ASSESSING THE ABILITIES and skills of an interior lineman is one of the most important aspects of an offensive line coach’s job. Many coaches don’t realize the capabilities of their players. Far too often determinations and selections are made solely on a prospect’s height, weight, speed and estimated potential as a football player.

There are all types of offensive linemen out there — short, big, bulky, tall, rangy and athletic. To determine what type you need, you first must determine your type of offense style and philosophy.

For example, if your line prospects are bulky types that generally lack speed, you’ll find it difficult to employ pulling schemes in your offense and you may have to dictate a straight-ahead, power-type offensive attack. Base your schemes off the type of personnel that you have and give them a chance to be successful — it’s that simple.

Skilled Linemen A Necessity
Interior line prospects need body control, balance, quickness, agility and strength in order to block effectively and protect the passer. The progress that is made in analyzing each linemen’s potential, improving their individual and team skills and techniques, then molding them into a cohesive unit determines whether the running back can gain ground, or if the quarterback has time to set up to throw. It’s impossible to move the football with consistency if your team doesn’t have sound blocking schemes and techniques.

An offensive lineman must also recognize defenses, adjust his blocking schemes and techniques accordingly, get off on the football and react to the defender’s movements so that he can maintain and finish his block.

A player’s skill may limit the extent of the offense. If your team is a pulling team, your guards must be able to pull and trap, pull and lead on sweeps, counters, options and bootlegs. If your interior personnel can’t execute these skills, you may have the plays in your coach’s playbook, but you would be kidding yourself and short-changing your players to include them in your game plans.

Qualities Of The Position
A good offensive lineman possesses the following attributes.
-  Toughness.  Both mentally and physically.
-  Good Feet. Superior footwork, foot speed and pulling ability.
-  Flexibility. Must be adept at the power-producing angles. “Z’s in the knees” (bent-knee player).
-  Quickness. Quick initial bursts, reactions and adjustments.
-  Body Control. Balance and ability to play in space.
-  Leverage. Body-on-body and playing pad-under-pad.
-  Explosiveness. Quick get off and first step.
-  Contact. Hand placement, blow delivery and upper-body violence.
-  Follow Through. Good at playing over a wide base and has the ability to finish.
-  Strength. Functional strength to get the job done.

Evaluating Your Linemen
When you’re choosing your linemen, you must evaluate your personnel, make assessments and ask the following questions.

    1.    What kind of speed does he have? Include discussions on initial change, agility, quickness, coordination and reaction qualities, playing in space.

    2.    Blocking agility — does he have a good initial change? Is he a good position blocker?

    3.    Does he keep his feet and maintain contact?

    4.    Does he take pride in defeating his opponent?

    5.    Can he block at level 1? Cover routes to the linebackers, trap block, downfield block and protect the passer?

    6.    Can he pull and trap, pull and lead interference and complete his block?

    7.    Has he been successful thus far because of his size and strength?

    8.    Does he play better on the left or right side of the line?

Center Of Attention
The offensive center is the key offensive lineman and it’s not a position to be filled as a last resort. The center is the leader of the pack and the director of  your offensive line.

 A line prospect should not be assigned to the center position because he’s too slow to play anywhere else, which is a mistake common to inexperienced coaches. Your center controls the timing of your offense and should be one of — if not your best — athlete on the line.

If your center doesn’t execute the center/QB exchange properly, he causes his team’s offense to falter through fumbles, miscues and poorly timed plays. Bad snaps are the most common cause of fumbles. The center also must be able to make the shotgun snap and execute the basic fundamentals and techniques of the other interior linemen.

The following are questions that you must ask when evaluating which player will become your center.
-  Can he snap the football cleanly? Can he consistently execute a shot-gun snap?
-  Is he agile enough to pull out of the line? Can he pick up an outside blitzer on pass protection?
-  Can he man block a defender in a one-on-one situation?
-  Is he agile enough to get to the second level to block or cut off a LB?
-  Does he have the same abilities as the other offensive linemen?

Take Evaluating Seriously
As a coach, it’s demanding and time consuming when you evaluate personnel, but it must be done. It’s the most important thing you do as a coach. Ask yourself where can each player be put by position to do the best job possible for your offense to be successful. Put them in drills to evaluate them. In addition, it’s your job to find and place the player in the best position.

The following are other important characteristics to keep in mind when searching for a solid football player.
-  Does he have a good athletic ability?
-  Does he have a great attitude?
-  Does he have a good work ethic?
-  What’s his family background?
-  Does he have good character?
-  Can you trust him?
-  Is he a tough guy?
-  Does he love the game?
-  Does he understand football and is he football smart?