Todays O-Linemen

[orange+white=heaven]

The Dafney article reminded me of this issue.
Arron Sears recently was quoted saying he wanted to get to, and stay at, a lower playing weight next year.
There were comments during the season on the radio in Knoxville from some former OLinemen that our guys were too big to move properly.

Is there an ideal weight for todays game? What is it?

How do lines compare across conferences?[AllVol?]

Denver, in the NFL, is known for drafting smaller guys and yet they are a remarkably good running team.

Seems a good issue for discussion during this quiet time, so what do y'all think?

 

[smokedog#3]

when they are not agile and can't be mobile like tennessee's o-line then they are to big.

 

[Jacksonian 5151]

The ideal weight for an o-lineman depends on the system they are in. If the offense uses a zone blocking scheme then the lineman need to be a little smaller ( 280-90 ). A smash mouth straight ahead running team like the Miss State teams under Sherrill in the uses bigger o-lineman(300 plus).

 

[duct_tape_wallet]

The ideal weight for an o-lineman depends on the system they are in. If the offense uses a zone blocking scheme then the lineman need to be a little smaller ( 280-90 ). A smash mouth straight ahead running team like the Miss State teams under Sherrill in the uses bigger o-lineman(300 plus).

I agree. Also, if you run a lot of traps -- where you're pulling your weak side guard to the strong side or vice-versa -- those two should at least be mobile enough to get on-edge in front of your RB's. Not necessarily a weight restriction because some fat boys run better than others.

Some of our guys, even if they're not too heavy, might be a little too fat.

 

[OrangePappy]

The defensive linemen are getting smaller and quicker. I would think a lineman over 320 would be too big and not quick enough to resond to the speed rush.

 

[GAVol]

That's a good point. The days of the mule, bookend tackles are over. They've got to be able to get their hands on those 250 lb freak Defensive Ends coming off the edge with 4.6-4.7 speed.

 

[kiddiedoc]

I agree. Also, if you run a lot of traps -- where you're pulling your weak side guard to the strong side or vice-versa -- those two should at least be mobile enough to get on-edge in front of your RB's. Not necessarily a weight restriction because some fat boys run better than others.

Some of our guys, even if they're not too heavy, might be a little too fat.

Good point. I don't think it's so much of the number, but how they carry it. A huge, muscular, 6-7 guy might be able to hit 300 and still not look so much like a water balloon. It's the flabby cushiness that makes some of the guys too slow to be able to pull and run some of the more agility-based blocking schemes.