How to Become a Better Offensive Lineman
The offensive line in football not only protects the quarterback and allows the passing game to happen, they also open up the holes for the running back to make the ground game successful. The three traits that make a successful offensive lineman are balance, strength and speed. You do not need sustained speed; you just need enough of a burst of speed to keep up with the defensive linemen. Once you have proficiency in these three areas, you are ready to improve as an offensive lineman.
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Instructions
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Develop a weight-lifting regiment with a qualified personal trainer or certified weightlifting instructor that will work on developing your arms, shoulders, legs, back and abs. Strong back and legs are needed to maintain your position once you have engaged the defensive lineman, strong arms and shoulders are needed to be able to hold the defensive player off, and strong legs are needed to maintain balance and provide the proper leverage.
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Set aside 30 minutes a day to practice standing on one leg. Try standing on your left leg for as long as possible, and then switch to your right leg. This will help you to improve your balance.
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Practice with a blocking sled on coming up out of your stance and into a block with the proper position for leverage and the proper balance to avoid falling down. You will know you have the proper leverage and balance when you are able to consistently come up out of your stance, engage the blocking sled and move the sled up and then backwards without losing your balance. This part of the improvement program will take some time, so be patient and persistent.
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Do speed drills with the fastest linebackers on your team. Ask that they get into the lineman stance with you, and when someone signals the snap of the ball, you need to practice getting up and engaging that linebacker as quickly as possible. The average linebacker is going to be faster than the average defensive lineman. If you can catch a linebacker while in your stance and properly block him, then you have the speed to catch a defensive lineman.
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Jog at least one mile a day, trying to improve on your time each day. While you are looking for improvements to short bursts of speed, you are also looking to perform these short bursts for an entire game. Conditioning yourself for speed and endurance will help your blocking speed on the field.
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Tips & Warnings
Work hard, and train with this program every day. Over time, you will see improvement.
Do not take on any new training exercises without first getting permission from your coach, and be sure to discuss your exercises with the trainer to develop the safest exercises possible.
