Thoughts on OL Play

[LongJim]

Since OL play is a huge question, I thought this was a good illustration of the importance of experience playing together/at the OL position (in this case, center)--not to mention the mental aspect of what's involved.

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Q: What's the key to being a great center?

A: ...we're kind of quarterbacking everybody else. Understanding the offense is what I think is one of the most important things because you just put yourself in the right situation. Along with that, you have to get your guards, tackles, tight ends and fullbacks on the right man as well. If you get that part of the game down, then you don't have to worry about the mental aspect. You can just react.

Q: How many pre-snaps reads to you have to call out before every play?

A: Let's see – you'll go out and call the tight end strength and then you'll identify the defense. Then I have to give our blocking point and say what the snap count is on, and then relay any blocking techniques that you have to use. It's all pre-snap. A lot of the times, we'll go up to the line with two or three plays that we can run. We'll go up to the line and take what the defense will give us and I'll have to re-identify it.