What is run blocking in football and what are some tips to execute properly?

Every position on a football field has what they like to call favorite plays. Running quarterbacks may be keen to the quarterback draw, playmaking wide receivers love the deep pass and linebackers love to blitz. But when it comes to offensive linemen, most people have no idea what they enjoy doing most. Current offensive line coach at Lehigh University and former collegiate offensive lineman, John Powers said that run blocking is what offensive lineman love to do more than anything because it allows them to use raw power. “Run blocking is when the offensive team wants to run the football or keep the ball on the ground to leverage defenders in order to open holes for running backs or wide receivers that are running the football,” he said. “It’s all about pad level, stance level, horizontal level, and covering guys physically so you can find some seams in the defense.” Although run blocking allows for the offensive line to display some brute force, no offense can be productive in the run if the line doesn’t exhibit certain successful techniques. Run blocking should also be taught and attempted before pass blocking to properly teach the aggressiveness needed to be a solid blocker. Now, the first thing an offensive lineman should be attempting to do when run blocking is to get off the football. A good run block all starts with the quickness off the ball from the offensive line position. A good way for an offensive lineman to get the advantage in this area is by knowing the snap count. Defensive players are taught to watch the football and rush when the ball is snapped. Offensive linemen, however, know the snap count and should be anticipating when the football will be snapped. However small this advantage seems, it can mean the difference from getting in a prime run blocking position and being pushed off the ball. One caution in getting off the ball is that once an offensive lineman gets down in his stance, any type of pre-snap movement will result in a 5-yard false start penalty. In year’s past, defensive players could bait the offensive linemen into a false start penalty by flinching at the line themselves. Now, in order to be fairer to the offensive linemen, any movement by a defensive player that causes an offensive lineman to move will result in a penalty for the defense. Once the offensive lineman has gotten off the ball as quick as possible, he should next use his hands and feet to establish a good balance and leverage. The objective at this point is to get under the defensive players pads and drive him as far back from the line of scrimmage as possible. Powers has a few pointers as to how to get leverage on certain plays. “Leverage is a good way to characterize it,” he said. “If you’ve got outside leverage on a defender it’s probably better to run outside and if you’ve got inside leverage it’s probably better to run inside. That’s how the schemes are designed.” Remember to chop your feet as an offensive lineman and continue to drive the defender back.