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Post by joker31 on May 18, 2021 20:16:57 GMT -6
Coaches,
Without trying to sound like those guys that are saying “this generation of kids”, we Have more and more Incoming freshman who want to be fullbacks and TE’s and are pushing to NOT be offensive lineman. To be fair, they have not played football in nearly a year And a half due to Covid so I’m sure lots of them have just been playing throw and catch.
Though I am not an OL coach, the OL is the most important unit on the team. What are the conversations you have with these kids to help them understand the value?
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Post by coachklee on May 18, 2021 22:12:39 GMT -6
Coaches, Without trying to sound like those guys that are saying “this generation of kids”, we Have more and more Incoming freshman who want to be fullbacks and TE’s and are pushing to NOT be offensive lineman. To be fair, they have not played football in nearly a year And a half due to Covid so I’m sure lots of them have just been playing throw and catch. Though I am not an OL coach, the OL is the most important unit on the team. What are the conversations you have with these kids to help them understand the value? I’d ask if they realized that the other 5 TEs on the team for just 1 or 2 starting spots means if they want on the field they should maybe become tackles... |
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Post by chi5hi on May 18, 2021 23:26:35 GMT -6
I bring out my favorite speech...the speech of total motivation. It goes like this:
You can't play that position. If you want to be on the field, well, we need a Guard...and an equipment manager. Your choice.
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Post by 19delta on May 19, 2021 0:52:35 GMT -6
I agree with both coachklee and chi5hi . I was a (bad) defensive lineman in high school. Going into my senior year, I was determined to play so I worked my butt off in the weightroom. However, when practice started I was still pretty bad and wasn't going to start. Got beat out by a junior. Our OL was struggling at the time so our OL coach asked me after practice if I would consider giving the OL a shot. Knowing that I was not going to be playing much on the defense, I jumped at the chance and was able to nail down the starting left tackle spot on an eventual quarterfinal playoff team in the biggest high school division in Illinois. I also ended up attending an above-average D3 school and was a 3-year starter. So yeah...I don't think there is anything wrong with communiciating to kids that their best chance at getting on the field might be at a position other than the one they would like to play. I think there are some other things you can do, though. Here's some thoughts: - The OL does not have to carry bags or equipment out to practice or have to put that stuff away at the end of practice
- The OL gets unique helmet award stickers or special t-shirts. Basically, turn the OL into a secret society.
- On game day mornings, the OL goes to breakfast with their coach or they get together with their coach on the weekend for pizza. They get to nominate 1 non-OL player each week to join them. That guy gets to be an honorary "Hog of the Week" (or "Big Cat" of the Week if you are a Tony Holler guy).
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Post by realdawg on May 19, 2021 3:19:10 GMT -6
Let them come out for the position they want to play. It will become evident pretty quickly that most of them wont be the TE/FB.....so move the ones who arent in the 2 deep at TE to OL if you think they can do it. Really talk up the OL and make it seem as fun and cool as possible.
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Post by Down 'n Out on May 19, 2021 5:05:55 GMT -6
Everything already mentioned is spot on, to add to what has already been said the OL coach has to make playing OL fun. Joking, cutting up, play up the physicality and hard work of the position. I try to make OL kind of clickish, its us vs the world. Were over here working and they're over there playing catch. Also a lot of kids play football to catch/throw passes but most play for the physicality of the game, no position has more contact than OL. Play that up.
Take a look at your scheme, how are you blocking? We down block and kick out - hitting guys with angles or with a running go. Thats fun, zone blocking doesnt seem as fun to me.
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Post by blb on May 19, 2021 6:05:53 GMT -6
OL ate first at Pre-Game meal, got first choice of seats on bus to away games.
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Post by rsmith627 on May 19, 2021 6:16:25 GMT -6
Everything already mentioned is spot on, to add to what has already been said the OL coach has to make playing OL fun. Joking, cutting up, play up the physicality and hard work of the position. I try to make OL kind of clickish, its us vs the world. Were over here working and they're over there playing catch. Also a lot of kids play football to catch/throw passes but most play for the physicality of the game, no position has more contact than OL. Play that up. Take a look at your scheme, how are you blocking? We down block and kick out - hitting guys with angles or with a running go. Thats fun, zone blocking doesnt seem as fun to me. Zone blocking isn't even close to as fun as the other blocks. Nothing better than the look big man gets when you dial up a pull for him. |
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2021 7:50:10 GMT -6
First and foremost, you have to make your players better. Just get in the way is not good line play. Your kids know it.
And if your line coach doesn’t have a progression for fundies, imo and ime you don’t have a line coach.
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Post by coachbb on May 19, 2021 7:58:46 GMT -6
1. Like some others have said, you have to make the OL feel special. Eating first, getting first dibs on equipment, special shirts. Don't just pay lip service to the OL being most important- put it into practice.
2. Establish a clear "No block, no rock" mentality at all offensive positions. Make everybody on the team understand blocking isn't something that the OL only does.
3. Don't let the other positions complain about "lack of blocking" or other B.S. related to the OL. Get that sh*t out of your program.
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Post by aceback76 on May 19, 2021 8:13:27 GMT -6
Alex Gibbs gave a great talk on this very topic at Clemson 8-10 years ago. I have it somewhere on DVD, but I don't have the equipment to make copies anymore. It was never offered for sale. Anyone living close to Central Va. is welcome to stop by & copy mine (if they have the equipment).
PS: Suggest that anyone who is in touch with Alex might ask where they can get a copy.
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Post by pistolwhipped on May 19, 2021 8:38:11 GMT -6
Enter the field via stock wagon.
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Post by Defcord on May 19, 2021 9:32:50 GMT -6
Give the big guys the ball every once in a while. Do it in a game and those guys will run through walls for you. If all of your games are too competitive and you can't risk it in a game, do it in practice.
One school I was at if we rushed for over 300 yards in a game an offensive lineman got the ball the next game. It was fun for everyone and our offensive line was that much more intent on running the football.
I am pretty sure if I am ever a head coach again I am going to tell the linemen if they play four years for me I will get them the ball in a game at some point. I was an offensive linemen and I always dreamed of that one big game when I got to carry it, even just once. I think it could be extremely motivating for the big guys.
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Post by MICoach on May 20, 2021 10:07:47 GMT -6
Take a look at your scheme, how are you blocking? We down block and kick out - hitting guys with angles or with a running go. Thats fun, zone blocking doesnt seem as fun to me. It's not a Coach Huey thread unless we get a zone vs gap argument... I'd say kids enjoy winning more than anything, and if you can teach them to pancake a kid on OZ they're going to enjoy that too. I don't think lack of linemen interest has to do with blocking scheme. |
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Post by rsmith627 on May 20, 2021 10:28:30 GMT -6
Take a look at your scheme, how are you blocking? We down block and kick out - hitting guys with angles or with a running go. Thats fun, zone blocking doesnt seem as fun to me. It's not a Coach Huey thread unless we get a zone vs gap argument... I'd say kids enjoy winning more than anything, and if you can teach them to pancake a kid on OZ they're going to enjoy that too. I don't think lack of linemen interest has to do with blocking scheme. This is true. We major in it and do well. Line takes pride in it. Still more fun to pull and kick out, but they like winning. As an added bonus, we've had a few OL over the years finally learn left from right while zone blocking. |
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Post by coachlawson on May 20, 2021 10:40:54 GMT -6
We called them the Pancake Club. Head coach bought them pancake breakfast once a week. Bought them their own t-shirts with unique design. I like the idea of making them special. They don't get much love elsewhere.
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Post by fantom on May 20, 2021 10:42:17 GMT -6
This isn't a "Good ol' days" post designed to complain about kids today, just an observation:
Here's the "conversation" that the coach and I had on my first day of HS football practice:
Coach- "You're a Guard".
Me- (Runs silently to the Guards).
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Post by blb on May 20, 2021 12:00:51 GMT -6
This isn't a "Good ol' days" post designed to complain about kids today, just an observation: Here's the "conversation" that the coach and I had on my first day of HS football practice: Coach- "You're a Guard". Me- (Runs silently to the Guards). Had a Band kid come out for Football as a Senior, hadn't played since Freshman year. Wanted to be a TE. Was Fourth on Depth Chart when practice started. We only had one Center. Told him he could practice at TE but he'd never play, or be back-up Center, play some STs, and in case of injury have a chance. To his credit he went to Center. Played a little in each of four blow outs. Naturally our starting Center got hurt in next to last game of season. So this kid had to play. Played the entire game that we had to win to make the playoffs without a bad snap or missed assignment and we came back from down 21-7 in 2nd Quarter to win 30-27 against an arch-rival who had already clinched playoffs (very good team). Couple years later he told me that was the highlight of his HS experience. |
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Post by Defcord on May 20, 2021 17:04:18 GMT -6
This isn't a "Good ol' days" post designed to complain about kids today, just an observation: Here's the "conversation" that the coach and I had on my first day of HS football practice: Coach- "You're a Guard". Me- (Runs silently to the Guards). Had a Band kid come out for Football as a Senior, hadn't played since Freshman year. Wanted to be a TE. Was Fourth on Depth Chart when practice started. We only had one Center. Told him he could practice at TE but he'd never play, or be back-up Center, play some STs, and in case of injury have a chance. To his credit he went to Center. Played a little in couple blow outs. Naturally our starting Center got hurt in next to last game of season. So this kid had to play. Played the entire game that we had to win to make the playoffs without a bad snap or missed assignment and we came back from down 21-7 in 2nd Quarter to win 30-27 against an arch-rival who had already clinched playoffs (very good team). Couple years later he told me that was the highlight of his HS experience. Good for him! Tell him to be proud...he touched the ball every play to lead you to victory. |
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Post by s73 on May 20, 2021 17:12:07 GMT -6
Coaches, Without trying to sound like those guys that are saying “this generation of kids”, we Have more and more Incoming freshman who want to be fullbacks and TE’s and are pushing to NOT be offensive lineman. To be fair, they have not played football in nearly a year And a half due to Covid so I’m sure lots of them have just been playing throw and catch. Though I am not an OL coach, the OL is the most important unit on the team. What are the conversations you have with these kids to help them understand the value? I always tell them if your 40 time starts on Monday and ends on Tuesday you are a lineman. At some point I feel it's healthy for kids to hear realism. I try to coach them to embrace it and realize they are the most important unit on the team. |
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Post by coachagamble on May 20, 2021 19:27:58 GMT -6
Everyone has said about the same but it is true. If the coaches value the OL, make it special, make it fun the kids will come out. We always have tried to give them a unique name (Big Dogs, Mules, Ogres, etc), make shirts for them, feed them, celebrate them to the whole team/share their importance to the team.
If the adults show its important (not just the OL coach) the kids will follow. At least this has been the case in my experience. Food also goes a long way to getting them to buy into being OL!!
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Post by coachklee on May 20, 2021 19:31:35 GMT -6
Give the big guys the ball every once in a while. Do it in a game and those guys will run through walls for you. If all of your games are too competitive and you can't risk it in a game, do it in practice. One school I was at if we rushed for over 300 yards in a game an offensive lineman got the ball the next game. It was fun for everyone and our offensive line was that much more intent on running the football. I am pretty sure if I am ever a head coach again I am going to tell the linemen if they play four years for me I will get them the ball in a game at some point. I was an offensive linemen and I always dreamed of that one big game when I got to carry it, even just once. I think it could be extremely motivating for the big guys. Yep! This guy started 37 varsity games at GUARD for us. Love how the rest of the OL was PUMPED! |
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Post by morris on May 21, 2021 4:04:58 GMT -6
I call the The Chosen Ones. I give the skinnies cramp all the time saying things like “Don’t blame me God didn’t bless you with the body and skills to be with us. “ things like that. I’m the HC/OC and OL coach. Skinnies aren’t allowed to complain about the OL or talk negative to/about them. I handle any corrections that need to happen and I make that clear to the lettuce eaters. I’m with them in the weight room. When I recruit kids I make sure they know they will be with me. I’m the HC and I’m recruiting them to play in my position group. I make sure they understand I’m not going to run them to death or beat them up.
We do some heavy package stuff where I bring in extra guys. We just run away or hide the bad guys up front. We use a H which is really just a G in the backfield. They were 99 and we’ll sneak a pass in to them once a year.
I talk my guys up. When a kid isn’t big on OL I point to the little guys. I ask who are you going to start over or explain that those kids over there can’t play anywhere else. They are to small and weak.
Block down, kick out and wrap is fun. Doubling and down blocking poor souls can really get them excited. I send them clips of OL guys being physical and nasty.
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Post by coachklee on May 21, 2021 4:11:38 GMT -6
I call the The Chosen Ones. I give the skinnies cramp all the time saying things like “Don’t blame me God didn’t bless you with the body and skills to be with us. “ things like that. I’m the HC/OC and OL coach. Skinnies aren’t allowed to complain about the OL or talk negative to/about them. I handle any corrections that need to happen and I make that clear to the lettuce eaters. I’m with them in the weight room. When I recruit kids I make sure they know they will be with me. I’m the HC and I’m recruiting them to play in my position group. I make sure they understand I’m not going to run them to death or beat them up. We do some heavy package stuff where I bring in extra guys. We just run away or hide the bad guys up front. We use a H which is really just a G in the backfield. They were 99 and we’ll sneak a pass in to them once a year. I talk my guys up. When a kid isn’t big on OL I point to the little guys. I ask who are you going to start over or explain that those kids over there can’t play anywhere else. They are to small and weak. Block down, kick out and wrap is fun. Doubling and down blocking poor souls can really get them excited. I send them clips of OL guys being physical and nasty. “The lettuce eaters!” Haha |
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Post by bulldogsdc on May 21, 2021 6:58:07 GMT -6
This isn't a "Good ol' days" post designed to complain about kids today, just an observation: Here's the "conversation" that the coach and I had on my first day of HS football practice: Coach- "You're a Guard". Me- (Runs silently to the Guards). Coach Kremer- What position do you play? Me- I'm a Tight End CK- You are a Tackle Me- OK My Dad- Boy, You are a TE. Me- Coach said I was a Tackle Dad- OK |
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Post by agap on May 21, 2021 8:20:25 GMT -6
We have gotten the same thing the last couple years. We just tell them they can either be a linemen and play or they can play a different position and stand on the sideline. That usually convinces them.
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Post by fballcoachg on May 21, 2021 9:17:36 GMT -6
Try out wherever you want but at the end of the day you have to decide if you want to play football or want to play a position.
It also isn’t kids today, I wanted to be a TE, played it my junior year, wasn’t better than the starter, OL coach said something to me about OL, I was mad at home and my mom said something very similar to the top “either you play TE and don’t get on the field or play Center and have a chance to start, either way you are done complaining.”
I pull all LB/DL in early during camp and tell them if they aren’t in the 2 deep at another position they’ll be asked to help the team and learn OL. Most do, some reluctantly, but it has built our numbers there.
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Post by larrymoe on May 21, 2021 9:22:52 GMT -6
"Everybody wants to be a bodybuilder, but nobody wants to lift no heavy-ass weights."- Ronnie Coleman
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Post by blb on May 21, 2021 10:45:32 GMT -6
"Everybody wants to be a bodybuilder, but nobody wants to lift no heavy-ass weights."- Ronnie Coleman One of my HS coaches was fond of saying "Everybody wants to go to Heaven, but nobody wants to die." I don't think this quote was original to him, but at his Pro Football HOF Induction Ceremony James Lofton (a WR!) said, "There is no substitute for strength, and no excuse not to have it!" |
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Post by Down 'n Out on May 23, 2021 19:25:52 GMT -6
It's not a Coach Huey thread unless we get a zone vs gap argument... I'd say kids enjoy winning more than anything, and if you can teach them to pancake a kid on OZ they're going to enjoy that too. I don't think lack of linemen interest has to do with blocking scheme. This is true. We major in it and do well. Line takes pride in it. Still more fun to pull and kick out, but they like winning. As an added bonus, we've had a few OL over the years finally learn left from right while zone blocking. Winning is obviously best but if I'm on a 5-5 team and my job is A- to out position a guy so the RB can make a good cut Or B - pull and kick out a guy who doesn't see me coming/down block a guy who doesn't me coming Play in play out I know which one I will take. It may not be a deciding factor but imo it does matter. Granted I've never really coached in a zone offense but I know my OTs would much rather down block on Buck Sweep than reach block on Rocket. That very well could have a lot to do with my ability to coach reach/zone blocks |
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