"Running the football is an attitude," says offensive line coach Rick Comegy. Training camp at Tuskegee has to be the toughest training camp in football, he says. Comegy: "i want them to have a chip on their shoulders when it comes to running the football"
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Original Title
building an attacking offensive line for the run game
"Running the football is an attitude," says offensive line coach Rick Comegy. Training camp at Tuskegee has to be the toughest training camp in football, he says. Comegy: "i want them to have a chip on their shoulders when it comes to running the football"
"Running the football is an attitude," says offensive line coach Rick Comegy. Training camp at Tuskegee has to be the toughest training camp in football, he says. Comegy: "i want them to have a chip on their shoulders when it comes to running the football"
honor to contribute to this year’s Summer lineman stand straight up on the snap of the ball (and play high). I would be a multi- millionaire. It’s so important for us to be Building an Attacking Offensive Line for the Manual. technically sound and stay low to have suc- Run Game As an offensive line coach, my players cess running the football. must believe and have confidence in every- Seven-Man Sled: Last but not least, the thing I’m teaching in order for us to have seven-man sled is the most important drill success. Everything starts up front” that we do. The sled will help build tough- Running the football is an attitude. Every ness along with sound technique. We com- year, the first day of training camp, I let my bine all the other (fit, chute, ropes and step) players know what I expect from them and drills into one when we get to the sled. I want what they should expect from me. On the to drive our offensive line to the very limit of field, I want them to have a chip on their no return, and then bring them back. All the shoulders when it comes to running the foot- while, we are working on staying low, main- ball. I remind them everyday that we are an taining leverage, getting a good fit and taking attacking offense when it comes to running the proper steps (I off-set the line to the left the football. Training camp at Tuskegee has and the right of the pad so they can step to be the toughest training camp in football. every time). When the dust clears and training camp is Every day, I try to find a way to keep my over I know I have the five (mentally) tough- guys motivated so we can have a successful est football players in America. practice. Sometimes you have to change-up I use a common sense approach to things at practice, but the one part of practice coaching, it’s like building a house. You don’t that I never change is fundamentals. Like build the roof first, you start with the founda- most coaches I’ve learned or stolen tech- tion, clear the land, and build upward. niques from someone else. One of the things It’s the same way with run blocking, start I’ve learned from my o-line coach in college with the stance and work your way up. (Allen Bogan-FAMU) is setting up a realistic There are certain things we do fundamen- goal the offensive line can obtain. I use the tally, everyday (I mean everyday) to help us phrase “Mounties” as in Royal Canadian Wayne Campbell stay sound. I live and die with theses drills. Mounted Police. They have a motto, “A Stance: A good stance is comfortable to Mountie always gets his man.” If you can get Offensive Line Coach the player (he’s the one that has to move your man 80 percent of the time, you can from that stance). Where he can move for- become a Mountie. The players seem to like Tuskegee University ward, backward, pull left or right and gener- the idea of being a Mountie. They know ally be able to move in a good football posi- that’s the ultimate compliment. Tuskegee, Ala. tion without wasted motion. I remind my play- Our philosophy for run blocking is we want ers all the time that everything (on a running to hit you first (not catch) and play on the play with the offensive line) will happen with- other side of the line of scrimmage. We want in two seconds after the ball is snapped, so movement (not position) at the point of attack we cannot afford any false steps. and movement on the back-side. I never Step Drill: We start with the feet and want to put the line in a passive mode. Alot of make sure we are taking the proper steps. If coaches will ask the back-side to position. I we are going to the left, we want to start with want our guys to always be on the attack. We our left foot first, take a six-inch step gaining try and create a game-like situation everyday, ground towards the defense, and bringing the all-day in practice, so when the fourth quarter rest of our body with us, and do the same rolls around we have something left inside to thing to the right. Three to five minutes. keep attacking. Probably the best compli- Ropes: Good footwork is essential. ment I’ve ever received was overhearing an Offensive linemen have to be able to opposing team’s middle linebacker describ- “dance” on the field. We will spend three to ing our offensive line to his coach. The coach five minutes to get quicker every day. asked what happened in the fourth quarter, Fit Drill: I want to show them leverage is and the middle linebacker said, “They keep on the defender. Hands, head, shoulders and coming. Every play they keep coming.” feet (base). It’s important to know what part of I was taught when I first got into coaching the body we are attacking, also making sure to make sure I put my players in a position our pad level (leverage) is under theirs. where they will be successful on the field. Chute: The chute will help us get and That’s why my preparation is so important. maintain leverage. If I had a dollar for every Whenever my players fail on the field, (don’t time I turn on the film and saw an offensive get their man) I’ve failed as a coach.