OL Size and Quickness

[drcrim]

Somebody smart help me out.
Why do OL guys have to be so big? I know it's the conventional wisdom, but seems like guys this size don't have the speed to stay up with the opponent. Wouldn't it be better to have OL guys match the size, shape and speed of the DL? Just seems like a better match up since the OL knows the play and the DL doesn't.

 

[TheBoris]

Somebody smart help me out.
Why do OL guys have to be so big? I know it's the conventional wisdom, but seems like guys this size don't have the speed to stay up with the opponent. Wouldn't it be better to have OL guys match the size, shape and speed of the DL? Just seems like a better match up since the OL knows the play and the DL doesn't.

I myself would prefer a minimum requirement of half a brain. We had one guy jump offsides three times at Wisky. That probably cost us a chance to win. Maybe he had a joint to relax before the game?

 

[Fan4Life]

On the inside, OL are close to the same size of the DTs they face. So you logic holds there. For the tackles, you have to keep in mind that they are facing an opponent that has a few steps (or more) of steam already built up. Some of those DEs are nearly as big as the OT and with the momentum already built-up, you need to be bigger to withstand that and redirect them.

 

[FirstDownB]

Because occasionally you might want to be able to run the ball

 

[FLAG HUNTER]

Lol, try getting pounded every play by one or more guys, who weigh 300 lbs and you are trying to keep your QB from getting hit. You better be big and in good shape to take it.

 

[TheBoris]

Lol, try getting pounded every play by one or more guys, who weigh 300 lbs and you are trying to keep your QB from getting hit. You better be big and in good shape to take it.

Right, but if you lack the half-a-brain to remember the number "2" for ten seconds, as unfortunately our #79 does, wouldn't we be better off with some rocket scientist whiz kid who weighs 20 pounds less but who can actually retain the snap count all the way from the huddle to the line of scrimmage?

 

[FLAG HUNTER]

Sometimes a player is so locked in on not getting beat again, if the defense flinches, then he moves . Like anything, experience makes a big difference

 

[spradecki]

Right, but if you lack the half-a-brain to remember the number "2" for ten seconds, as unfortunately our #79 does, wouldn't we be better off with some rocket scientist whiz kid who weighs 20 pounds less but who can actually retain the snap count all the way from the huddle to the line of scrimmage?

Why so disparaging. Do you really think the kid doesn’t know the snap count.

 

[Wolegib]

Unlike Purdue, Most quality teams like Michigan OSU and other top 10 teams have very quick 300 pound defensive ends as well as 300 pound DTs. hazell thought having quicker, smaller 240 DEs was a great idea, and that the y could run around the o-line. in doing so, they ran so much, they tired out by the 4th quarter, and were run over.

back to the o-line. If you face a decent team where their front 4 or 5 are all 300 pounds, you want somebody bigger. And when pass blocking, both a tackle and guard may zone block and have to block against both a d lineman and linebacker or safety. So you want your tackles to be huge.

and if you're run blocking, you want to be able to plow through the opposition.

in reading your comment, I guess you are asking, which is better, big slow guys, or smaller quick guy. My thoughts are that the smaller, quicker guys will tire out faster from the beating, and when you need them most in the 4th quarter, they will have nothing left. but the big , slow guys don't really need to run, they jus t need to open holes for RBs to run through, and create a wall for a QB to hide behind.


I believe the concept of having smaller , quicker linemen is flawed on both sides of the line. Do you want Purdue to be a top 20 team? if so you need to have both lines filled with 300 lb linemen who are quick. 250 pound linemen are for MAC teams.

 

[TheBoris]

Why so disparaging. Do you really think the kid doesn’t know the snap count.

This jackass stupidity cost us a chance to win vs Wisky. The TV commentator said, repeatedly, "... this issue is from the neck up..."

 

[Dandelion1972]

Sometimes a player is so locked in on not getting beat again, if the defense flinches, then he moves . Like anything, experience makes a big difference

Great point! It's easy to be critical, but they have to remember a great deal. Ever see a playbook?

 

[boilerbusdriver]

Back in the day, Offenses pulled their linemen on every other play, so you needed 250# guys that had some quickness and agility, now they do so much zone blocking, and just knock the guy in front of you 5 yards deep. When you find the great combination of strong, quick, and fast lineman, with some smarts with it, you have a All American on your hands!!

 

[Dakota Girl]

Somebody smart help me out.
Why do OL guys have to be so big? I know it's the conventional wisdom, but seems like guys this size don't have the speed to stay up with the opponent. Wouldn't it be better to have OL guys match the size, shape and speed of the DL? Just seems like a better match up since the OL knows the play and the DL doesn't.

It’s always a trade off between big / power vs small / agility.
Not so sure the D linemen are small either.
Generally offensive tackles are tall because you need long arms to keep defensive ends from getting into your body. Offensive tackles, especially left, must also have good feet and be able to drop their hips (play with knees bent). It’s hard to find big, long, knee bend athletes which is why left tackles in the NFL make the big bucks. So why not smaller? Well besides the arm length issue they also need to be powerfull to run block. They must set the edge to be able to run off tackle.
Guards and centers tend to be shorter and lighter than the tackles because they tend to do more pulling and second level blocking.
Defensive line men are the opposite distribution. Leaner more athletic on the edge and bigger and heavier in the middle. Why? It fits the task. Big bodies to keep the o-line from creating movement up front and the lean athletes to rush the passer from the edge and to stop outside run plays.
Simple version. If you need to get around someone you want to be fast and agile. If you need to move something you need power. You don’t see 54’ truck trailers pulled by corvettes.

 

[FirstDownB]

I do think there is a big difference between good weight and bad weight. Every team has 300 pounders on the line nowdays. The good ones look like strong grown-ass men. Others look more like teenage boys who ate too many cheeseburgers. I've always thought it was interesting to looking at the head shots in the media guides. You could separate the men from the boys 90% of the time from just the shoulders on up. The chin and jawline generally don't lie. The key to red shirting guys is it gives them an extra year to turn that bad weight into good weight.