As someone who as coached Offensive Line at both the HS, Div II, FCS, & SEC levels or over 20 years some of what you are saying is true but it’s an over simplified argument. The loaded step is not something I teach universally. However, I have and do use it in some athletes who chronically false step due to lack of proper weight distribution and just can’t seem to get it right. The loaded step can be used in this situation to better develop this athlete and help eliminate the false step. TRUE player development is not a “1 size fits all “ approach in ANY situation .... whether you are for OR against loaded stances
erics vision Firstly, if you have coached at ALL of these levels within a 20yr timespan, I would love to see you do some content on packing and moving, because I’d imagine you’re an expert. That’s impressive! - Now, you can debate physics, but I’m not qualified to outthink the rules that science has outlined for us. I can only try to operate within those rules. True player development, to use your phrase, is solving a problem. It’s NOT creating other issues in order to achieve an outcome. It’s like, I have a toothache, so let me drive a nail through my toe, because that’ll hurt much more, and my toothache won’t be as bad. Maybe you won’t feel the toothache, BUT ITS STILL THERE. It’s the same issue with a “false step”.... the root of the false step is going to SHOW UP ELSEWHERE. You may put a band aid on one issue by coloring outside the lines, but the issue isn’t FIXED. So, you can be a “circumstantial” coach and apply less ineffective solutions to problems, BUT that’s not coaching... its baby sitting... you’re ultimately babysitting a problem until the next issue shows up and then you’ll need another pacifier... and eventually.... you run out of pacifiers... and you know what... you get fired because you’re players aren’t getting better..... which could explain why all of the moving over the last 20 years, but who knows... that’s just a guess. Appreciate the comment! Thank you!
Offensive Line Performance Actually, all the moving was moving up until I retired. I coach HS now as well as running my company because of my love for the game. I have owned multiple business which all sold for a nice profit and I have coached over 20 players who made it to NFL not just as free agents but as contracted professionals. I was never fired which is hard for most coaches to say in today’s environment. My point was not to say you were wrong but to say 1 approach for all players is very idealistic and there are always exceptions even to good coaching points. Not all athletes have the same capability or limitations. It’s much easier to stick to a doctrine when you are producing videos & selling products than it is when your livelihood depends on whether you can help that athlete perform despite their fallibilities. As a business owner I would also caution you against “jabbing” future customers. I was simply trying to point out that no matter what you are teaching, nothing works for everyone. That’s the joy of coaching. If it did, anyone could be a successful coach by memorizing techniques. Your content is very good but having to poke fun at someone simply because they challenge a small aspect of your philosophy for the purpose of debate or to potentially educate others seems trite and egocentric. I’ve seen that you do that to a lot of others in your forums when they disagree or point out a place where your teaching may have a counterpoint. In the end that won’t help your business. Being willing to listen to your customers and consider other points of view is what drives discussion, and ultimately , credibility as a teacher. Best of luck
I have to agree with you on this point. I didn't need to know physics to understand how speed and power are generated. Play a few downs against a defender to see where intuitive athletes understand this without a physics course. I think that's one of those things that separates good athletes from great athletes. @@LBentleyOlinePerformance
Wow, quite the heavy debate going on here. I’m a high school level coach, only for 6 years, but I played o-line in high-school and college. I have been following the coaching styles of Jim McNally and John Strollo who both do NOT subscribe to the loaded step. If you’re unfamiliar with these coaches, they promote a lot of scientific examination of things like leverage, and loads and things like that. For me as an athlete, the front loaded pass protection worked for me. It may have slowed me down, but it protected my inside, kept me strong against a bull rush and offered me an opportunity to get my head out of the block in preparation for a second move. Now, as a coach I find myself conflicted with the way I played and the way I coach having been following to Jim and John. The problem I have with the balanced weight for pass protection is not being prepared for the bull rush. That front loaded weight gives you something to prevent the inside move and some weight to put into the bull rush. Though, against a speed rush, I can understand how the need to transfer the weight out to an outside rusher can be slowed down because of front loading. That said, I’ve seen some astoundingly fast o-linemen kick slide with a front loaded stance. Some of my coaching points for tackles pass pro has always been stay square for as long as possible, keep your head out of the block, watch for the second move, stay knee-to-crotch, keep 60% of your weight on your front/inside foot to protect against the inside move or bull rush. Am I wrong?
Great segment, i used to be of the same thought of loaded steps. It was actually on of my players a few years ago, who actually told me it didn't feel right and he felt off balanced, and that he felt he moved faster and with more power from a balanced stance. So we went to the field and began to work through exactly what he was saying, and he was absolutely right. Just as in the weight room on the big compound lifts we want to create a solid center of gravity. So i let my ego go, and listened to the evidence, and that player made me a better coach that day. Thanks guys for the content, you are truly a great help to the OL community, keep up the good work.
Devon Olivis That makes no sense, BUT... it doesn’t matter. If you find that works for YOU. You’re able to overcome basic physics. Congratulations. Consider yourself lucky! 🙌🏾
I'm going to ask why it's good idea in run blocking to have the athletes weight shifted away from the direction the athlete is going can be effective? Run blocking was my strong point when I played college ball and I needed all the force I could muster in the direction I was blocking to defeat the athlete across from me. There could be no hesitation in my direction if I wanted to strike with power and speed. If you are talking about a weighted foot, that's not the same thing as shifting your weight away from the direction the athlete is going. I've seen coaches teach the athletes weight (upper body lean) in the opposite direction of movement with the idea the athlete could respond faster if the defender changed direction, like an inside move from a DE. Immediately I recalled my pass-set and thought that idea was counter productive and awkward. It would never work for me unless there was a large amount of space for me to respond to the defenders change of direction. The defender would easily defeat me on the edge in close contact if was anticipating an inside move. The kind of stuff used to be taught in deep vertical sets that had huge splits, like Mike Leach had at Texas Tech.
Sorry bro you are incorrect! Take a boxer for example, everything depends on the Athlete. You can load up and steal bounce back and fourth, plus be explosive, as well as powerful .....
As someone who as coached Offensive Line at both the HS, Div II, FCS, & SEC levels or over 20 years some of what you are saying is true but it’s an over simplified argument. The loaded step is not something I teach universally. However, I have and do use it in some athletes who chronically false step due to lack of proper weight distribution and just can’t seem to get it right. The loaded step can be used in this situation to better develop this athlete and help eliminate the false step. TRUE player development is not a “1 size fits all “ approach in ANY situation .... whether you are for OR against loaded stances
erics vision Firstly, if you have coached at ALL of these levels within a 20yr timespan, I would love to see you do some content on packing and moving, because I’d imagine you’re an expert. That’s impressive! - Now, you can debate physics, but I’m not qualified to outthink the rules that science has outlined for us. I can only try to operate within those rules. True player development, to use your phrase, is solving a problem. It’s NOT creating other issues in order to achieve an outcome. It’s like, I have a toothache, so let me drive a nail through my toe, because that’ll hurt much more, and my toothache won’t be as bad. Maybe you won’t feel the toothache, BUT ITS STILL THERE. It’s the same issue with a “false step”.... the root of the false step is going to SHOW UP ELSEWHERE. You may put a band aid on one issue by coloring outside the lines, but the issue isn’t FIXED. So, you can be a “circumstantial” coach and apply less ineffective solutions to problems, BUT that’s not coaching... its baby sitting... you’re ultimately babysitting a problem until the next issue shows up and then you’ll need another pacifier... and eventually.... you run out of pacifiers... and you know what... you get fired because you’re players aren’t getting better..... which could explain why all of the moving over the last 20 years, but who knows... that’s just a guess. Appreciate the comment! Thank you!
Offensive Line Performance Actually, all the moving was moving up until I retired. I coach HS now as well as running my company because of my love for the game. I have owned multiple business which all sold for a nice profit and I have coached over 20 players who made it to NFL not just as free agents but as contracted professionals. I was never fired which is hard for most coaches to say in today’s environment.
My point was not to say you were wrong but to say 1 approach for all players is very idealistic and there are always exceptions even to good coaching points. Not all athletes have the same capability or limitations. It’s much easier to stick to a doctrine when you are producing videos & selling products than it is when your livelihood depends on whether you can help that athlete perform despite their fallibilities.
As a business owner I would also caution you against “jabbing” future customers. I was simply trying to point out that no matter what you are teaching, nothing works for everyone. That’s the joy of coaching. If it did, anyone could be a successful coach by memorizing techniques. Your content is very good but having to poke fun at someone simply because they challenge a small aspect of your philosophy for the purpose of debate or to potentially educate others seems trite and egocentric. I’ve seen that you do that to a lot of others in your forums when they disagree or point out a place where your teaching may have a counterpoint. In the end that won’t help your business. Being willing to listen to your customers and consider other points of view is what drives discussion, and ultimately , credibility as a teacher. Best of luck
I have to agree with you on this point. I didn't need to know physics to understand how speed and power are generated. Play a few downs against a defender to see where intuitive athletes understand this without a physics course. I think that's one of those things that separates good athletes from great athletes. @@LBentleyOlinePerformance
Wow, quite the heavy debate going on here. I’m a high school level coach, only for 6 years, but I played o-line in high-school and college. I have been following the coaching styles of Jim McNally and John Strollo who both do NOT subscribe to the loaded step. If you’re unfamiliar with these coaches, they promote a lot of scientific examination of things like leverage, and loads and things like that. For me as an athlete, the front loaded pass protection worked for me. It may have slowed me down, but it protected my inside, kept me strong against a bull rush and offered me an opportunity to get my head out of the block in preparation for a second move. Now, as a coach I find myself conflicted with the way I played and the way I coach having been following to Jim and John. The problem I have with the balanced weight for pass protection is not being prepared for the bull rush. That front loaded weight gives you something to prevent the inside move and some weight to put into the bull rush. Though, against a speed rush, I can understand how the need to transfer the weight out to an outside rusher can be slowed down because of front loading. That said, I’ve seen some astoundingly fast o-linemen kick slide with a front loaded stance. Some of my coaching points for tackles pass pro has always been stay square for as long as possible, keep your head out of the block, watch for the second move, stay knee-to-crotch, keep 60% of your weight on your front/inside foot to protect against the inside move or bull rush. Am I wrong?
Great segment, i used to be of the same thought of loaded steps. It was actually on of my players a few years ago, who actually told me it didn't feel right and he felt off balanced, and that he felt he moved faster and with more power from a balanced stance. So we went to the field and began to work through exactly what he was saying, and he was absolutely right. Just as in the weight room on the big compound lifts we want to create a solid center of gravity. So i let my ego go, and listened to the evidence, and that player made me a better coach that day. Thanks guys for the content, you are truly a great help to the OL community, keep up the good work.
BigAL 57 Wow. Much respect! That’s coaching... awesome job. Thank you for sharing. 🙌🏾
So based on his belief...we should never get low because it requires more force to move. Isn't the object to use your body to generate force?
I agree with this concerning a pass set but in run blocking I find it effective
Devon Olivis That makes no sense, BUT... it doesn’t matter. If you find that works for YOU. You’re able to overcome basic physics. Congratulations. Consider yourself lucky! 🙌🏾
I'm going to ask why it's good idea in run blocking to have the athletes weight shifted away from the direction the athlete is going can be effective? Run blocking was my strong point when I played college ball and I needed all the force I could muster in the direction I was blocking to defeat the athlete across from me. There could be no hesitation in my direction if I wanted to strike with power and speed. If you are talking about a weighted foot, that's not the same thing as shifting your weight away from the direction the athlete is going.
I've seen coaches teach the athletes weight (upper body lean) in the opposite direction of movement with the idea the athlete could respond faster if the defender changed direction, like an inside move from a DE. Immediately I recalled my pass-set and thought that idea was counter productive and awkward. It would never work for me unless there was a large amount of space for me to respond to the defenders change of direction. The defender would easily defeat me on the edge in close contact if was anticipating an inside move. The kind of stuff used to be taught in deep vertical sets that had huge splits, like Mike Leach had at Texas Tech.
Jerry McMahan it might be a mental thing i feel like i am able to apply more force through the ground to move myself towards my aiming point
Great video, makes sense !
Sorry bro you are incorrect! Take a boxer for example, everything depends on the Athlete. You can load up and steal bounce back and fourth, plus be explosive, as well as powerful .....