6 Best Offensive line Qualities

When Joe Bugel, and later Jim Hanifan, coached the "HOGS" under Joe Gibbs, the following were in their offensive line manuals (which WE used going back to 1981):

1. Joe Bugel ("Boss Hog"):

Mental Toughness

When Joe Bugel coached the “Hogs” with the Redskins, the highest praise he could bestow upon a player was to call him an "LTG," short for Legitimate Tough Guy. An LTG is a fierce competitor, a battler, an athlete who looks at pressure as a challenge, who refuses to lose, and never ever quits.

Seven Characteristics of Mental Toughness

Competitive ...A competitor will find a way to win. Competitors take bad breaks and use them to drive themselves just that much harder. When you're on the field don't let anything take your focus away from the team's goal - to dominate your opponent every second of the game and to win!

Confident - ...Confident athletes have a can-do attitude, a belief they can handle whatever comes their way. They almost never fall victim to self-defeating thoughts. In the course of a game, there will be ups and downs - good things will happen for you and other things won't go your way. Stay focused, stay confident in your teammates and in the process.

Control - Successful athletes are able to control their emotions and behavior. They focus on what they can control and don't allow things that are out of their control to affect them. Injuries, penalties, bad calls, broken strings, faster opponents are all things out of your control. Always focus on what you CAN control - Adapt and Overcome the entire game. 

Committed - Mentally tough athletes focus their time and energy on their goals and dreams. They are self-directed and highly motivated. Remember the game plan, know your role in it, and execute in a disciplined, minute by minute fashion. Even when something doesn't go your way during a possession - let it go - get back on the game plan.

Composure - Mentally tough athletes know how to stay focused and deal with adversity. You can expect that you will make mistakes or be faced with two or three bad calls in every game - How you manage your emotions can determine whether you win or lose. You will face adversity during the game, keep your head up, your mind in the game, re-focus yourself and re-engage or Battle Again. You never have enough time to worry about what you just did wrong. Make a note and move on.

Courage - A mentally tough athlete must be willing to take a risk. That's what peak performers do. Compare success with a mountain. Only climbers get to the top. The campers, those who get part of the way up and decide to stay where they are, will never feel as alive or as proud as the climbers. Trust what you have practiced, Trust what you see on the field and "Let it Rip" - Seize the Moment!!! 

Consistency - Mentally tough athletes possess an inner strength. They often play their best when they're feeling their worst. They don't make excuses. Everyone has a job to do Friday. Know your Job. Trust that you can do it. No matter who you come up against - battle to dominate her. When each one of you individually plays your best as a part of this team - this team becomes ONE and you are SUCCESSFUL.

*************************************************************************

2. Jim Hanifan:

MENTAL TOUGHNESS (by Jim Hanifan):

Football line play has been compared to trench warfare and it takes place in what is often referred to as the “pit”. Offensive linemen have to be really tough guys, and not just physically.

Mental toughness is another important characteristic of offensive linemen, As a coach, you look for it. As a player, you know whether you have it or not. Often, the success of the offense will not be determined by the first few series in the game. Instead, offensive success will come later in the game as the offense begins to wear down or to dominate the defensive team. Mental toughness is an attribute that you really have to be concerned about.

The mentally tough football player has a complete passion for what he does and a total commitment to getting his job done on every single play. When a truly tough football player is lined up for the next down, there is no trace of of fear in him. There are no negative thoughts going through his mind. He's in a zone where all distractions are gone and he's completely focused. He's going to come at you all game long. He is relentless.

On every snap of every down, the offensive lineman has to actually enjoy the contact, both delivering and receiving. You like it and you have no fear of contact whatsoever. If you're a really tough offensive lineman, you have a great reservoir of strength you can dip into and overcome any of the innate weaknesses that's a natural part of all men.

There are a lot of things going on beyond physical size that should always be taken into account. If they are tough guys that really want to play, have great work ethics, and great pride in their performance, you will win with them.

With mental toughness comes a willingness and a stubbornness to keep on trying plus an enormous pride in individual performance on every single down. Mental toughness allows an offensive lineman to take the field series after series focused on winning the small battles and knowing that, ultimately, he will be rewarded with a team victory.