Question on Diving Lineman

If you have played or coached football before, how do you counter the offensive lineman diving at your knees? Georgia Tech used to do it repeatedly during their option years, and then Brent Venables came in and wrecked them (see what I did there?) anytime we played. I’m guessing there is a simple way to counter it or a major drawback, or every team would do it every play.

Also, hoping we practiced this since I’m sure it was seen on film by the gamecocks.

Since I don’t want to post a separate topic, and even though nobody asked: my key to the game is - limiting Rocket Sanders to less than 75 yards rushing. Sellers will get his yards on the ground, but I don’t think they can beat us trying to throw the ball 35 times.

Re: Question on Diving Lineman

ColumbiaTiger66

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Re: Question on Diving Lineman

Nov 30, 2024, 8:11 AM

Cut blocking is used by more than O-linemen (C,G,T). It's also used by TEs blocking LBs or DBs and RBs blocking blitzers.

The way to defend against it is to:

1) Be on the lookout for it and ready to react
2) Stay square to the blocker
3) Lead with your hands and push the blocker into the ground
4) Keep your feet moving and your eyes on the ball

As a strong-side TE I used cut blocks against MLBs on power runs and sweeps - involved a crawl-out on the snap, suddenly squaring up on the MLB (who is in pursuit and moving fast and hard toward you) and moving to meet him head-on. It's a brutal full-speed head-on collision that can be as harmful to the blocker as it can be to the defender.

My football career was ended as a result of that particular technique when it resulted in 7 shoulder separations in one game - and a condition worse than the orthopedist had ever seen. The reason I was injured was because I had not been properly trained on how to protect myself on cut blocks - and due to the experimental shoulder pads that the HC had given me to wear before the game.

https://dlineexamples.substack.com/p/d-line-examples-072

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