O Line Skills

In a world of material abundance, thoughtful gifts create emotional richness.

During graduation weekend, one of our international students and football players stopped by my office with his mother, whom I had met once before on Senior Day during the football season. As we visited, she presented me with a beautifully wrapped gift. Inside was one of the most thoughtful presents I have ever received.

It was a traditional Chinese dough figurine crafted in my likeness.

Made from a mixture of flour, glutinous rice flour, and natural pigments, dough figurine making is a folk art that master craftsmen once practiced throughout the Hutong neighborhoods of China. Today, this centuries-old tradition is rarely seen outside of temple fairs and cultural exhibitions, making the gift even more meaningful.

The process itself is remarkably intricate. The artist shapes the dough through a combination of rubbing, pinching, and pressing around a small stick. Using simple tools such as a knife, thread, and toothpick, every detail is carefully refined until the figure comes to life. Accompanying the figurine was the original photograph from which it was created, along with a card explaining the rich history and cultural significance of the art form.

What made the gift so special, however, was not simply the craftsmanship. It was what the figurine represented.

It was a beautiful blend of personal memory and cultural heritage. It captured a joyful moment shared with a young man who arrived at our school having never played football. Despite his lack of experience, he made a tremendous impact on our program through his selflessness, relentless work ethic, and consistently positive attitude.

As educators and coaches, we hope the lessons we teach leave a lasting impression on our students. Every now and then, however, a student leaves an equally lasting impression on us.

This gift serves as a daily reminder of the relationships that make our profession so rewarding and of the unique perspectives students from around the world bring to our community. It is a reminder that growth is never a one-way exchange. While coaches and teachers help shape the lives of their students, our students often shape us as well.

Receiving such a gift reinforces a simple truth: the best presents are not measured by their cost or rarity, but by the meaning they carry. They speak without words and continue telling their story long after the moment of giving has passed.

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! 

We had more than 100 people on the turf at St. Johnsbury Academy this past Sunday for the Vermont Alercio O-Line Clinic. Throughout the morning, we had a lively combination of players participating and high school and college coaches observing.

Two of those coaches, Collin Quinn from Minnesota and Drew Pearson from Arizona, contacted me earlier in the week to ask if they could fly in and observe the clinic. I am very glad they did.

After the four-hour clinic concluded, we made plans to meet later that day in my office. During our 2½-hour conversation, Collin mentioned how impressed he was with the communication displayed by our St. Johnsbury Academy offensive line before the snap. Specifically, he noted the way our players consistently communicate protections, fronts, and assignments at the line of scrimmage.

Collin compared what he observed to a concept James Clear discusses in his book Atomic Habits. In Chapter 4, Clear references the Japanese railway system’s “Pointing-and-Calling” safety technique to illustrate the power of making unconscious habits conscious.

Train operators and platform staff perform a deliberate routine in which they physically point to important objects and verbally state their observations aloud.

Approaching a signal: The operator points at it and says, “Signal is green.”

Pulling into a station: The operator points at the speedometer and calls out the exact speed.

Departure: The operator points at the timetable and calls out the time.

On the platform: Staff point along the edge of the platform and declare, “All clear!”

According to Clear, this simple ritual is remarkably effective for three reasons:

Conscious Awareness: It elevates routine actions from an automatic habit to a conscious decision.

Brain Engagement: It forces the brain to process information more deeply by engaging multiple senses simultaneously—vision, hearing, speech, and physical movement.

Fewer Mistakes: By anchoring behavior to a vocal cue, the railway system reduced operator errors by 85 percent and train mishaps by 30 percent.

Collin’s observation was that our offensive line operates in a very similar manner. By constantly identifying fronts, declaring calls, confirming assignments, and communicating adjustments before the snap, our players are doing more than simply talking. They are actively processing information, creating accountability, and ensuring that all five players see the same picture. In many ways, they are using football’s version of Pointing-and-Calling.

As coaches, we often focus on physical technique, but Sunday’s conversation was a reminder that elite execution begins with communication. The more our players verbalize what they see and what they are responsible for, the more likely they are to play fast, play confidently, and avoid costly mistakes.

What struck me most was that this observation came from coaches who had just spent four hours watching our players work. Of all the techniques, drills, and schemes they could have discussed, they kept coming back to communication. That speaks volumes about the growth, maturity, and attention to detail demonstrated by our offensive line.

As we wrapped up our time together, Collin and Drew had one final question:

“Can we pray for you and your family?”

We concluded our session in prayer. It was a fitting end to a day that had begun with football and coaching but evolved into something much more meaningful.

While I appreciated their observations about offensive line play and communication, I was even more grateful for the opportunity to spend time with two men who share a commitment to developing young people, building relationships, and living out their faith.

Sunday’s clinic reinforced a lesson that extends far beyond football. When people come together with a shared purpose, meaningful conversations often follow. And sometimes, those conversations become lasting friendships.

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! 

When my friend, former player, and host of our South Jersey O-Line Clinic, shared my post about the upcoming Alercio O-Line Clinic, he wrote, “The cost is ridiculously inexpensive for some of the best instruction you will get at a clinic.” It was a sentiment my wife wholeheartedly agreed with. She often reminds me that most one-day clinics cost twice what we charge.

Many years ago, I had the privilege of hearing motivational speaker Zig Ziglar speak. One of the principles he shared has stayed with me ever since: “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”

That philosophy has helped shape our approach to this clinic. By keeping the cost affordable, we can make quality instruction accessible to more players and families. In doing so, we create opportunities to help young athletes develop their skills, build confidence, and move closer to achieving their goals both on and off the field.

That’s what the Alercio O-Line Clinic has been about for the past 25 years. It has never been about profits or publicity. It has always been about sharing knowledge, serving others, and creating opportunities for players to become the best version of themselves. Along the way, we have been fortunate to impact the lives of thousands of athletes, coaches, and families.

The final clinic of our 2026 season will be held this Sunday, June 7, at St. Johnsbury Academy from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

If you are a player who wants to improve your technique, gain confidence, and learn from coaches who are passionate about teaching the game, we would love to have you join us. If you are a coach, come learn alongside us. Every clinic teaches us something new, and coaches (whether they bring players or not) always attend for free!

Whether you are preparing for next season, competing for a starting position, or simply looking to become a better football player, opportunities to learn are everywhere—but they only matter if you take advantage of them. Invest in yourself. Invest in your Team!

We hope to see you on Sunday.

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! 

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.