On Sunday the 23rd in Princeton, NJ, the rain stopped, the clouds cleared, and the sun came out just in time for the start of the New Jersey Alercio OLine Clinic, and for the many players and teams in attendance, the unofficial start of the 2023 football season. While we worked on the skills, techniques, and schemes associated with offensive line play, we also reinforced the value of the position. A position like no other in sport. They are not glorified on gameday. Their recognition and praise occur within the walls of the locker room. When their job is done well, their teammates who carry, pass, and receive the ball get all the accolades. Yet they celebrate their teammates, and fellow linemen in recognition of a job well done.
Teams with bad offensive lines cannot win games. It is that simple. Just ask the Kansas City Chiefs after Super Bowl LV. They had the best QB, the best TE, and the fastest receiver in the NFL and they could not score a touchdown. Just like a house needs a solid foundation to stand, you need to have a good offensive line to win.
Those players and teams in attendance on Sunday took a huge step toward recognizing both individual and team success by honing their Oline skills. As the day concluded and the hundreds of people departed, one parent remained in the parking lot to speak with me. That parent informed me that he had accompanied his son to many camps over the years and that this one was the first that focused on the why as much as the how.
As I thanked him, I assumed it was because we focus so much on why we take a Base step on one block and a Reach step on another. Why the visual target is on the near number at times and the sternum on others. Why the strike points are the sternum and shoulder one block but both pecs on another. While I drove away, I thought that he may also have been referencing why it is so important to be a well trained offensive lineman, a good teammate, and a person of character.
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!
New Jersey Alercio Oline Clinic Training Groups follow:
O Line Skills 