01-21-2020, 05:23 PM
(This post was last modified: 01-21-2020, 05:23 PM by caltroit_red_flames.)
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Cal's New Sim Ideas
Table of Contents
Offensive Lineman
Disclaimer
1.) I'm not a football guy. I never played, I don't watch it often (Brett Coleman is lit tho), I probably never will. My opinions are probably gonna be a little shit. Because of that if you bitch at me for being stupid in here I'm not going to care.
2.) This isn't actually a new engine, it's just my idea for what I would want.
Offensive Lineman[/div]
The offensive lineman's main goals are to keep opposing players from getting to their quarter back for a sack and opening a lane for their running backs to run through for gains on the ground. But is it really as simple as strength, run blocking, pass blocking and endurance? No, not at all. The position is far more complex than that. If you want someone with more knowledge on the subject and an actual breakdown of what goes on when an offensive lineman is doing his job, check out this video by Brett. There's footwork, there's strength, there's scheme recognition, there are different blocking techniques, and more. Based on that simply having strength, run blocking, pass blocking and endurance as attributes isn't enough. You want to see something that accounts for the lineman's ability to lead a back through a hole in the line, something to account for their ability to prevent rushers from getting past them using some finesse or a fake out as opposed to their strength. So I propose these more specialized attributes.
Strength - The player's raw strength
Endurance - The player's ability to continue to be effective during long drives
Quickness - The player's ability to change their blocking style or position on the field after making a decision
Technique - The player's footwork and ability to put themselves in the best position to correctly block the opposing rusher(s)
Scheme Recognition - The player's ability to correctly identify which rusher(s) they should block during the upcoming play
Pass Blocking - The player's ability to prevent rushers from getting closer to the quarter back
Run Blocking - The player's ability to push rushers away from the route the player with the ball will be running
Lead Blocking - The player's ability to make a block, while moving, that is directly on the route the player with the ball will be running
Essentially what we've done here is three things:
1.) Removed intelligence from the equation and replaced it with more well defined attributes. What even is intelligence? What does it actually help your player do right now? I don't think anyone could tell you the actual effect it currently has. Now we would have technique to account for the differences the way a lineman should block rushing players when they try to rush through the blocker or go around them, scheme recognition to account for identifying which players they should be blocking. If the rushers are in 4 - 3 formation but you can tell based on an audible that they're in zone with the outside linebackers stepping back instead of rushing it's going to a lot easier to hold the line because you're going to be able to put a tackle and a guard on the ends and maybe give the center some help with the nose tackle. On the other hand if they're full blitzing you're going to need to step back and play full prevent because the numbers just don't match up, your best hope will be to just try to give the quarter back as much time as you can before they're inevitably sacked (unless they throw the ball first).
2.) We've added quickness to the list. If the player guessed the wrong play due to poor scheme recognition or their technique for the block was bad or the rusher pulled some sort of fake this measures the offensive lineman's ability to put themselves into a position to make up for their mistake and possibly still make the block out of desperation. If you mess up a block but you're an athletic freak it's still possible to come barreling into the rusher a la Larry Allen out of pure force of will and desperation. Of course the likelihood of that working out isn't something you should depend on, but it's something that should be accounted for.
3.) Added lead blocking to the mix. There's a big difference between pass blocking and run blocking, but there's also a difference between run blocking and lead blocking. Lead blocking is more of a fullback thing to do, but some plays will see a tackle or guard step back and pick up the lead block. It's an extremely important job, the lead block is the reason most running plays even work out. Making that space up the middle leads to huge gains if it's done well, and if the lead blocker is still up after pancaking the line backer (at least it's most likely a line backer at this point) they can make a second block and that'll really lead to some huge gains. It's something that should really be differentiated from run blocking because the technique of those blocks are entirely different. One of coming from a stagnant position off the snap, the other is the blocker running full force into a line backer. They use the same skills but in very different contexts.
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Some Extra Notes[/div]
With all of this said, I want to talk a little bit about why offensive linemen are so great.
1.) Offense Lineman is a Thankless Job (But We Do It Anyway) - All offensive linemen get that this isn't something you do for glory or thank yous. Imagine if every time an offensive lineman pancaked a player or saved the quarter back's tail they went over to the guy and said "hey thanks man great play"! There's no time for that, no celebration after the offensive line is the reason that a play works. In front of every great quarter back is an even better offensive line making sure they can do their thing.
2.) They That They're Just One Piece of the Puzzle - When another player makes a great play, a wide receiver going long for a touchdown they go nuts. Sometimes they get a penalty for celebrating too hard. When was the last time you heard of an offensive lineman celebrating too hard or acting like a diva and thinking they're the only reason the team is good? You might see that with the skill positions, but these guys get that it's a team effort from left tackle to right tackle and all of the players surrounding them. You won't catch any of them acting like they're the only good player on the team because they get it.
3.) Offensive Lineman is a Position that Builds Character - Over and over you're going to get beat. That's the nature of the game. But whether or not you succeed depends on his you're willing to get back up and on the next play claw tooth and nail to give your quarter back just a little more time than the last down to make the pass that saves the game. It's as much a mental thing as it is a physical thing. How hard are you willing to work after getting beat down not 10 seconds ago?
4.) It Teaches You to Enjoy the Little Things - When other players are counting yards and touchdowns, we're counting pancakes and sacks against. It's about choosing something and working at it until you've become the perfect specimen for it. Specialization in your craft. You learn to embrace not only the rising number of hotcakes out there, but also that sacred 0 next to the sacks allowed. It's the most beautiful number out there.
5.) Being an Offensive Lineman Teaches You How to Adjust - Getting beat wide over and over? Maybe step back a little to keep from giving them that angle. Not strong enough to power through them and push them on their ass? Tough shit. Dig deep, get low and figure it out. You can't just keep getting beat, the team depends on you. Improvise, adapt, overcome.
Table of Contents
Offensive Lineman
Disclaimer
1.) I'm not a football guy. I never played, I don't watch it often (Brett Coleman is lit tho), I probably never will. My opinions are probably gonna be a little shit. Because of that if you bitch at me for being stupid in here I'm not going to care.
2.) This isn't actually a new engine, it's just my idea for what I would want.
Offensive Lineman[/div]
The offensive lineman's main goals are to keep opposing players from getting to their quarter back for a sack and opening a lane for their running backs to run through for gains on the ground. But is it really as simple as strength, run blocking, pass blocking and endurance? No, not at all. The position is far more complex than that. If you want someone with more knowledge on the subject and an actual breakdown of what goes on when an offensive lineman is doing his job, check out this video by Brett. There's footwork, there's strength, there's scheme recognition, there are different blocking techniques, and more. Based on that simply having strength, run blocking, pass blocking and endurance as attributes isn't enough. You want to see something that accounts for the lineman's ability to lead a back through a hole in the line, something to account for their ability to prevent rushers from getting past them using some finesse or a fake out as opposed to their strength. So I propose these more specialized attributes.
Strength - The player's raw strength
Endurance - The player's ability to continue to be effective during long drives
Quickness - The player's ability to change their blocking style or position on the field after making a decision
Technique - The player's footwork and ability to put themselves in the best position to correctly block the opposing rusher(s)
Scheme Recognition - The player's ability to correctly identify which rusher(s) they should block during the upcoming play
Pass Blocking - The player's ability to prevent rushers from getting closer to the quarter back
Run Blocking - The player's ability to push rushers away from the route the player with the ball will be running
Lead Blocking - The player's ability to make a block, while moving, that is directly on the route the player with the ball will be running
Essentially what we've done here is three things:
1.) Removed intelligence from the equation and replaced it with more well defined attributes. What even is intelligence? What does it actually help your player do right now? I don't think anyone could tell you the actual effect it currently has. Now we would have technique to account for the differences the way a lineman should block rushing players when they try to rush through the blocker or go around them, scheme recognition to account for identifying which players they should be blocking. If the rushers are in 4 - 3 formation but you can tell based on an audible that they're in zone with the outside linebackers stepping back instead of rushing it's going to a lot easier to hold the line because you're going to be able to put a tackle and a guard on the ends and maybe give the center some help with the nose tackle. On the other hand if they're full blitzing you're going to need to step back and play full prevent because the numbers just don't match up, your best hope will be to just try to give the quarter back as much time as you can before they're inevitably sacked (unless they throw the ball first).
2.) We've added quickness to the list. If the player guessed the wrong play due to poor scheme recognition or their technique for the block was bad or the rusher pulled some sort of fake this measures the offensive lineman's ability to put themselves into a position to make up for their mistake and possibly still make the block out of desperation. If you mess up a block but you're an athletic freak it's still possible to come barreling into the rusher a la Larry Allen out of pure force of will and desperation. Of course the likelihood of that working out isn't something you should depend on, but it's something that should be accounted for.
3.) Added lead blocking to the mix. There's a big difference between pass blocking and run blocking, but there's also a difference between run blocking and lead blocking. Lead blocking is more of a fullback thing to do, but some plays will see a tackle or guard step back and pick up the lead block. It's an extremely important job, the lead block is the reason most running plays even work out. Making that space up the middle leads to huge gains if it's done well, and if the lead blocker is still up after pancaking the line backer (at least it's most likely a line backer at this point) they can make a second block and that'll really lead to some huge gains. It's something that should really be differentiated from run blocking because the technique of those blocks are entirely different. One of coming from a stagnant position off the snap, the other is the blocker running full force into a line backer. They use the same skills but in very different contexts.
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Some Extra Notes[/div]
With all of this said, I want to talk a little bit about why offensive linemen are so great.
1.) Offense Lineman is a Thankless Job (But We Do It Anyway) - All offensive linemen get that this isn't something you do for glory or thank yous. Imagine if every time an offensive lineman pancaked a player or saved the quarter back's tail they went over to the guy and said "hey thanks man great play"! There's no time for that, no celebration after the offensive line is the reason that a play works. In front of every great quarter back is an even better offensive line making sure they can do their thing.
2.) They That They're Just One Piece of the Puzzle - When another player makes a great play, a wide receiver going long for a touchdown they go nuts. Sometimes they get a penalty for celebrating too hard. When was the last time you heard of an offensive lineman celebrating too hard or acting like a diva and thinking they're the only reason the team is good? You might see that with the skill positions, but these guys get that it's a team effort from left tackle to right tackle and all of the players surrounding them. You won't catch any of them acting like they're the only good player on the team because they get it.
3.) Offensive Lineman is a Position that Builds Character - Over and over you're going to get beat. That's the nature of the game. But whether or not you succeed depends on his you're willing to get back up and on the next play claw tooth and nail to give your quarter back just a little more time than the last down to make the pass that saves the game. It's as much a mental thing as it is a physical thing. How hard are you willing to work after getting beat down not 10 seconds ago?
4.) It Teaches You to Enjoy the Little Things - When other players are counting yards and touchdowns, we're counting pancakes and sacks against. It's about choosing something and working at it until you've become the perfect specimen for it. Specialization in your craft. You learn to embrace not only the rising number of hotcakes out there, but also that sacred 0 next to the sacks allowed. It's the most beautiful number out there.
5.) Being an Offensive Lineman Teaches You How to Adjust - Getting beat wide over and over? Maybe step back a little to keep from giving them that angle. Not strong enough to power through them and push them on their ass? Tough shit. Dig deep, get low and figure it out. You can't just keep getting beat, the team depends on you. Improvise, adapt, overcome.
![[Image: caltroit_isfl.gif]](https://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/caltroit_isfl.gif)
![[Image: TSKa9dQ.png]](https://i.imgur.com/TSKa9dQ.png)
