Like many of you out there, I would really like to see Ohio State succeed in football this year. Not that the team hasn't had success for the past few years, it's just that I want to see the team go to the next level. What seems to have slipped a bit in recent seasons is the play of the offensive line. I was thinking that perhaps someone here at Eleven Warriors needs to step up and do his part to help rectify the problem. So here is my first attempt.
The video below is from a group called Clubhouse Gas, and is designed to aid coaches in teaching the most basic blocking techniques for players in the age group 5-15. I realize that the guys playing O-Line for OSU are much older than that, but after the last 3 seasons I'm wondering if going back and re-learning the fundamentals might not be a bad idea. After all, none of us wants to see another "pillow fight" anytime soon. Coach Bollman, take heed!
Incidentally, the guy who is doing the teaching is not a famous ex-NFL player or anything like that, but it looks like he's blocked a few guys in his time. It also looks like he took a few too many trips to the training table, but we'll leave that aside for now. Some of the commenters on YouTube remarked that the contact usually occurs on the 2nd step, not the first. But that's really nitpicking when you're trying to teach the basics. I'd like to see our guys master the technique of knocking the defender on his rear before I start worrying about how many steps it takes before they do it.
For those of you that prefer a more detailed approach to the drive block, this video might suit you better.
Comments
Chicken-wing technique he mentions seemed pretty prevalent with our guys.
I was under the impression OSU doesn't employ the drive block or the blocking sled for that matter. What the hell are they learning?
Probably just the more advanced stuff I guess. But I always thought that teams should still drill their players on the basic stuff just to make sure they've got it when they need it. Zone blocking is all well and good in the middle of the field, but in the goal-line offense you need to be able to move the guy in front of you. We settled for FG's way too often last year. We need to be able to punch it in when we've got it close to paydirt. The inability to do that led to tricks like splitting Pryor out wide against Texas. Nice idea but it only masks our main weakness.
ANOTHER BEANIE UPDATE: http://profootballtalk.nbcspor...
am old school enough to think that 99% of all football problems are first and foremost a line problem. when you can block the defense you can do what you want - and you will.
hopefully we'll be better trained and execute better this year.
I think I'll wait to see how this year's line performs before I try and pretend Im a football coach and make some analysys on proper blocking technique. I just think it was a case of mediocre talent and playing out of position. Browning is a guard, so moving back to his natural position, plus the experience from last year, PLUS an experienced guy like Boren being around, should work wonders for him.
What if the Shugarts hype is real and your line looks like:
Adams Boren Brewster Cordle Shugarts
Two Deep:
Miller Smith Moses Browning Hall
I liked this comment from Gholston when he was accused of lacking fire, from Good Shizzy:
"What is fire?" Gholston said, bristling slightly. "Is fire jumping up and down when you make a tackle? I'm not going to do that. You're supposed to make tackles. That's my job. Now, if we win the Super Bowl, then you'll see me jumping all over the place. To me, it's about working hard and being prepared."
I always respected that about Gholston, he was a cool customer that went in there and got the job done without making an ass of himself. One sack in particular that sticks out to me is the following; he could have danced over Henne and talked smack, but he was a cool customer. I respect that and I hope Vernon has a huge year for the Jets.
(bad quality, but everyone seen this sack 100 times): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
I don't know if its me or not but in 2005, it seemed like we had a damn good line. That seemed to be the year we had a really mobile line behind T. Smith and Pittman, the options, the reverse, anything really.
I think with the guys we got, it would be best to work on goal line situations and downfield blocking. The more mobile our line is, the better because they an block for those quick receivers and Pryor's running ability when he takes off.
shugarts hype?
I'm still wondering why Connor Smith hasn't made more of an impact at OSU (pardon the pun). As I recall, he was almost as highly regarded as Boren was coming out of high school, and Michigan wanted him pretty badly.
What is this "drive block" you speak of?
yeah Tressel was talking about JB when asked about the tackles...most people thought Cordle would start at RT and Adams/Miller at LT but it seems a healthy JB shugarts makes the mix as well....could be some nice depth and talent there....
Joe- I've had a theory not just on Connor but OSU players....all of the players OSU recruits are obviously great HS players who have the talent to be able to make it to OSU physically....it's the mental part of the game that makes you good at OSU...studying the film, spending extra time in the weight room, learning from older players....you have to be hungry to be good at the college level and really want it...if you do those things the little extra bit you will make the NFL from C-bus...I don't think football is such a high priority for Connor Smith otherwise I think he would have seen more positive results at this point
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the SEC basically just bought ESPN...not that espn wasnt already licking their balls