O Line Skills

While most students spent Spring break week relaxing, St. Johnsbury Academy’s Grady Davis spent his serving others halfway around the world.

A two-way starting offensive and defensive lineman, Grady traveled to the Ayisatu Owen School in Techiman, Ghana, where he introduced 35 sixth-grade students to the game he loves: football.

Originally scheduled to teach from 8:00–10:00 a.m. to avoid the intense heat, Grady was given just three days to prepare the students for a flag football game. What began as a short introduction quickly became something much bigger.

The kids had so much fun that a fourth day was added. By then, the excitement had spread throughout the school, drawing teachers out of their classrooms to watch and cheer. On the fifth day, some teachers even joined in to play.

Grady left Ghana exhausted, but proud of what had been accomplished in less than a week. Many of the students had never even seen a football before, yet by the end of the week, they were learning, competing, and fully embracing the game. Teachers shared plans to continue the activity and even use YouTube videos to help the students keep learning.

Grady made a lasting impact on that community, not because of how different he may have appeared, but because by sharing and serving, he gave those kids an experience they otherwise never would have had: the opportunity to hold a football, learn the game, and be part of something entirely new.

Outstanding work representing St. Johnsbury Academy both on and off the field, Grady.

Coach Rich Alercio is available to discuss coaching philosophy, X’s & O’s, or teach his O-Line “techniques in the trenches.” Contact Coach at richalercio@gmail.com and share http://www.olineskills.com with your colleagues and friends. Thanks for supporting this blog and joining our conversations, and as always, thanks for your time! 

Every April, around the time of the NFL Draft, our coaching staff takes part in an exercise that has become a tradition within our program.

We put on our General Manager hats and conduct our own team draft.

This year was no different.

Coaches were handed the roster in alphabetical order and asked one simple question:

“If you had to draft your own team, who would you take first?”

Then came the next pick. And the next. And the next — until every player on the roster had been selected, including the final pick, who we certainly do not refer to as “Mr. Irrelevant.” Brock Purdy taught the football world an important lesson there.

What makes this exercise valuable is how quickly it exposes the true state of your roster.

Faster than combine numbers, offseason workouts, or even depth chart meetings, you discover something important: coaches do not simply draft the most talented players first.

They draft the players they trust most to help win games.

For me, I want players who practice and play with energy, effort, and enthusiasm while consistently demonstrating intelligence, toughness, and a strong work ethic. Talent may get a player noticed, but those other traits are what get players drafted early.

Your first 10–15 selections usually reveal the culture of your team.

Those are often your experienced players, projected starters, and the athletes who best represent your program. They possess both the measurable and immeasurable qualities every coach covets.

The next 10–15 players typically reveal your depth.

These are developing players who may be called upon at any moment. Most are fully bought into the culture, but may still be growing physically, technically, or mentally.

The remainder of the roster generally falls into one of two categories: prospects or problems.

The prospects are players who are still developing — new to the culture, the game, or the weight room.

The problems are players who have not yet fully committed to the standards and expectations of the program.

That is where difficult conversations sometimes begin.

Coaches cannot continue investing in players who refuse to invest in the team.

I often remind our staff not to focus on what they think, feel, or hope about a player, but rather on what they consistently witness.

Deal in certainty, not potential.

Interestingly, while we do not draft by position, positional value naturally reveals itself during the exercise. Quarterbacks tend to rise because the offense runs through them and they touch the football on every play. Offensive and defensive linemen climb draft boards because games are still won in the trenches.

We never reveal the results of the draft to the players, but it is important they understand the philosophy behind how they are evaluated. Ultimately, those same principles will shape the first depth chart posted at the conclusion of Week One of Training Camp.

The ultimate goal is to build a roster where coaches struggle to separate players because so many possess the measurable and immeasurable traits that winning programs are built upon.

Football is not simply about collecting talent.

It is about building a team full of players every coach would confidently draft.

Coach Rich Alercio is available to discuss coaching philosophy, X’s & O’s, or teach his O-Line “techniques in the trenches.” Contact Coach at richalercio@gmail.com and share http://www.olineskills.com with your colleagues and friends. Thanks for supporting this blog and joining our conversations, and as always, thanks for your time! 

Another trip to New Jersey and another outstanding clinic.

As we were setting up for this Sunday’s Alercio O-Line Clinic at West Orange High School, I noticed New Jersey Hall of Fame Coach and 2003 National Coach of the Year, Don Smolyn, leaning quietly against the fence.

And I found myself thinking: Why would a retired Hall of Fame coach—with 348 wins across 45 seasons—spend a Sunday morning standing at an offensive line clinic in May?

Then the answer became obvious.

Maybe that’s exactly why he became a Hall of Fame coach in the first place.

While others might believe they’ve seen enough, learned enough, or accomplished enough, Coach Smolyn was still searching for more. Still listening. Still studying. Still learning.

As I addressed the players gathered in the bleachers, I glanced toward the top row and saw him there—locked in, taking notes, capturing details.

Once we moved onto the field, I invited him down to join us. He politely declined and explained that he preferred staying high in the stands so he could better see and hear everything from his vantage point above the field.

Think about that for a moment.

After decades of success, recognition, and achievement… he still approached the game as a student.

That’s the lesson.

Greatness is rarely built on talent alone. Talent may open doors, but sustained success is built on humility, curiosity, and the willingness to keep learning long after others stop.

The best coaches I’ve been around all seem to share that trait. They never arrive at the point where they believe they have everything figured out. They continue asking questions. They continue observing. They continue searching for better ways to teach, communicate, and develop young athletes.

Football constantly evolves. Techniques evolve. Defensive structures evolve. Training methods evolve. The coaches who continue to grow are usually the ones willing to remain uncomfortable enough to keep learning.

That mindset extends far beyond football.

Whether you’re coaching offensive line play, leading a business, teaching in a classroom, or raising a family, the willingness to stay curious matters. The moment we believe we already know everything is often the moment growth begins to slow.

Sunday’s clinic was another reminder that the true masters of any craft are often the ones humble enough to remain students of it.

Coach Rich Alercio is available to discuss coaching philosophy, X’s & O’s, or teach his O-Line “techniques in the trenches.” Contact Coach at richalercio@gmail.com and share http://www.olineskills.com with your colleagues and friends. Thanks for supporting this blog and joining our conversations, and as always, thanks for your time! 

My former college teammate, Bill Furlong—now the head football coach at Haddon Township High School in New Jersey—shared something interesting with me at the South Jersey O-Line Clinic.

He took my offensive line manual, fed it into an AI tool, and had it generate a podcast based on the content. The result is worth a listen. It’s fascinating to hear what the AI identified as the core concepts—and maybe even more telling to notice what it left out. You can listen in the audio player pasted here:

The manual itself covers the technical and tactical aspects of the run game, pass protection, and the screen game. It’s material we’ve been teaching at our clinics for more than 25 years, built on nearly four decades of experience in the trenches. For coaches, it’s a valuable resource to revisit throughout the season—a way to reinforce fundamentals and sharpen understanding.

That said, it doesn’t replace the value of live instruction. There’s no substitute for hands-on coaching, real-time correction, and the ability to connect technique to execution on the field.

If you’re in the area, you and your players can join us this Sunday at the Alercio O-Line Clinic in West Orange, NJ. Manuals will be available on-site for $10. If you can’t make it, I’m happy to mail you a copy for $20 (Venmo accepted).

Coach Rich Alercio is available to discuss coaching philosophy, X’s & O’s, or teach his O-Line “techniques in the trenches.” Contact Coach at richalercio@gmail.com and share http://www.olineskills.com with your colleagues and friends. Thanks for supporting this blog and joining our conversations, and as always, thanks for your time! 

On the drive to our South Jersey O-Line Clinic, I had the opportunity to stop in Greenwich, CT and spend time with a group of coaches—talking football, sharing ideas, and digging into offensive line play.

We started where most good line conversations do—on the fundamentals. Run game mechanics. Pass protection. Screen execution. The technical details that define success in the trenches. But as the session evolved, the conversation naturally shifted from technique to tactics.

We got into it.

Gap schemes—Power and Counter.
Zone schemes—Inside and Outside.
Man schemes—Iso and Dart.

Different tools. Different answers. Same question always follows:

“Which scheme should we run?”

My answer doesn’t start with a playbook. It starts with personnel…

What do your players do well?

• If you’ve got smaller, quicker linemen who can move and redirect, Gap schemes can give you an edge.
• If your group is bigger, more physical, and built to displace defenders, Man schemes may be your foundation.
• If you’ve got size paired with awareness and communication, Zone schemes can unlock consistency across the front.

There’s no universal “best” scheme—only the best fit for your players.

And the earlier you figure that out, the better your summer—and your season—will be.

That’s where the value of getting in the room (and on the field) with other coaches shows up.

When coaches share ideas, challenge assumptions, and see players move in real time, clarity comes faster. You start to see what fits. What doesn’t. Where to lean in—and where to adjust—before you’ve invested weeks of install time in something that doesn’t match your personnel.

That’s a big part of what we aim to do at every Alercio O-Line Clinic.

When coaches attend with their players, it’s not just about learning drills—it’s about evaluation. You get a live look at your guys: how they move, how they communicate, how they respond to coaching. That perspective is hard to replicate once the summer calendar gets tight and the pressure to install starts to build.

Spring is the window to get this right.

Coaches and players are invited to join us at West Orange High School on Sunday, May 3. We’ll continue to develop both the technical and tactical aspects of Gap, Man, and Zone schemes—while sharing ideas, asking better questions, and preparing for the work ahead.

Because when coaches help coaches—and when preparation starts early—everybody wins.

Coach Rich Alercio is available to discuss coaching philosophy, X’s & O’s, or teach his O-Line “techniques in the trenches.” Contact Coach at richalercio@gmail.com and share http://www.olineskills.com with your colleagues and friends. Thanks for supporting this blog and joining our conversations, and as always, thanks for your time! 

There’s something different about stepping into a state-of-the-art indoor facility; turf stretching wall to wall, every rep echoing with purpose. It’s an environment that demands focus. More importantly, it creates the space for real work to get done. That was the setting for this year’s South Jersey Alercio Offensive Line Clinic: an efficient, high-energy day built around developing the craft of offensive line play.

The structure of the clinic reflects how offensive linemen actually improve. Everything starts with the foundation: stance, alignment, and first step. From there, each progression builds deliberately: hand placement, strike timing, leverage, and finish. Nothing is rushed. Every movement is coached with intent so players understand not just what to do, but why it matters when the speed increases and the margin for error disappears on Friday nights.

What stands out is the attention to detail within each rep. Offensive line play is a position built on inches and timing, and the coaching reflects that reality. Small group work allows for immediate feedback—adjustments to pad level, footwork, hand placement—followed by another rep to reinforce it. That iterative cycle of execution, correction, and repetition is where real development happens.

Just as important is the environment that surrounds the work. Offensive linemen don’t often get the spotlight, but in this setting, the position is the focus. There’s a shared understanding among the group—an appreciation for the physical and technical demands of the position. Players work alongside one another, compete, and support each other, regardless of where they play on Friday nights. That combination of accountability and camaraderie is what elevates the standard across the entire group.

In a game that often highlights skill positions, it’s easy to overlook where consistency and success are built. It starts up front. Clinics like this reinforce that reality, while providing athletes with the tools, the reps, and the understanding needed to carry their development forward.

For those who stepped onto the turf this past Sunday, it wasn’t just another offseason workout. It was a chance to refine their technique, raise their standard, and take another step in their progression as offensive linemen: The selfless few whose commitment to the team above the individual raises the level of play for all.

Our next clinic is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, at West Orange High School in North Jersey.

Coach Rich Alercio is available to discuss coaching philosophy, X’s & O’s, or teach his O-Line “techniques in the trenches.” Contact Coach at richalercio@gmail.com and share http://www.olineskills.com with your colleagues and friends. Thanks for supporting this blog and joining our conversations, and as always, thanks for your time! 

The first Alercio OLine Clinic of 2026 is this Sunday, April 12, at the Wildcat Sports Complex in Egg Harbor City, NJ. Doors open at 8:30 AM for registration and check-in, with instruction beginning promptly at 9:00 AM.

Spring is where separation begins.

This is the time of year when players either take a step forward—or stay where they are. Without the pressure of game plans or opponents, spring provides a rare opportunity to slow the game down, focus on fundamentals, and build habits that will show up when it counts in the fall.

That opportunity only matters if it’s used.

Technique is the foundation.
Offensive line play demands precision—footwork, hand placement, leverage, and body control. This clinic is built around detailed, repeatable instruction, giving players the reps needed to eliminate bad habits and develop consistency.

Position-specific work that translates.
Every rep is intentional. Offensive linemen and tight ends will work the core elements of success in the trenches—first steps, visual targets, strike timing, run fits, pass protection, screen execution, and communication. This is not generalized instruction—it is focused development for the positions that decide the line of scrimmage.

Clarity creates confidence.
Players perform faster when they understand what they’re doing and why. Our goal is to build that understanding so execution becomes instinctive, not hesitant.

For coaches, this setting provides a clean evaluation lens. With focused individual work, you can assess development, identify strengths and limitations, and begin to see which combinations may give you your best five heading into the season.

Each year, players who attend in the spring show up in camp different—more refined, more confident, and further along than their peers.

That’s not by accident.

Spring work builds fall results. Games may be played in the fall, but they are won in the trenches long before that.

We encourage you to share this opportunity with your 7th and 8th grade players and their coaches. All coaches are welcome to attend at no cost.

Players can register using the QR code and submit payment via Venmo to avoid the walk-up registration fee.

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

April is here—and with it, the start of another year of building in the trenches.

The first Alercio Offensive Line Clinic of the spring is just days away, and we’re excited to introduce a new South Jersey location at the Wildcat Sports Complex in Egg Harbor City, NJ. This addition makes it easier than ever for local programs to access a clinic that has helped develop offensive linemen and coaches across the East Coast for more than two decades.

Each year, dozens of programs send their players—and their staff—to learn, refine, and reinforce the techniques that translate directly to Friday night performance.

Because two things have always held true:

Games are not won on weekends in the fall.
Games are won in the trenches.

Spring is where that work begins.

Why This Clinic Matters—Right Now

As your athletes transition into spring football, this is the window to build the technical foundation that carries into the season:

• Stance and start efficiency
• First-step quickness and leverage
• Hand placement and strike timing
• Run blocking fundamentals (zone and gap)
• Pass protection technique under control

These aren’t abstract concepts—they’re repeatable skills that show up every snap.

And more importantly, they are teachable and transferable back into your program immediately.

Built for Players. Valuable for Coaches.

For players, the clinic delivers high-repetition, detail-oriented instruction focused on how to execute.

For coaches, it provides:

• Drill progressions you can install immediately
• Coaching points that simplify teaching
• A shared language for developing linemen within your system

This is not theory. This is application.

A Proven Track Record

For more than 20 years, the Alercio Clinics have helped thousands of offensive linemen improve their performance, confidence, and understanding of the position.

The objective has never changed:
Teach the fundamentals that allow players to succeed within their own program.

Coach Rich Alercio is available to discuss coaching philosophy, X’s & O’s, or teach his O-Line “techniques in the trenches.” Contact Coach at richalercio@gmail.com and share http://www.olineskills.com with your colleagues and friends. Thanks for supporting this blog and joining our conversations, and as always, thanks for your time! 

As we wrap up spring practices, I find myself encouraged by the progress we’ve made and excited about the players who are returning. At the same time, this season always prompts reflection—particularly on those who made the decision to step away from the game.

Recently, I came across a message from D1 Training in Rancho Cucamonga, where my son coaches:

“Quitting feels like relief in the moment. The truth is, you’ve killed your own potential. Giving up is the easiest betrayal—because it’s not the world you’ve failed, it’s yourself.”

That message is direct, and for good reason.

Quitting a sport like football carries consequences that extend far beyond missing Friday nights. It means stepping away from an environment intentionally designed to develop resilience. Football demands that players operate under stress, push through discomfort, and respond to adversity with discipline and control. Those daily exposures—those small “inoculations” against hardship—are what build mental toughness and confidence over time.

When a player walks away, they also walk away from that process.

There is also a physical cost. Football provides structure and accountability: consistent strength development, speed and agility training, and a clear standard for preparation. Without that structure, progress often stalls—or reverses. The game doesn’t just build athletes; it builds habits that carry over into every area of life.

And then there’s the most important piece: the team.

Football is one of the most interdependent sports there is. Success requires trust, sacrifice, and shared responsibility. It demands that individuals put something greater than themselves first. Through that shared adversity, players form bonds that are difficult to replicate anywhere else—and often last a lifetime.

When a player leaves, those relationships don’t develop. That opportunity is gone.

Quitting football isn’t just walking away from a game—it’s walking away from a version of yourself that is forged through challenge. Most players don’t start this journey thinking about regret; they start with a vision of what they might become.

That vision is still there—but it requires perseverance.

Now, it’s important to acknowledge: not all quitting is wrong. When a decision is driven by injury, mental health, or a deliberate pursuit of another meaningful path, it can reflect maturity and self-awareness.

But when the reason is discomfort, fatigue, or temporary frustration, it demands a harder question:

What are you really walking away from?

Coach Rich Alercio is available to discuss coaching philosophy, X’s & O’s, or teach his O-Line “techniques in the trenches.” Contact Coach at richalercio@gmail.com and share http://www.olineskills.com with your colleagues and friends. Thanks for supporting this blog and joining our conversations, and as always, thanks for your time! 

The success of our football program is grounded in a simple but powerful belief: “Games are not won on weekends in the Fall…” While the scoreboard reflects what happens in the fall, the seeds of outcome are planted and determined months earlier through preparation, development, and daily commitment.

This week, we begin our Spring Football Practices.

Spring practices provide a critical opportunity to teach and reinforce position-specific fundamentals, evaluate schemes studied and installed during the winter, and—most importantly—continue building the chemistry that defines strong teams. Without the immediate pressure of weekly competition, the focus shifts to growth, learning, and deliberate development.

With a large freshman class, this period becomes even more valuable. Young players gain essential repetitions as they begin preparing for larger roles in the fall. They are introduced to the standards, terminology, and culture of our program. At the same time, returning players reinforce the habits and expectations that drive team success. The standard is not just taught—it is modeled.

With five captains graduating in June, spring also creates a natural leadership inflection point. New voices must emerge. Leadership is not assigned—it is demonstrated through daily actions, consistency, and accountability. The most effective teams are those where players lead one another, hold each other to a high standard, and build the trust required to compete and win together.

For our coaching staff, spring practices offer a valuable evaluation window. We learn who is ready to step forward, who is developing new skills, and—just as importantly—who is willing to compete, adapt, and improve. Talent is important, but growth mindset, consistency, and heart ultimately separate contributors from competitors.

Just as importantly, spring football reignites energy within the program. It reconnects players after the long winter months and begins building the momentum that carries into summer and ultimately into the fall season.

The lesson is consistent and clear: Success in the fall is not an event—it is the result of sustained preparation, commitment, and effort over time.

The work starts now. Consistency Compounds, Occasional Brilliance Fades

Coach Rich Alercio is available to discuss coaching philosophy, X’s & O’s, or teach his O-Line “techniques in the trenches.” Contact Coach at richalercio@gmail.com and share http://www.olineskills.com with your colleagues and friends. Thanks for supporting this blog and joining our conversations, and as always, thanks for your time!