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Cleveland Browns: Spread offenses hurt offensive linemen, too

By Joel W. Cade

Dec 5, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears offensive lineman Blake Blackmar (72) and offensive tackle Spencer Drango (58) block Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Poona Ford (95) during the game at McLane Stadium. The Longhorns defeat the Bears 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears offensive lineman Blake Blackmar (72) and offensive tackle Spencer Drango (58) block Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Poona Ford (95) during the game at McLane Stadium. The Longhorns defeat the Bears 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 7, 2016; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Cameron Erving (74) stretches during minicamp at the Cleveland Browns training facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 7, 2016; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Cameron Erving (74) stretches during minicamp at the Cleveland Browns training facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

When a lineman reaches the NFL, he will have no idea how to effectively use a three-point stance. Firing out straight on will be a problem in terms of footwork, leverage and hand placement. Pass protection will be difficult because of a lack of an effective punch, hand fighting and footwork. In short, the lineman is not prepared to deal with an average NFL outside linebacker or lineman.

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For some coaches, this scenario is the equivalent of starting from scratch. The college offensive lineman is so ill-prepared to play offensive line in the NFL that it may be easier to draft a defensive lineman and start at ground zero. It would be easier because the college offensive lineman will enter the league with a lot of bad habits to break.

This is the point Tom Cable was making recently to the Brock and Salk Show (as quoted by Brent Sobleski at Bleacher Report):

"I’m not wanting to offend anybody, but college football, offensively, has just gotten really, really bad, fundamentally. You see these big bodies and think, ‘He’s 6-5, 300, and his arm is (this long),’ and you watch him, and he’s not a finisher, he doesn’t strain, he can’t stay balanced, he can’t play with leverage. You see all these negatives and think, I can get a (defensive) guy who runs a little faster, jumps a little higher, that’s got an aggressive streak in him. At least I can see that on defense. I’m going to have to re-train an offensive lineman that’s coming out of college right now anyway."

The decline of offensive line play is not purely the fault of offensive line coaches. Coaches know they are starting from ground zero with college offensive lineman. The skill set to play offensive line is unnatural and requires more coaching to master its nuances. With the rise of various spread offenses, pro-style offensive line play is not being taught. Athletes are losing years of valuable experience.

It is accepted that the spread has ill-prepared quarterbacks and wide receivers for the NFL. What is not accepted, but still remains true, is that the spread hurts offensive lineman, too.

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