The real problem - The Trenches

[Whatever]

(10-29-2024, 04:58 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: What often gets lost in the romanticism over the "athletic" pass blocking specialist, is that they are commonly thought of as "finesse" players. Pass blocking is a skill that can be taught and enhanced, the desire to move the man in front of you is a quality that either you're born with, or you don't have.

Athleticism is a two-fold thing, though.  Better athletes on the OL means your run scheme can have a lot more variety.  A guy can have all the desire in the world to impose his will.  It means jack squat if he can't get proper positioning on a reach block because he has lead in his pants.

It's become a lot more important in pass pro because edge rushers have gotten so freakishly athletic the past decade or so.  Jonah was a prime example.  Guy was a technician coming out of college, but against guys like Myles Garrett and TJ Watt, he just didn't have the physical talent to compete and got clubbed like a baby seal every outing.