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When it comes to breaking down offensive linemen, you’d think it’s all brute strength and size—but nope, there’s a whole science to it, and trust me, I’ve seen enough tape and felt enough trenches to know what truly counts. It starts the second a dude drops into his stance—how he moves his ankles, bends his knees, and flexes that big frame. Stiffness? That’s an instant red flag. But if a massive 6-6 guy can drop low and move smooth, that’s where the magic begins. Then I’m all eyes on that first burst off the line—speed, punch, the whole suddenness thing that can flip a game’s momentum. Hip action tells me if they’re grinding through or just bending at the waist like a rubber band. And hands? Heavy hands mean power that can stop giants dead in their tracks, not just gentle taps but real strikes that define dominance. Above all, though, it’s about “strain”—that relentless hustle and urgency you feel on every single snap, whether it’s running or passing. Oh, and yeah, those measurables like arm length and hand size—never overlook ‘em. It’s a blend of grit and finesse, and not every guy’s got it. LEARN MORE

You played offensive line in college and know it intimately. What do you look for when evaluating offensive linemen?

The first thing is how they look in their stance. A guy’s stance will tell you a lot about their mobility in their ankles, their knees and what type of flexibility they have. You can tell a stiff player by how they get in their stance. If you see a 6-6 kid in his stance and he’s dropped his butt and he can bend, that is a great starting point.

From there, I look at initial quickness. How fast is he moving off the ball? You can see it on tape, the quickness, the strike, the suddenness out of their stance. Third thing is can they play through their hips? Are they a waist-bender? And the biggest thing I look for is heavy hands. How heavy-handed are they? Can they stop big people? When they put their hands on people are they laying their hands or are they striking people?

Are they tough? The biggest word I use is “strain.” Doesn’t matter if it’s run or pass. Do they strain? It’s the amount of effort and the sense of urgency they play with. And I believe in strain for every position we evaluate. You also have to look at arm length, hand size.