irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
You will find that in the majority of O-line vs D-line scrums, there is less D-line getting knocked to the ground then you would think. It's either they get around the O-line or the O-line keeps them at bay.
From what I recall playing D-line, I've rarely been knocked onto the ground and from my training with O-line, that's an inefficient way to play your position. For a pass play, you need to slow the defenders down, so knocking someone down isn't usually high on the list and isn't likely probably because of their forward momentum and your defensive stance. For a run play, it does help to knock a defender down if they are in the running path but that requires forward motion and it's usually easier to push the defender to one side so they are totally out of way rather than risk having them on the ground and being able to reach up and leg tackle your runner.
It's fine that you disagree, but to me, the O-lineman position is smarter than just trying to knock someone down. It's why that position is unheralded in football, many don't understand the nuances of the position... it's not just aggression and size.
From what I recall playing D-line, I've rarely been knocked onto the ground and from my training with O-line, that's an inefficient way to play your position. For a pass play, you need to slow the defenders down, so knocking someone down isn't usually high on the list and isn't likely probably because of their forward momentum and your defensive stance. For a run play, it does help to knock a defender down if they are in the running path but that requires forward motion and it's usually easier to push the defender to one side so they are totally out of way rather than risk having them on the ground and being able to reach up and leg tackle your runner.
It's fine that you disagree, but to me, the O-lineman position is smarter than just trying to knock someone down. It's why that position is unheralded in football, many don't understand the nuances of the position... it's not just aggression and size.