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Why do offensive tackles need to be so big?

Posted on 10/8/19 at 2:22 pm
Posted by Cycledude
Member since Jul 2018
1718 posts
Posted on 10/8/19 at 2:22 pm
It seems like quickness is more important as most defensive ends are fast and about 260 in college.
Posted by thunderbird1100
GSU Eagles fan
Member since Oct 2007
68321 posts
Posted on 10/8/19 at 2:23 pm to
They dont, for these modern spread offenses I'd much rather a guy who is 6'6 290-300 than 6'4 330 out at tackle.
Posted by BlackHelicopterPilot
Top secret lab
Member since Feb 2004
52833 posts
Posted on 10/8/19 at 2:24 pm to
quote:

It seems like quickness is more important as most defensive ends are fast and about 260 in college.




Both are. But, if 260 is running FORWARD and you are stepping backward and have to STOP that momentum...you better have a strong , solid base.


Equal size - the one moving FORWARD has the advantage
Posted by jimbeam
University of LSU
Member since Oct 2011
75703 posts
Posted on 10/8/19 at 2:24 pm to
I suspect we’ll see smaller players in the future. Or maybe faster is the better adjective. Old school LBers will be replaced by rovers with this new style of offense. And OL will adjust accordingly.
Posted by Philippines4LSU
Member since May 2018
8789 posts
Posted on 10/8/19 at 2:26 pm to
quote:

BlackHelicopterPilot


Exactly. The rules dictate that O-linemen go backwards while pass blocking. They have to be bigger/stronger than the defender while also being quick and athletic.
Posted by JohnSneaux
Member since Oct 2019
99 posts
Posted on 10/8/19 at 2:26 pm to
quote:

6'6 290-300

quote:

6'4 330


I would probably consider the 6'6" 300 LB guy bigger than the 6'4" dude
Posted by thunderbird1100
GSU Eagles fan
Member since Oct 2007
68321 posts
Posted on 10/8/19 at 2:28 pm to
quote:

I would probably consider the 6'6" 300 LB guy bigger than the 6'4" dude


6'4 330 looks way bigger than 6'6 290-300.

Do you think someone 6'0 180 looks bigger than someone 5'9 240?

Bigger, not taller
This post was edited on 10/8/19 at 2:28 pm
Posted by 72Tigah
Gonzales
Member since Jan 2010
1673 posts
Posted on 10/8/19 at 2:28 pm to
In LSU's case, they are oversized and I blame the s&c Dept for this. They could be quicker and more athletic. They are now recruiting slimmer olinemen so they can bulk up instead of trying to slim down which LSU doesn't seem to know how to do. Hopefully it won't cost LSU another big game win.
Posted by 2much8ntenough
New Orleans
Member since Aug 2008
415 posts
Posted on 10/8/19 at 2:29 pm to
Bigger is better against pass rush. Can hold their ground against the bull rush, etc.
Posted by TheBear60
Member since Aug 2017
368 posts
Posted on 10/8/19 at 2:30 pm to
I think Coach Miles didn't think it necessary. That is why LSU wound up with all guards & no tackles. If you are going to play flag football like this Brady Ball, 5 guards may be fine. If you are going to play smash mouth football, you need road graders at tackle.
Posted by tarzana
TX Hwy 6--Brazos River Backwater
Member since Sep 2015
26159 posts
Posted on 10/8/19 at 2:31 pm to
Bigness has gotten out of hand for OTs. An OT who's 290 and quick as a whistle is more valuable than a slowish 340 pd. one, I would think.

Speaking of smallish offensive linemen, whatever happened to Cameron Wire?
Posted by Cycledude
Member since Jul 2018
1718 posts
Posted on 10/8/19 at 2:31 pm to
I think you would want a tackle to not let a guy get around him, so agility is key. But he can’t be too small or he’ll get bowled over. I’d say about 270 pounds and quick would be ideal.
Posted by Philippines4LSU
Member since May 2018
8789 posts
Posted on 10/8/19 at 2:33 pm to
quote:

But he can’t be too small or he’ll get bowled over. I’d say about 270 pounds and quick would be ideal.


Nevermind, misread.
This post was edited on 10/8/19 at 2:34 pm
Posted by JohnSneaux
Member since Oct 2019
99 posts
Posted on 10/8/19 at 2:33 pm to
quote:

6'4 330 looks way bigger than 6'6 290-300.

Do you think someone 6'0 180 looks bigger than someone 5'9 240?

Bigger, not taller


If youre going to try to scale down your shite example then you need to actually scale it down. You cant just carry the same weight and height delta and slap it on any height baseline.
Posted by bstew3006
318
Member since Dec 2007
12576 posts
Posted on 10/8/19 at 2:34 pm to
You don’t necessarily need a big OT, just like you don’t necessarily need a big Dick. But sure helps when you you need that short yardage or need to throw it in low and really dick a bitch down.
Posted by Todd O'Connor
MIke Ditka's Restaurant Chicago, IL
Member since Nov 2012
1273 posts
Posted on 10/8/19 at 2:37 pm to
quote:

That is why LSU wound up with all guards & no tackles.


rant myth and recency bias.
Posted by GorgeousGeorge
Nola
Member since Jul 2014
1988 posts
Posted on 10/8/19 at 2:41 pm to
Also important to mention here- it’s not necessarily height itself that is inportant, but taller people generally have longer arms, and wingspan is very important for OTs. More length makes it easier to control edge rushers with your hands and generally speaking, the taller you are, the longer you are.
Posted by BlackHelicopterPilot
Top secret lab
Member since Feb 2004
52833 posts
Posted on 10/8/19 at 2:41 pm to
quote:

I think you would want a tackle to not let a guy get around him, so agility is key. But he can’t be too small or he’ll get bowled over. I’d say about 270 pounds and quick would be ideal.




The ideal would be larger than THAT.

Look, the OT moves a LOT less than the DE / OLB does.

The defender has to set the edge on running plays, does not KNOW that the play is going to the other side, has to run down the RB from behind , drop into coverage sometimes, etc. So, he needs to be smaller and more agile.

The OT has to block the DE / OLB on pass plays (smaller amount of running even then). But, sometimes, is responsible for taking on the DT (DE on 3-4 Ds) on rushing plays. Those dudes are bigger.

So, the OT ideally has significant size and has agility, too. The calculus is to maximize the combination. Big dudes that are twitchy get PAID for that.
This post was edited on 10/8/19 at 2:43 pm
Posted by Htowntiger90
Houston
Member since Dec 2018
939 posts
Posted on 10/8/19 at 2:47 pm to
For people looking at measurables, height and arm length come into play. If a tackle can extend his arms he can get an advantage in blocking. Long arms can help a tackle keep a pass rusher off his body, keep him from getting leverage on a bull rush. As BlackHelicopterPilot noted, you better have a strong base to go with that height.
This post was edited on 10/8/19 at 2:48 pm
Posted by KingofthePoint
Member since Feb 2009
10133 posts
Posted on 10/8/19 at 2:48 pm to
quote:

But he can’t be too small or he’ll get bowled over. I’d say about 270 pounds and quick would be ideal.

270 would get bowled over on a bull rush
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