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The school news site of Liberty High School

LHS News

The school news site of Liberty High School

LHS News

Life of a Lineman

Life+of+a+Lineman

by JaeJae Shaw |

Being under the Friday night lights is the greatest feeling for a football player, but for a lineman it is just another day on the job.

The day starts with drills to help with quick feet, techniques to help with good arm placement and hitting the sleds to work on power when blocking. Most of this work goes unseen due to the highlighted wide receivers, running backs and cornerbacks, all the while, an offensive or defensive lineman’s job is amongst the most important on the field.

“It is very important because the job of a defensive lineman is to get in the backfield as quick as possible and try and make a play,” senior Caleb Brammer said.

The defensive line is there to slow down the progression of the offense and make sure the yards gained are less than the yards lost.  Without the defensive end or defensive tackle, the offense is allowed to go to the second level and block linebackers.  The result of allowing the offense to get to the second level means positive yardage and a new playing field. Place the defensive line back in front of the offense and its an even playing field, proving who has the most heart.

“It is vitally important to be an offensive lineman,” senior Marshall Arnold said. “We make the holes for the running back and protect the quarterback.”

The offensive linemen are the base of the offense and are there to protect the team. If they are taken away, the team has a problem. That would allow the defensive linemen, linebackers and everyone else on the defense through the line and tackle the ball carrier for negative yardage.

“It would be like track with a football. Mostly skinny guys running around having fun with each other,” Arnold said.

Take away the lineman and you have a game of six on six, the offensive skills players vs. the defensive skills players. To a lineman, being the toughest of the tough, the biggest of the big and the best blocker or rusher is essential. A lineman’s position is one of the key positions on the field.

“The best thing an offensive lineman can do is block for whoever has the ball,” Arnold said. “We’re there to make sure the running back gets the most yards and gets a touchdown.”

For a defensive lineman, breaking through a lineman’s block or sacking the quarterback is a great feeling. If a lineman can block his designated player for more than 3-4 seconds, the job is done. If this is accomplished, each play, the ball carrier gaining positive yardage every time, the team is liable to score touchdowns.

“It feels good knowing I can do whatever I can to help my team,” junior Kurt Petrol said.

For the offensive line, when a block is done correctly and the ball carrier has gained yardage or scored, they celebrate classy. Run to the ball carrier and congratulate him on the touchdown, then go back to the sideline and wait for the next time they are on the field.

“It feels great to have sacked the quarterback for negative yards,” Brammer said.

For the defensive line, players get up from a tackle and flex their muscles, fist pump, or stare at their prey on the ground, the opposite team’s ball carrier.

“It is always a great feeling to be a part of the football team and celebrate after a touchdown,”

Arnold said.

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