Two O-Line Questions

We align the guards and tackles off the ball except in short yardage situations. We do this so we can scoop backside.

Since we are an option team, we put alot of weight forward in our stances because we want to come off the ball 100 MPH. We don't care about being 50-50 in our weight distribution. For us, it's more like 70-30 forward.

I hope this helps.

I second Oneback's alignment. Also, we have a squared stance and our down hand should be able to be picked up and put down at will. Some call it "paint the fence." This is where the linemen would be able to paint the grass with their fingers to show their weight is back. The reason for the squared stance is to be able to zone either way.

agree with all. my guys' feet have a slight stagger. Weight is definitely NOT on fingers except for short yardage goalline stuff. I dont want them 'flat-footed' either. I tell them I must be able to slide a piece of paper under their heels.

agree 100% about painting the grass!

Your guys should be able to trap, pull, drive block, zone block, pass pro out of the SAME stance.

jd

i don't really tell them the big toe thing unless they know they are going to be stepping off with the opposite foot

but i might now

I like to align my olinemen with the guards toes at the centers heels, then the tackles and tight end(s) at the midsole of the man inside of them. I'm not a zone guy myself so crowding the line is better for me. Besides dlinemen are taught to create seperation, that's how they pursue the ball, I don't like to give a defense anything, they must work for everything. As far as stance goes, I like the 70-30 relationship, enough weight going forward that they should stumble if I pull their hand out. This is actually closer to 50-50 but it's the mental thought of their weight going forward. The only time this might change is for a trapping guard when I tell him to have a lighter hand and mental weight on his push off foot (kills the false step) and five step passing, other than those times I like to get into the defense quickly.