations, the OG or C does not necessarily want to fully absorb the rush, although sometimes it is unavoidable - but rather maintain a little spacing with the arms, so he can manage the rush in accordance with the pass blocking scheme.

"Head butting" as you describe it is often a side effect of the guy who loses the leverage war and collapses/crashes down on the other, whether the bull rusher, or the Olineman having to go to his "Plan B", which is brute force and keep the legs moving.

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This is a good assessment.

Sometimes our coaches would simplify it (for the dumb ones) by telling us "If we're passin', get your fat arse in the way of whoever's comin'. If we're runnin', move that other fat arse out of the way."