Perhaps this belongs on the college football forum, but since my comments are in general and not necessarily applicable just to college football, I'll post it here. A mod can move it if appropriate.

 

Now, on to what makes me chuckle: how often do we hear that the games are won in the trenches. It's the lineplay that determines the outcome of games on the high school, college and pro levels. We seem to hear it over and over and over. Why? Because its the truth.

 

Now perhaps I've missed it, but of the coverage I've seen about tonight's BCS championship game, it has been focused exclusively on the skilled players. Lots of talk about the great TE of Oklahoma and how he is going to be the diffence maker; lots of comparison between Oklahoma's TE and Florida's TE; lot's of talk about how tall the Oklahoma TE is and how short Florida's DB's are; lots of talk about the QB's and running backs, but I've heard zero talk about the line match ups. Perhaps I've missed it. But if it's been discussed, it hasn't been discussed much in comparison to the talk about the "skilled" players (as if it doesn't take athletic skills to play the line, which is a joke).

 

Am I nuts on this or do others agree the commentators spend way too much time focusing on the positions that really aren't the critical ones?

 

 

Disclaimer: I am a former O lineman and my sons have all been O linemen.

Let us use a golf quote to further amplify your thought. "Driving is for show, putting is for dough." It really doesn't matter how great the skill guys are if they cannot keep the defense off of them. I am a former DB and receiver, but I agree with your comments. It all comes down to what people want to see and unfortunately, it is offense and the "big" plays. Just like baseball, everyone is so excited to watch a 12-10 baseball score........not me. Give me a defensive gem-filled 1-0 12 inning nail biter with about 6 hits total in the game. I love the tension filled close, low scoring game.

Good points LN. Linemen will continue to be unnoticed.

Leatherneck,

How many times do I have to tell you...the media is focusing on the skilled linemen position. Not that the other linemen aren't as important their just not as exciting to watch for the average fan.

I will say I have read in the pass scouting combine reports that the linemen score higher on the Wunderlich test.

Agreed. Even while attentively watching O Line play the past few years, I still found it hard to not follow the ball and watch every block that was being made. While the O Line may not be the most glamorous, the scholarships are still the same, and NFL linemen make a great deal of money while maintaining an overall longer longevity in the league than the skill guys. So it ain't all bad.:thumb:

I think those who truly know football, know that a game comes down to line play, weather it be defensive line or offensive line.

 

I am always surprised that linemen get very little credit, to me those linemen are more interesting. Heck, they are 6'12", 300 + pounds, can bench press Chevys, can deadlift houses, what could be more interesting?

 

I've said it before, and will once again, I hate the phrase, "Skill Positions". A skill is a trait that is learned. Talent is a trait that you are born with. I think the linemen are the skill players, they have to learn to play the line, it is not a natural talent. But, speed is a talent that you are born with. So, the backs and ends should be called the "Talent Position", and the linemen should be the "Skill Players".

 

But, with the media, linemen are just not "Sexy" enough I suppose.

Reporters all report on what they watch. Since they've never seen a guard carry theball they dont care really. It's a shame too. Linemen make the world go round!

Why do newsmen report on disasters and murders instead of good news items? Because they draw the audiences. Unless you know a lineman that is playing in a particular game, you are not tuning in to see the line play. The 'glamour' positions sell, and always will.

Why do newsmen report on disasters and murders instead of good news items? Because they draw the audiences. Unless you know a lineman that is playing in a particular game, you are not tuning in to see the line play. The 'glamour' positions sell, and always will.

 

Agree here...........the bottom line is the media creates it and then delivers it over and over !. They are only partly to blame though,let's face it, as you are calling a game (to the average viewer) it's Tebow hands off to...Tebow throws to....Tebow runs right.....Tebow Touchdown! What was that left tackles name again ? :laugh:

Why do newsmen report on disasters and murders instead of good news items? Because they draw the audiences. Unless you know a lineman that is playing in a particular game, you are not tuning in to see the line play. The 'glamour' positions sell, and always will.

 

:thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:

 

1. Sensationalism - Sells

2. The same reason that shows like entertainment tonight survive.

3. The 4 letter network - they don't report "news" they are the sports version of entertainment tonight.

4. The majority of the american public. They like the flash, the glitz, the glamour, and they don't want to work to get it. Not to many linemen fit that mold.

 

The public would rather watch MTV CRIBS and lust over all the nice things that they will never have, rather than listen to a story on how the offensive line made the difference in a game, or how the defensive linemen work ethic enables them to do the things that they do.

 

Skill Positions......... What is not skillful about getting 350 lbs into a 3-point stance and drive blocking some 300 lb defensive lineman 5 yards down the field so that the little rb that doesn't like to get hit can get his yardage. I find it difficult NOT to refer to linemen as SKILLED!

 

:mad::argue::mad::argue::mad::argue::mad::argue::mad::argue:

OOOOOCccccHhhhhh, I think I hit a nerve.

Being a former offensive lineman....I truly enjoy this thread. The hogs need some love too.

OOOOOppssss.

 

I forgot to mention.......................

 

FORMER LINEMAN AND PROUD OF IT!!!!

 

:dancingpa

I was a QB in Jr High, a TE in my first few years of High School, being a small school, we need linemen my Jr year, so I volunteered to move to guard. On defense, I played LB, SS, and DE. I threw TD's, I ran TD's, and I caught TD's, so I didn't change positions because I couldn't play any other positions. But, I can truly say that playing the OL was harder then any other position on the field, and is completely under-appreciated.

One of the funniest things to me is, if you ask college and NFL coaches what the hardest position to find a quality athlete for is, they will all say Left Tackle. And Left Tackles are some of the highest paid players in the NFL.

 

I read an article about college recruiting, and it said that the first position that a coach looks for is Left Tackle, second was Defensive Tackle, and third was Quarterback. I wish I could find that article, it was very informative. I will look for it some more later.