Lineman: Leading from the Front
As a member of the Bill George Youth Football League, our Naperville Saints football players have a unique opportunity to flourish as offense and defensive lineman. In our program, players GET the opportunity to be a lineman. Read more below!
Huge Upsides of Playing Lineman
Lineman do battle in the trenches on every single play. Some players may not have contact with their opponent in each play, but lineman do as they compete man-to-man, moving another player off the ball. They must be strong, fast off the ball and have an intelligent mind for the game as they execute plays. Naperville Saints lineman learn many technical skills including blocking, pass rushing, down-blocks, pulls and downfield blocks.
The gaps a running back burst through happen because an offensive lineman created it. The quarterback has time to throw downfield because of the lineman. Quarterbacks get sacked because of lineman. We could go on and on.
Lineman and “Stripers”
The Naperville Saints belong to the Bill George Youth Football League (BGYFL) who have long implemented weight restrictions by player age. The restriction is a safety and even-competition measure. Those players above a certain weight in their age group are deemed “stripers” and are only allowed to play on the offensive and defensive line. You will see players with a distinct stripe decal down the middle of their helmet, examples in the pics below. They are the stripers. See the table in the images below for weight limits.
Stripers get the opportunity play line!
Note that many Naperville Saints lineman are NOT stripers. We have some our fastest and strongest players on the line who are under the weight limit.
Click the link here to see the League weight breakdown, also summarized below:
check-out this clip of the week!
Hear what our lineman have to say about their crucial roles
THE OFFENSIVE LINE
There are five offensive linemen (OL) in most offensive formations: one center, two guards, and two tackles. Their primary function is to block for the player with the ball.
Offensive linemen are the biggest, strongest guys on the field, and their work can win or lose a game.
- The primary job of the offensive line is to block opposing players. They do not typically touch the ball as part of the game plan, and there are even rules preventing them from doing so at certain times.
- They need to be particularly good blockers in both running and passing situations.
- They must have the strength to overpower opponents, the speed to get out in front of running backs, and the quickness to block smaller, faster defensive players.
THE DEFENSIVE LINE
As with offense, this is where the play starts. The defensive linemen (DL) are the first stage of the defense, and the first men the offense must account for in their blocking schemes.
- Defensive linemen are strong, rivaled on the field only by the offensive linemen. However, some physical characteristics are more desirable for specific positions.
- Defensive tackles are often the biggest players on defense.
- Defensive ends tend to be slightly smaller, quicker players and built for pass rushing.
Lineman on both sides have unique responsibilities on every play, it’s not always just bull-rush ahead. Quick, athletic feet are required to push defenders down the line, to open gaps, to “pull” and run behind the line to meet a defender. Defensive lineman must be agile and strong, getting past the offensive lineman to close gaps and pressure the quarterback.
