5 Tips for Coaching Small Offensive Linemen | Joe Daniel Football

[@raydogg1977]

I was 5"8 170lbs and the starting center. Our starting left guard was 5"10 165lbs yet our running back annihilated the school rushing record. In high school, size it doesnt matter. However, at the next level, when big guys are athletic and strong size becomes a huge issue when it comes to offensive linenan

[@theybait3557]

Ik it’s two years later😂 but is 5’9 190 good for a incoming freshmen I am norm center or rg on o and lg on d

[@aidenspagnoletti516]

same exactly situation as you, 5’8 160 starting guard, freshman. u have any tips?

[@gridiron8870]

Size does matter in the trenches

[@ramvasani1434]

I am 6’1 150 freshmen starting guard it is hard to play oline but coach stated playing what you told about

[@fittergrady]

Superb advice. We are regularly outsized, sometimes by as much as fifty pounds a man. Our base run blocking scheme is about 60% zone trap. We also employ a lot of post/drive double teams off tackle and simple stretch power with on side tackle and off side guard pulling to the point of attack. We average well over five yards per rushing attempt. An excellent resource for small offensive line principles is any film of the service academies. Forget that they are old school triple option based offenses. Their blocking schemes are simple, disciplined, and precise.

[@ukaszkoodziejczyk5320]

Good point with angles, coach. Good angles in run blocking make miracles :)

[@Joe4372]

Absolutely. I've learned to spend a lot more time on footwork and angles and less time on 'toughness' drills.

[@benstout6982]

I run a mix of pistol double wing and single wing (most years 9-10 year olds). I am constantly coaching a smaller team man for man every game every year. These are some excellent points. You really started out well with the point of explaining gap blocking and how it helps smaller players. Double wing, single wing, wing-t, and many of the I formation style offenses are predicated on gap blocking and the blocking angles it provides.

[@nofacebadman7207]

im 5 9 190 backup center and guard and this helped thanks

[@biggritz2003]

I'm 5'4 235 lbs freshman starting center I'm short but quick and I can fairly say that the o line requires you to be more smart than athletic shur athletic ability helps but if you can get off the line get your feet where they need to be and drive your feet and know the plays you are set in my 8th grade year i was playing around didnt know 1 play so i played 2 plays the whole season you couldn't ask me what it meant to pull to a end or a backer but this year ive played attention took time to study time in the weight room now I'm unstoppable it slant matter how big you are just show up to practice and put in work you can be great

[@kj2valid619]

blissfulbobcat7 honestly dude but like when you get to the Varsity level in the more so D1 or Open Divisions You have to rely on strength and athletics more because they will look at your height and bull rush you 99% of the time

[@robertmetcalf6658]

screen plays are fun cus the whole line could run and get to the 2nd level this especially effective with small line too 😂

[@gshipy6516]

Great points, coach. I use the same point here in Australia

[@Joe4372]

Thank you coach, it's great to hear from you!

[@andrewgahner2897]

I’m 5’9 165 pounds center on jv I play because coach saw me in the weight room out lifting the 240 pound guards and tackles

[@drock2104]

I mean its all about the pancakes, live it up, tear it up, size cant stop you

[@timothyyylew0656]

I’m 5’11 185lbs starting right guard but our team has our angles down perfect we are a angle based team

[@ronlatronica3112]

Zone and gap. KISS method

[@alexis6683]

Know it's an old vid but, do you mind explaining why gap schemes work better than zone schemes for small guys? It feels like you won't get a push at the POA consistently, which from what it seems like you need in gap. I'm probably completely off on this but, basically what do you get in gap that you don't in zone in terms of naturally opened gaps?

[@Joe4372]

Gap schemes are double teams and down blocks, you're basically never asking someone to create movement one on one. You use angles and double teams to open up running lanes.

[@alexis6683]

@@Joe4372 Makes a lot of sense, should have thought of that since you can't really drive on zone doubles. Thanks for answering :)

[@khangvuong7505]

Im 5’3 170 pounds any more tips for being a better lineman?

[@benstaggs4410]

Im 5'4" 156 lb in 8th grade our season is over and my nana is supposed to be gettinh me a bench press set Thursday I am trying to train for highschool and my goal is 5'7" or 8" and to get rid of some belly and thigh fat and grow more muscle and dominate in highschool

[@kenpierce8946]

Gimme an update Bubba. You make it?

[@jhugg7993]

Should I try and change positions I’m 5’10-5’11 140lbs and play all over the line I’m as athletic as some of are receivers but I can’t really catch and like blocking

[@beatsbysnaggz1956]

Stay at line just hit the weights and try and gain some weight

[@popsterz3839]

Probably full back

[@GRavenRL]

Rn as a freshmen I’m 6’2, around 275 I need tips on what I need to work on for colleges I’m pretty strong I would say, but I’ll work on that by going to the gym. I need to know what coaches in D1 schools look for in games and practice, I need to know how I should play during games and how I should practice. Thank you.

[@griergentry8777]

Your footwork will be important. Coaches want to see that you don’t just use your size but that you have technique and can move.

[@stankyt5882]

Our whole offensive line were all under 6'0" and a weight ranging from 180-220, and we ended up #1 for our respective class.

[@Jmjr3000]

6’0 in a half 255lbs as a senior 5’10 in a half 206lbs as a freshman started center on the freshmen team 2 years on JV and Varsity my senior year don’t have to be over 6’3 300lbs you just gotta eat, Pump iron, workout I did all that and I got 38 pancakes and end up pancaking a guy who NFL Oline size you just gotta have heart.

[@gridiron8870]

Go try to play at the college level and see how u do you'll get bullied

[@Jmjr3000]

@@gridiron8870 like you when you was in high school

[@gridiron8870]

@@Jmjr3000 I'm just being honest if you're not a big guy you don't belong I'n the trenches College Football is where the big boys play u had more of a fullback body type or linebacker body type I didn't get bullied in high school I wasn't popular and played football and lifted weights and stayed to myself and had a small circle

[@Jmjr3000]

@@gridiron8870 and I’m being honest I’ve put boys bigger then me on there back an I busted threw people on defense playin fullback cuz none of the fullback were over 215 but taller the gym is my life with out steroids or testosterone boosters all I do is eat every 3 hours and hydrate with water unlike people who don’t like water not my problem if I couldn’t play football I would’ve wrestled because there is no tryouts in wrestling you just show up and Russell off the starting person and up to the coaches and wrestling it’s up to you if you want to start varsity so don’t come dissing me just cause coaches didn’t appreciate your sorry ass I’ve been bullied throughout middle through high school what did I do I hurt people in the sports that I play Since they wanna bully me I stared bustin knees and got my respect so yeah I’m being honest @Gridiron

[@gridiron8870]

@@Jmjr3000 And Coaches did appreciate me I just wasn't big enough or strong enough I had competion in front of me I had a lanky dude who was very quick and twitchy so he beat me out if u eat e ery 3 hours your probably just a husky bulky guy that thinks he's strong cause u got all that body fat I'm just saying you act like you're a freak strength monster that could compete at the next level at Oline Or Dline I couldn't either but I wasn't the one saying that I'm 6 foot 1 227 Lean and I have bigger traps than average and big thighs so I look more like a linebacker and I've never taken anything I just put in the work and I push myself and eat like a dog everyday

[@the_realdjmatt9577]

Where should I put this player he’s 5,11 270 and a senior and he plays offensive line but it’s gonna be hard for him to be recruited as a lineman because of is height he good and o lineman but where should I put him so he can get more scouts

[@Joe4372]

Where he wins you more games. Do not put kids in positions to get them scouted, that's the college coach's job.

[@Tim_Marshall73]

I'm in a wing t offense I'm the biggest starting o linemen on our team and I'm only 270. Prob be 260 by week 1. I'm the strongest kid too with a 330 bench 600 squat but I feel like other schools have much much bigger and stronger guys than me. But no1 that strong in hs runs a 5.1 like me 😋.

[@Tim_Marshall73]

Btw I'm the starting center and the other dudes are 220, 215, me, 225, and 195. Btw my backup Is 180.

[@masonmennell8514]

How tall

[@kielweiss3606]

My first reaction to "if you have small OL run spread" was 'what idiot told you that?'. Spreading thr offense into a 2x2 or 3x1 takes LBs and DBs out of the box. If you're OL is small it's the opposing DL that's the problem not the LBs. If you want to spread thr DL go to 5+ foot splits, even if your OL is small if they get beat the DL is still too far away to make a play, but now you're in a BOB blocking scheme.

[@BDW0000]

What schemes do you recommend for a small defensive line?

[@Joe4372]

Not really a specific scheme. All defenses can be adjusted. The 4-3 or 4-2-5 (4-4, 6-2, all the same) prefer to have a dominant 3-tech, and if you don't have that you need to make some adjustments. But you don't change defensive schemes every year. Pick one you like and believe in, learn everything about it, and run it.

[@jacobfoster5386]

I’m 5”8 125 pounds and play d end and play guard I’m on jv

[@artyszn9009]

That’s extremely small, I recommend switching, but you do you, and prove me wrong

[@jacobfoster5386]

@@artyszn9009 i got moved up to varsity broke my arm got over it now i’m 5”8 145lbs bench 235 squat 315 and deadlift 325 i think i’m switching to powerlifting i like it more then football lol

[@artyszn9009]

@@jacobfoster5386 5’8 125 on varsity line 😭 i’m 6’2 230 on jv

[@matthewclements9893]

I'm 6'1" 150lbs starting center in highschool im scared😭

[@waltermitty539]

Not trying to steal your thunder/horn in on what you are saying here, but this is a quick video about my starting LT last season. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eafGpWaZaamDbLM I think that he defines 'Small Linemen". I have sent this onto my offensive coaches, I find your materials to be pretty spot on.

[@Joe4372]

Thanks coach, yep that would be a small lineman for sure!

[@maxbrzr3079]

I am 14 and I play against 19 yr olds who are twice as fat as me sooo....

[@DA.234]

same here. because of covid this year on football i'm a freshman (15 5'11 140 lbs) and i gotta play with seniors twice my size

[@victoroliveira2400]

youll be the same, you dont want good football players, you count froce.

[@darrenwalker2007]

After 20 years away from coaching, and 26 from playing my last game here in Britain, I've been seduced into coaching an U-16 side (Joe you'll be glad to hear we don't run 7 on 7,,,, no we run 5 on 5, have no idea why, until next season when we go 7🫤) so my O-Line consists of a centre - tight end hybrid, so I take it I can coach this with easily enough for the guys to snap then engage with the heads up nose.