Historical Overview Offensive Line Play

Historical Overview Offensive Line Play



In his book The Story of Football (1965), Robert Leckie points out that in the 1870's, one last bottleneck remained to be opened before football could become inimitable American. It concerned the "offside". The word, as used at that time, did not apply to the present violation occurring when a man on either team crosses into enemy territory before the ball is snapped. Instead it was a word the British used to describe a player who got ahead of his own ball carrier or kicker. It is what Americans now call blocking or interference tactics which were highly illegal in the early Rugby days (Leckie, 1965).





1896

The American's liked the idea of helping the ball carrier along. They often bumped into opposing player as though by accident. In 1879, Princeton used two players to escort the ball carrier during a game against Harvard, thus, the offensive line gets its start (Leckie, 1965).



Because one of the offensive forwards in a scrimmage was. allowed to pass the ball back with his foot, he became known as the "snapperback." Later, because he played in the center of seven forwards or “rushers”, he became known as the “center”. Since the defensive rushers were permitted to attack him as he passed the ball with his foot actually squirting it back by sudden pressure on its end he needed protection from his own rushers at either side of him. Because, in effect they "guarded" the center, they became known as guards. It was inevitable, of course, that the rushers at either extreme would be called "end men" and then simply ends, And because the men between the ends and the guards had the best position for making tackles, the eventually earned the name of tackle (Leckie, 1965). Offensive line play, as spelled out in American Football and told by Walter Camp (1891), would consist of seven positions: a Center or Snap Back, two Guards, two Tackles and two Ends (p. 22).









In,The History of American Football (1956), Allison Danzig that in 1880, the rugby scrummage became scrimmage, and the quarterback made his appearance with a new method of putting the ball into play. Instead of the ball being tossed in between two packs of rushers, or forwards, who sought to heel it out (hit it backward with the heel) to their own back in the rugby "scrum", the procedure of a scrimmage was adopted for putting the ball into play. This procedure was accomplished by the snap back or center (Danzig, 1956).









In its early days of interference, players were permitted to grab hold of their runners anywhere they could and pull, push or yank the ball carrier along in any direction that would make the ball advance. In a rule established in 1876, stated that holding, carrying, and backward passing of the football would be permitted; this led to rushing as opposed to soccer.









Legal use of hands and arms by player of the side in possession of the ball; the player in the middle of the group, in attempting to obstruct an oppo¬nent, is keeping his hands together and his arms close to his body.

Legal use of arms by the player on the side in posses¬sion of the ball. Player No. 2 is attempting to obstruct an opponent in keeping his arms close to his body.

Legal use of body in blocking: the player on the right has thrown his shoulder against his opponent's thigh, to block him away from the play, but is not using his hands or arms.



In Football Facts and Figures (1945), Dr. L.H. Baker, wrote that Princeton, in 1879, was the first team to use interference with the ball carrier, but here the interferes were located on each side and not in front of the ball carrier (1879 Interference is legalized). This was called "guarding the runner". Since little was known about it, the use of interference was carried on in a desultory way, and to avoid possible penalty complications, interferers did not use their hands and arms. It was not until 1884 that interferes would be sent ahead of the ball (Baker, 1945).

is hands or arms.







According to Walter Camp in his book American Football (1891), offensive lineman should possess certain qualities because, during that time, football players would play both offense and defense. In the early years of football, the qualities that a coach should look for in a football player were as follows:



The End or Rusher

The end rusher must get into condition early. Unless the end rusher does, he cannot handle the work that must fan to his share, and the effect of a poor performance by the end is to produce disorder at once in the proportion of work of the tackles and half¬backs. When his own side has possession of the ball, his play, like that of any other man, must be governed by the character of the intended move, and the knowledge of what this move will be is conveyed to him by the signal. The nearer the play is to the end, the greater is the assistance he can render. There is no limit to the amount of work an end may perform in this direction. A good end should be able to toss his man back so that he cannot interfere with the play. The end is responsible for the area from the outside of the line to the sideline to the touch line. (Camp, 1891, p. 43)



The Tackle

While blocking may not be the most important duty, it is certainly the one which will bear the most cultivation in the tackles of the present day, for the ones who are really adept in it are marked exceptions to the general ran. The real accomplishment of a tackle depends upon the man's unflagging perseverance and study. A good defensive lineman cannot possibly be blocked every time in the same way, a good defensive lineman will soon become aware of the method and will be able to avoid the attempt. Dashing violently against a defensive lineman just as he is starting to work once or twice, and then he will make a false start to draw this charge and easily slip by the man.



In blocking for a run, the case is very different and depends upon the point of assault. If the run is to be made around the right end, for instance, by the left half back, the right tackle must block very slowly and long. That is, he must not dash up to his man the instant the ball is snapped and butt him aside, for the runner will not be near enough to derive any advantage from this, and the opponent and runner until the latter puts on steam to circle, when it his duty to engage his man sharply, and thus let the runner pass. In blocking for an inside run upon his own side, he should turn his man out or in, as the case may be just as the runner reaches the opening, being particularly careful not to make the break to early, lest the opponent reach the runner before he comes to the opening (Camp, 1891, p. 34).



The Guard

A man, who is slow, while it requires less agility than that of the tackle, can never satisfactorily fill the position of guard. When his own side has the ball, the guard must block sharply until the quarter has time for receiving the ball, and, at any rate, to begin the motion of the pass. The blocking of a guard is much less exciting in its requirements than that of the tackle. Not that he must not block with equal certainty, but the act requires no such covering of two men as often happens in the case of a tackle. The guard forms closely towards the center, and then follows his man out if he moves out, but only as far as he can go, and still be absolutely certain that the opponent cannot pass between him and the snap back.



When blocking for a run, (of course much depends upon where the opening is to be made), and a guard must be governed accordingly. A guard may not move about so freely and must face his man more squarely then a tackle, for the guard must protect the quarterback first, while the tackle considers the half only. Previous to the snap back's playing the ball, it is the duty of the guards to see that their individual opponents do not succeed in either kicking the ball out from the snap back's hand or otherwise interfering with the play.



This is quite an important feature, and a center should always feel that he is upon either hand a steady and wide awake assistant who will neither be caught napping nor allow any unfair advantage to be taken of him (Camp, p. 26).



The Center or Snap Back

The man who may be selected to fill the important position of center rush must be a man of sense and strength. Brain and brawn are here at their highest premium. Putting the ball into play at the right time, and properly, is a great achievement, but it does not free the center rush from all other obligations.



During early progress anew snap back usually sends the ball against his own legs, or, if he manages to keep him out of the way, is upset by his opponent for his pains. It is no child's play to hold a ball out at arm's length on the ground in front of one and roll it back so that it passes between one's feet, and still preserve a good balance in spite of sudden push of a hundred and eighty-pound opponent. But that is just what a center has to do each time the ball is down and belongs to his side. The first thing to teach a center is to stand on his feet against any amount of jostling. Then he must learn to keep possession of the ball until ready to play it. The most finished and experienced centers have a way of playing the ball just as they are half straightening as though to meet a charge from the front.



As to holding the ball, some centers prefer to take it by the end, while others roll it on its side. The ball can be made to rise for the quarterback if sent on end, whereas if played upon its side it lies closer to the ground. A center ought to practice putting the ball into play with either hand until he is proficient with both hands.



A coach should see to it that his center has a variety of men to face, some big, some tricky, and some ugly. If any old players come back to help the team in the way of coaching and among them are some counter rushers, they can do no better work than by donning a uniform and playing against the "Varsity" center. (Camp 1891)



The Flying Wedge, 1890 Bettman Archive







As Walter Camp wrote in 1891, a football team for the purpose of advancing the ball or repelling the attack of the opponents it has proved advisable for a Captain to divide his eleven men into general divisions: the forwards (Offensive Line) and backs (Camp, p. 18).







In the early years of football the rule that governed the number of players on the line of scrimmage fluctuated; 1895, seven players must be on the line of scrimmage until the ball is snapped; 1896, rule again changes stating at least five players shall be on the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped; 1903, rule changes again state that now the number of players on the line of scrimmage could be either seven or five under certain conditions. Then finally in 1910, the rules committee changes for the last time the number of players on the line of scrimmage to seven prior to the snap of the football. This rule change of 1910 has remained unchanged to the present day.





The introduction of the scrimmage line as stated in the book, The History of American Football, Its Great Teams, Players, and Coaches (Danzig, 1956), established the principle of possession of the ball, a tremendously important principle that, more than anything else, differentiates rugby from American football. When in 1880, a new rule is formed stating at least eleven players on a side and a scrimmage line established; the latter change eliminated the rugby scrum and aligned the teams on either side of the ball.







Football in America was never so unnecessarily rough as it was in the beginning. After 1888, when the low tackle became legal, the boys came up with a whole series of bone-wrenching, mass momentum plays. The hauling, heaving and gouging drew a public outcry. Eventually the rules were changed, protective helmets were worn (Photograph of Princeton and Cornell in 1903) and the game was somewhat tamed.

Parke Davis wrote of the significance of this change in the 1926 Football Guide. He said, “The most important incident in the evolution of the game in the late eighteen seventies was the introduction of the modem scrimmage in the place of the rugby ‘scrum’ (p. 15). The tacticians of the period perceived the vast improvement which could be obtained if a method were established of putting the ball in play that it would give to one side its undisturbed possession and thereby permit a strategic and tactical possession and thereby permit a strategic and tactical preparation to advance it (Davis 1926).



In 1883, four current methods of scoring were written into the rules book, touchdown, point after, field goal and safety.



John Heisman, famous coach and one of the inventive minds of football wrote in 1932 in the Yale Princeton football program, “Camp’s scrimmage plan gave the ball into possession of the center and he alone could put it into play with a snap-back. This control of the ball made it possible for the offensive team to plan plays in advance, and the use of signals by the quarterback made for better team play”. (Davis, 1926)



In 1888 the rules committee established two rules categories which governed how players could block and advance the football: (1) helping runner and using body; and (2) use of hands and arms. These two categories as found in the N.C.A.A. handbook have remained unchanged since 1888 to the present day. In 1888, the rules stated that blocking with extended arms prohibited and holding on offense constitutes loss of ball to opponent.



Pop Warner has been given credit by some for being the first to use linemen for interference. He is definitely credited, however, for introducing the Indian block, rather than the shoulder block in 1890. In his letter he said, “if you look at snapshots of football teams of the old days you will note that almost all players are on their feet.” That was because in the early day’s blockers used only their shoulders, seldom leaving their feet. Pop Warner figured that the use of the full length of the body provided a greater blocking surface than just the width of the shoulders, and also made it less likely for a blocker to violate the rules by using the arms and hands, and also made it harder for the defensive man to avoid the block (Danzig, 1956).



The Encyclopedia of Sports (1978) referred to the line blocking of the early days as “Line Charging”. Very little scientific thought had been put into that department of play before the dawn of the present century. Nearly all linemen, as a rule, lined up squarely against those who played the same positions on the opposing team. They didn't crouch or squat or play low. They mostly stood bolt upright and fought it out with each other hammer and tongs, tooth and nail, fist and feet. The fact is, you didn't stand much chance of making the line those days unless you were a good wrestler and fair boxer.



Certain ingenious plays featured in early day sport was quite as startling and unique as is the forward pass of today. First was the flying wedge, invented in 1892 and brought out by Harvard. Almost every team in the country promptly copied the play. In the flying wedge, however, nine of the players of the team withdrew about 20 yards from mid field and at a signal these nine, in two lanes, started simultaneously and at full speed, converging on a point indicated by the ball. By the time they arrived at the ball, they had worked up a stupendous mass momentum, and the interference they gave for the runner was something wonderful to behold, and terrible to stop.







1909















In 1894 Coach Woodruff, at Penn, drafted the principle of the flying wedge for his famous flying interference, which could be put into operation by the team that had the ball in every scrimmage down. This consisted in starting the tackle and end ahead of the snapping of the ball. They swung back together, between their line and the backfield, and then kept on reinforcing the work of their companion tackle and end, on the other side of the ball. Just before they hit the defensive line the ball went into play, and the results were again almost as disastrous to the defense as was the flying wedge. These two plays were quite as spectacular and thrilling as any that the modem game has produced. So unstoppable were they, however, that the Rules Committee was forced to legislate them out of existence within a few years in order to preserve the proper balance between offense and defense (Encyclopedia of Sports, 1978). In 1896, a rule was established to limit motion to only one player, thus, eliminating brutal momentum plays.



Glenn Scobey Warner stated in his book, Football for Coaches and Players (1927) that ball carriers cannot gain ground, no matter how clever they may be, if the opponents are not blocked out of the path of the runner, whereas a good blocking and interfering team can gain ground consistently with mediocre ball carriers.



In the early days of the game all blocking and interfering was done with the shoulder and interferers seldom left their feet, but in recent years the body or Indian block, so named because the Carlisle Indians were the first to adopt it (Warner, 1927).



The following diagrams are of a Line Charging Sled.













Also, in 1906 and 1912, 10 yards for a first down, plus a fourth down to make a first was implemented. The change to 10 yards came in 1906, the fourth down in 1912, to encourage the offensive game.

In 1930 and 1931, as the technique of offensive line play progressed additional adaptations and techniques were added to conform to the new rule changes, which were established during that time period. In 1930, according to the rule under the category of hands and arms, illegal use of hands and arms by the team with possession of the football is prohibited. Such holding and use of hands and arms includes:

• grasping an opponent with hands and arms,

• placing hands upon an opponent to push him away from play,

• with arm encircling in any degree any part of the opponent, and

• in blocking, using arms in any way to lift an opponent.







In 1931, according to the rule of helping the runner and using the body, no player of the team in possession of the ball might help the runner except by interfering for him, and there should be no interlocked interference.



The rule regarding hand and arms stipulated that the runner might ward off opponents with his hands and arms, but no other player of the team in possession of the ball might use his hand(s) or arm(s) to obstruct an opponent unless the an ns were close to the body.



Bernard Oakes, in his book, Football Line Play for Players and Coaches (1932), stated that in developing the offensive charge, a charge must be developed before any specific methods of blocking are taught. The offensive linemen must have a quick, hard and sustained charge. All the speed, power, and drive of a well-trained physique is put into the first step. The first step counts most. The head and shoulders are dipped slightly as the first step is taken to insure getting low contact on the opponent and to avoid his hands.



The arms should be snapped up under the chest. The palms of the hands should be down rather than up, or with the thumbs of each hand touching the chest. This position and twisting of the forearms will make them more rigid. The elbows should be extended and tensed, increasing the blocking width of the shoulders and the arms not allowed to drop back loosely to the sides. The hands and forearms should touch the chest to conform to the rule stating that the hand or hands must be in contact with the body (1932).



In his book Winning Football: Strategy, Psychology and Technique, B.W. "Bernie" Bierman (1937) pointed out that offensive lineman needs to run or move in predetermined set patterns. Football is essentially a game of precision. Let the blockers move a few feet away from the path laid out for them on a certain play, and a defensive man is certain to leak through and perhaps make the play for a loss. This alone shows how important running or movement is. While details vary, the ultimate objective of blocking is two things. The blocker either drives an opponent out of position to create a running lane or he prevents an opponent from moving into the ball carriers’ path. Any person knows that the most natural way to push or hold a person is by using the hands and arms. Every football fan knows, however, that use of the hands and arms constitutes offensive holding in football and calls for penalties that have been the heart break of more than one crucial game (Bierman, 1937).









William Glenn Kinninger, in his book FOOTBALL, (1939) stated that in the parlance of the football field it is often said that the game is won "up front". This means, and it is almost a football axiom, that the team with the most powerful and best-coached line generally wins the game. Efficient offensive line play is based on expert blocking and blocking is the very essence of offensive football (Killinger, 1939).



Further, to this issue, a coaching point was used that offensive lineman play from a stance, play with their knuckles on the ground rather than fingertips assisting in maintaining proper equilibrium. This not only provides stability, but also protects the fingers from injury (Killinger, 1939). It is important for linemen to practice their skills on a daily basis because, it is natural for linemen to want to use their hands when confronted by an opponent, but the rules do not permit the use of hands by the offense. Thus, in order to make blocking habitual without illegal use of hands it must be practiced (Killinger, 1939).



In the early 1900's many different styles of blocks were devised in order to advance the football. Since, hands and extended arms were illegal, blocking technique focused on the use of head, face, neck, shoulder, body, hips, and legs. Thus, in order to effectively teach the many different blocks, many hours each week would be needed to practice these skills.









The different blocks at that time which needed to be practiced during a daily practice are as follows: Right and left shoulder block, combination hard shoulder block (double team or combo), cross body block or Indian block, check block (zone), head on, combination "break", side swipe (leg whip), roll, side flying block, and running side-body block. On an average coach taught thirteen different run blocks (this does not include pass blocking technique).



In the 1930's the primary stance being taught to the offensive line was usually the same for all linemen except for the center. The rules provided that both hands, or both feet, or one hand and opposite foot, shall be within one foot of the scrimmage line.



It is important to understand that since the beginning of the establishing of rules that the defense has been able to play with hands and extended arms. This usually gave the defensive linemen advantage when working against the many different blocks of the offensive line.



Having assumed a proper stance, the most important duties of linemen are either to charge and block, and open holes, or to come out of the line and provide interference for the ball carrier.



The most common fault of linemen, blocking in the line, was that they had a tendency to charge too high and did not keep underneath their man, and they did not follow through (a common mistake still being made with today's linemen).



It was the duty for an offensive lineman executing one of his many blocks to always sustain his block

and work towards maintaining close contact (no separation) with the defensive linemen.





Against standing defensive linemen, the offensive linemen needed to work under the extended arms of their opponents to prevent being knocked backward or held off by their opponents' stiff arm charge. In 1930 two coaches, Robert C. Zuppke and Milton M. Olander from the University of Illinois published Coaching Football, the Illinois System of Offensive Line Attack. In their book they stated: bring the best blockers adjacent to each other for cooperative action. If the offensive linemen are grouped so that the same men always find themselves shoulder to shoulder, a better organized and a more polished attack will result. The team that controls the first yard beyond the line of scrimmage, all other things being equal, should win (p. 168).



In 1932 Bernard F. Oakes, Head Football Coach, Crinnell College, wrote in his book: Football Line Play

for Players and Coaches that a compact

line contracts the defensive line and vice versa, a widespread line expands

the defensive line. In order to have a strong plunging and running attack it is advantageous to have the offensive line well spread. This can be accomplished

to a surprising degree by merely having

the offensive linemen take a wide stance of the feet. Such a stance also gives the individual linemen a better-balanced base from which to work. It does not restrict the possibilities of his action in using various charges or blocks by cramping him to a narrow-confined space such as he must work in with a tight line.







There are certain advantages presented by spreading the defensive line. The distance between the individual defensive players is increased and thus the offensive linemen have an advantage over the defensive players as the hole designated by the play called is already partially opened for them. Plays going through the line are often stopped by a defensive player who is partially blocked, but who is close enough to reach the runner with his hands and grab him or some part of his uniform. There is less chance of this happening if the individual defensive linemen are spread (Oakes, 1932).







Oakes also stated that before any specific methods of blocking are taught a charge must be developed. The offensive linemen must have a quick, hard and sustained charge. He must keep his balance and not stumble. The offensive charge is made in an unnatural position. It is natu¬ral for a man to run high, although he can exert more straight-ahead driving power by running low. Conse¬quently, a great deal of prac¬tice is necessary to keep the men low and to get the greatest power out of the shortest run.



In producing a good charge, the first step counts most. The head and shoulders are dipped slightly as the first step is taken to insure getting low contact on the opponent to avoid his hands. The arms should be snapped up under the chest. The palms of the hands should be down rather than up, or with the thumbs of each hand touching the chest. This position and twisting of the forearms will make them more rigid. The elbows should be extended and tensed, increasing the blocking width of the shoulders and the arms not allowed to drop back loosely to the sides. The hands and forearms should touch the chest to conform to the rule stating that the hand or hands must be in contact with the body. The head should be up, so the top of the forehead would strike an opponent if met head on, and the neck drawn in and tensed, bull like. Eyes should not be closed but focused on the opponent's legs or feet.



Extending the elbows in charging gives beneficial results other than that of increasing the blocking width of the shoulders (Oaks 1932).



In 1946, hands and arms rule was redefined to read: Use of locked hands, regardless of position of hands is illegal if used in blocking by player of team with possession of ball. Legal use of hands and arms by team in possession of ball was:



a) in shoulder and upper arm blocking, player, after making legal initial blocking contact may allow his hand or hands to leave his body if defensive man retreats.

b) in passive block for protection of kicker, or passer, player may shield his head with his arms, but in no case in such action may he use his hands or arms to strike or punch opponent.

c) inside body or crab blocks, arms or hands do not have to be close to body (Oaks, 1932).

d) With the use of hands and arms rule of 1946 being redefined blocking technique begins again to be restructured.



e) With the use of hands and arms rule of 1946 being redefined blocking technique begins again to be restructured.



In Offensive Football (1947), Louis R. Oshins, assistant football coach, Brooklyn College, state that the basis of every play is blocking. Blocking is an art. It asks an offensive man to forget about his hands, and to remove from the play a man who may use his hands.



This gives the defensive player a tremendous advantage. The blocker must use whatever advantages he has. He does know exactly when the ball will be snapped, and he can get the jump on his opponent He does know where the play will go and he can get good blocking position. These factors should compensate him adequately for the lack of hand play (Oshins, 1947).



Blocks are taught that are never used in a game. They take up the valuable time that might be better spent for perfecting fundamental blocks. There are four important blocks that must be learned. They are the Head Block, Shoulder Block, Body Block, and the Open Field Block.





The only difference between the Head Block and the Shoulder Block is in the position of the head. The Head Block calls for driving the head into the opponent's mid section. The Shoulder Block places the head to one side of the opponent in such a manner that it is between him and the ball carrier (Oshins, 1947).



The most perfectly executed blocks are utterly useless unless they are made at the right time. A block that is made too soon is no better than a block made too late, for the man to recover and make the tackle.



Blocks may have different functions, which influence the technique and the duration of the block. A "T" formation quick opener does not require a long sustained block. A spinner play demands that the blocker stay with his opponent.



Linemen must know the maneuvers of the backs (in today's game the running backs must know the technique of the offensive lineman) so that they may know which plays are delayed plays that call for longer sustained blocking (Oshins, 1947).







During 1949, 1950, and 1952 rules pertaining to the use of hands and arms are redefined. In 1949 under the rule of helping runner and using body, changes to read: while blocking, players feet may leave ground the instant he makes contact with the opponent (Oshins, 1947). Also, in 1949 the hands and anus rule changes: penalty for illegal use of hands and arms, for offensive player, loss of 15 yards from spot of foul. If, to supplement shoulder or chest block, a teammate of runner uses hand or forearm for blocking; chest block, teammate of runner uses hand or forearm for blocking;



a) hand must be in contact with body during entire block;

b) with crab or body block hands do not have to be in contact with body;

c) hands may not be locked during any block (Oshins, 1947).



In 1950, the hands and arms rule changed to require the hand must be in contact with body, and hand and arm must be kept below shoulders of opponent during entire block by teammate of runner. Note: If hand or arm of player of offensive team in legal blocking position contacts opponent above shoulder before opponent squats, ducks, or submarines, such contact is not violation if hands and arms are otherwise used (Oshins, 1947).







In May 1958, Clem W. Thompson, Francis Nagle, and Robert Dobias conducted a study the results of which were published as Football Signals and Movement Times of High School and College Players. This study measured the time it took their subjects to move a distance of 18 inches. Two different starting signals were used: (1) rhythmic, either a digit signal (one, two, three, four), or word digit signal (hut one, hut two, hut three; and (2) non rhythmic word digit signals or non rhythmic color signal (red, green, orange, etc.). Rhythmic digit starting signals were found to result in the fastest movement times for both high school and college players Thompson et al., 1958).



It is important when understanding rules and technique that the stance has taken on many different looks since 1869, depending on the philosophy of the coach teaching it. The stance, an important aspect of offensive line play, was researched by J.M. Deck (1962) in his doctoral dissertation entitled Effects of Stance, Body Position, and Initial Step Patterns. The evidence suggests that a stance with high hip elevation is best. Since other factors such as stability and maneuverability are important to the football stance, appropriate modifications of the suggested starting stance are often indicated.







When fast movement is desired, the best stance is one in which the knees are bent slightly, and the weight is distributed over the feet. Starting on the balls of the feet prior to the movement stimuli offers no advantage because of an athlete's tendency to rock back on his heels before making his initial step.



In Football Principles and Play, David M. Nelson (1962), Head Football Coach at the University of Delaware wrote that blocking is the heart and soul of offense just as tackling is the lifeblood of defense. It might even be said that blocking is offense and tackling is defense. The purpose of a block is to prevent a defensive man or men from tackling the ball carrier or passer or from blocking the kick. The closer the ball carrier is to the blocker the more important the block. However, all blocks in an offensive plan are important. There are no second class blocks, and if they are worth doing at all they are worth doing well. It is safe to say that some blocks are more difficult to execute than others because they must be of a longer duration and require more skill and greater tenacity. Blocks are the foundation upon which running alleys or lanes are made. The nine principles of blocking, according to Coach Nelson are:



1. Design the play to give the blocker every possible advantage.

2. Block the proper defensive man.

3. Use the proper blocking technique.

4. Sustain the block.

5. Block at the exact moment of assignment.

6. Be prepared to make blocking adjustments.

7. Remember that the landmarks for the execution of the block control its success.

8. Remember that the intensity of the block determines its adequacy.

9. Make the second and third efforts to block.



All openings inside and at the flanks are based on the assumption that a successful block will be made. The rules of the game, by their reference to the way in which hands, aims, and shoulders may be used, give preference to what is known as the shoulder block. As a result, it is a fairly well established principle of the game that the fundamental method of blocking an opponent is with the shoulders. Most other types of blocks are variations of the shoulder block and are possible because the defender is following the head and shoulders (Nelson, 1962).



Position is of such importance that it is a phase of some offensive systems to disguise the final position for as long as possible. The backfield shift and the pre set position of linemen are examples of these attempts. But consequent reduction of the amount of time to examine the defense for assignments has reduced the amount of such shift and pre set moving in recent years. Once again, a rule is dictating how the game will develop. In this case, it is the 25 second rule (Nelson, 1962).



In 1964, as the game progressed, then Head Football Coach Bobby Dobb wrote of his updated version of offensive line play which he utilized at Georgia Tech. In his book, Bobby Dobb on Football (1964), he said:



It is in the offensive line that we find the unheralded and unsung heroes of any football team. The first downs and touchdowns of legendary halfbacks would never have come to pass but for the "blood, sweat, and tears" of an offensive line. Offensive line play can't be faked (p. 31).



Coach Dobb stated that in order for an offensive lineman to enjoy any success he first must have a good stance to enjoy any possible advantage against his opponent. Next most important factor is releasing from the line of scrimmage (getting off on the football).



There are five major factors necessary to any good offensive stance. Listed in order they are: (1) leg spread, (2) foot stagger, (3) arm position, (4) plane of the hips, back, and head, and (5) weight distribution (Dobb, 1964).



Too much accent cannot be placed on this phase of offensive play. The offensive individual or team that consistently gets off on the snap of the ball is certain to have a most definite advantage over the defense. Too many offensive men are defeated at this stage of the game without ever having had an opportunity to prove their blocking abilities. Getting the jump on an opponent often means the difference between success or failure on any particular maneuver.



To ensure offensive success in releasing from the line, three methods are now being used: (1) the “lunge out” release, (2) the “step out” release, and (3) the “all fours and step out” release. Of the three releases, the first two are methods that have been in general use and practice for some time. The third method has only recently come into common usage (Dobb, 1964).



It is during this time that coaches first started to mention full-extended arms when blocking. The "all fours and step out" release pertains to full extension of arms upon contact with a defender. As the offensive lineman releases form the line of scrimmage, he first leads with his head and extended arms. As contact is established, the arms are retracted to the chest and the forearms rose as extensions of the shoulder blocking surface.





Willows High School 1966

Varsity Record 17-1

Coach Dobb mentioned in his book that the ten primary, blocks that he has his offensive linemen work on for effective productivity are:



1. Straight shoulder block

2. Reverse block or cross shoulder

3. Cut off block or crab

4. Post block

5. Drive block

6. Trap block

7. Fan block

8. Roll up block

9. Pass protection blocks

a. Aggressive

b. Passive

c. Screen

10. Punt protection block



It was during this period of time of the 1960's that the Head Football coach, Victor Rowen, from San Francisco State wrote in his book, The Coaching of Football Line Play (1968), that it behooves all coaches to develop a basic philosophy about offensive play in general and about interior offensive football players in particular.



The coach must convince these players that their job is as important as any other part of the game, and he must constantly stress the value of the offensive lineman. The coach should emphasize this theory: each time we get the ball we are going to score, and we can score only as long as the interior men do their job.





























According to Clark Shaughnessy, “There is no one best play”. Thus, it becomes obvious that a coach must have a variety of ways of doing things and must present his own patterns for the offensive lineman (p. 3).



In 1971, coaches John Ralston and Mike White from Stanford University, writing in their book, Coaching Today's Athlete: A Football Textbook, pointed out several different qualities an offensive lineman should have, techniques that they taught in conjunction with the rules in effect at that time, and how they rated their offensive lineman's ability. Each player is rated in terms of the following attributes that we think are important to an offensive lineman:



1. Size potential: This will include a weight for reporting in the fall.

2. Athlete: This will include our evaluation of him as an overall athlete, which includes his ability to run and to control the use of his body.

3. Attitude: This will include his coaching ability as well as whether or not he is what we would term a "winner."

4. Foot mover. This is his ability to move his feet and perform the various techniques that are required of an offensive lineman. This is one of the most important attributes of an offensive lineman and is an important area.

5. Striker: The player will be evaluated on his ability to strike a blow, not only in his drive blocking but also in his pass protection.

6. Strength: This is overall strength, but most important to the offensive lineman is his leg strength and ability to perform the techniques that are required.

7. Speed: This is the player's overall speed as related to the offensive line.



We also rate each offensive lineman in the five basic techniques that are required: (1) pass protector, (2) drive blocker, (3) puller, (4) ability to block on the run, which we are now well aware is one of the most important attributes of an offensive lineman, and (5) rate him in terms of his second effort (Ralston & White, 1971).



It is the feeling of coaches Ralston and White that, during this period of time, a coach must determine the best possible offensive technique or blocking system; he then must develop an efficient method of writing up and presenting his offensive plays. It is imperative to be able to teach assignments quickly to avoid mistakes that might occur through lack of communication. It is very important to always search for the effective techniques so offensive linemen will be able to memorize the plays quickly but will gain knowledge at the same time. Learning assignments should be accomplished on the field in a competitive atmosphere. Memorization by rote learning is doomed to a very short lifetime. Coaches and players are missing the complete understanding of the game if the athletes do not have some insight into the play, play action, and execution.



Offensive blocking schemes should place a lot of emphasis on the finish of a particular block. It is not enough for the player to know just his assignment; he must know the direction of the play to aid him in a secondary effort according to the pattern of the action.



For this reason, maintaining as simple an offensive philosophy as possible while attempting to be creative in introducing new technique and plays is imperative (Ralston & White, 1971).



In 1976, the rule for the use of extended arms and the use of hands is mentioned and referenced in regard to allowing, them to extend out from the body. The rule stipulates that when a teammate of a runner or a passer uses a hand(s) or arm(s) in blocking or to supplement a shoulder block:



a) The hand(s) shall be in advance of the elbow.

b) The hand(s) shall be inside the framework of the blocker's body.

c) The hand(s) and arm(s) shall be parallel to the ground.

d) The arm(s) shall not be extended more than one half of a fall extension.

e) The hand(s) shall be capped of closed with the palm(s) not facing the opponent.

f) The hand(s) and arm(s) shall not be used to deliver a blow.

g) The hand(s) and arm(s) shall not be used to grasp, pull, encircle or lift an opponent.

h) The hand(s) or arm(s) shall not be used to hook, lock or clamp an opponent.

i) During no block shall the hands be locked.



In 1976, a rule change was made to allow the use of hands and arms to leave the parallel position while blocking. Arms might then extend one half of a fall arm extension while pass blocking as long as hands stayed inside the framework of the body. When offensive men run blocks, arms must still remain parallel to the ground.



As of 1980, offensive linemen might use full extension of their arms while pass blocking as long as they block behind the neutral zone. The retreat block was added to facilitate full extension while pass blocking, which means the offensive lineman must be moving backwards away from the line of scrimmage while blocking with extended arms.



In 1985, the retreat block was deleted, and open hands and extended arms permitted anywhere on the field. This new rule change allowed offensive linemen to both pass and ran block with extended arms.



While pass blocking, the change to full extension of arms has allowed linemen to pass block on the line of scrimmage and aggressively run block opponents.



In was during this time that coaches started to incorporate and introduce new techniques and drills to facilitate this new rule change. Since most coaches tend to coach what they already felt comfortable with, blocking with extended arms and hands took a slow change over which some coaches today do not fully understand.



In 1987, Homer Smith, the offensive coordinator at U.C.L.A. published the book, Football Coach's Complete Offensive Playbook. In it he wrote about the six principles upon which basic pass protection is based.



• One, a pass protection system should attempt, always, to get interior linemen assigned to the defenders who are most likely to rush.

• Two, the more distance there is between a blocker and the passer, the more secure is the passer. When a rusher does get around a protector, the passer wants time to see the danger and to escape it. The closer a blocker is to the passer, the taller he is in relation to the initial trajectory of the ball.



• Three, with the proper relationship between a blocker and the passer, and with the passer ready to escape in the proper direction, a pass protection block is downhill. It is stated that a runner who is behind a moving blocker and who has two ways to break can escape a potential tackler almost every time. A passer does not have two ways to break, but he can move forward, and a blocker can give a rusher only an outside route.



• Four, all defenders who can rush a passer must be either blocked or watched. Sometimes two defenders can be assigned to a lineman and a receiver, and if only one of the defender’s rushes, the lineman can block him, and the receiver can release. This is commonly called a blocking double read.



• Five, no rusher should be allowed to get to the quarterback before a blocker can make contact. When a back is assigned to a particular defender and that defender threatens to rush in a gap or over the guard position, the guard or center should block that defender and the back should compensate. Backs can see what happens to them and can always compensate for emergency measures taken by linemen.



• Six, the center should not be asked to snap the ball and block a middle guard by himself with the quarterback stopping to pass behind the line. The center cannot invite a middle guard to go to one side, knowing that the passer can protect himself by moving forward. The principle against a Oklahoma or an Eagle defense is that one guard must always be assigned to a linebacker so he can help the center with his block if his linebacker does not rush, possibly help him with the position of his body even if his linebacker does rush. These are the principles; the process of protecting the passer is very difficult (Smith, 1987).



Currently, form 1991 to the present, the rules that affect how offensive linemen may use their hands and arms require that a teammate of a runner or a passer legally may block with his shoulders, hands, the outer surface of his arms or any part of his body only if the hands are:



a) in advance of the elbow;

b) inside the frame of the opponent's body with the exception of when the opponent turns his back to the blocker,

c) at or below the shoulder(s) of the blocker and the opponent with the exception of when the opponent squats, ducks or submarines; and

d) The hand(s) shall be open with the palm(s) facing the frame of the opponent of closed or cupped with the palm(s) not facing the opponent.





Texas A&M University, Kingsville



The use of extended arms and hands which this writer will call Quick Draw / Punch and Run, enables an offensive lineman to work for pad control by blocking with extended aims as stated in the N.C.A.A. rulebook. Since a great deal of focus is centered on teaching defensive linemen to use quick hands and to develop quick feet, the same idea must be incorporated into the technique taught to the offensive line.



To control and direct the movement of a defender, the offensive lineman must have the ability to get his hands on the defensive lineman and to control or direct his movement. In order to do so, the concept of a Quick Draw / Punch and Run as dictated by the rules governing the use of extended arms and hands is incorporated into the lineman's thought process in blocking.



An offensive lineman, when faced with a larger and faster opponent, must be able to keep up with and control the defensive lineman's ability to disengage blocks. In 1888, the ability to block with extended arms and hands was disallowed because it was considered an unfair advantage for the offense. The technique at that time was limited to pushing and shoving; that technique now has come back in 1985 which was 97 years later, thus hopefully giving the offensive lineman an advantage that he has been unable to use but has been a continued practice by defenders since the conception of American football.