O Line Skills

O Line Skills Leading, teaching and developing student athletes to maximize their potential on and off the football field.

A great school is more than classrooms and buildings. It is a community, and athletics provides some of the best opportu...
09/03/2026

A great school is more than classrooms and buildings. It is a community, and athletics provides some of the best opportunities for that community to come together.

Schools can sometimes feel divided by grades, dorms, teams, activities, and interests. Students have different friend groups. Faculty work in different departments. Families have different schedules. Everyone has their own world.

But Friday night football under the lights has a way of bringing those worlds together.

The first football game of the season gives students from different backgrounds a common experience. It gives teachers an opportunity to see their students in a different environment. It gives alumni a reason to return and reconnect. It gives families a chance to share in the energy and traditions of the school. And it gives everyone an opportunity to be part of something larger than themselves.

For one night, the lights come on, the stands fill, the music plays, the cheerleaders cheer, and the team takes the field. Students, teachers, families, and alumni may arrive for different reasons, but for a few hours, they are all part of the same community.

That is one of the great things about high school athletics. The scoreboard will tell us who won the game, but some of what happens on a Friday night is more important than the final score.

We show up. We cheer together. We represent our school together.

And in doing so, we remind one another: You are part of this. You belong here.

To read more blogs, visit https://olineskills.com/

“On the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that, on other days, on other fields, will bear the fruits of victo...
08/27/2026

“On the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that, on other days, on other fields, will bear the fruits of victory.” — General Douglas MacArthur

There may be no better description of the value of a preseason football scrimmage.

A scrimmage is not a championship game. There is no trophy awarded at the end of the day. The score, if there even is one, will not appear in the standings. Weeks from now, no one will remember who “won” the scrimmage.

And that is precisely the point.

The purpose of a preseason scrimmage is not to prove what we are. It is to discover what we need to become.

For the first time, players have an opportunity to test themselves against someone wearing a different uniform. Coaches get to see how their team responds when the opponent doesn’t know the script, doesn’t run the defense we practiced against, and is trying to win every rep.

That is where the seeds are sown.

The opponent in a preseason scrimmage is not the enemy. In many ways, they are helping us prepare for the battles ahead. They provide something our own scout team cannot completely replicate: unfamiliarity, uncertainty, and genuine competition.

They force us to react rather than simply rehearse.

That is the meaning of friendly strife.

We compete. We play hard. We challenge one another physically and mentally. But when the day is over, both teams should leave better than when they arrived.

The scrimmage gives us something every team needs before the season begins: an honest assessment of where we are.

Did we tackle?

Did we communicate?

Did we align correctly and make the right reads?

Did we play with discipline?

Did we handle adversity?

Did we finish plays?

Did we play with the energy, effort, and enthusiasm our program demands?

Those are the questions that matter.

The video from a preseason scrimmage can be one of the most valuable teaching tools of the season because it gives us a truthful picture of where we are—not where we hope to be.

Every rep is information. Every mistake is an opportunity to learn. Every correction is a chance to improve. Every difficult moment is an opportunity to grow.

But identifying the lesson is not enough.

On the fields of friendly strife, we sow the seeds. What we do next determines whether they ever bear fruit.

Our job is to return to work. Make the corrections. Fix the technique. Improve the communication. Raise the standard. Get better every day.

To read more blogs, visit https://olineskills.com/

At a recent professional development clinic, I shared with a group of coaches—and later with our players—that playing fo...
08/20/2026

At a recent professional development clinic, I shared with a group of coaches—and later with our players—that playing football, and coaching any sport, is a Sisyphean task. The nature of sport is that the work is never finished.

In Greek mythology, Sisyphus, the King of Corinth, was condemned by Zeus to an eternal punishment: pushing a massive boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down and begin again. Like Sisyphus, athletes and coaches continually push toward something they can never permanently achieve. There is always another practice, another opponent, another season. Even after a great victory, the next day comes, and we are back to pushing the rock again.

But the value isn’t in finally reaching the top of the hill. It is in becoming stronger while pushing the stone.

The Sisyphean task isn’t meaningless because it repeats. It is meaningful because we choose to keep pushing. We show up, do the work, pursue improvement, and then come back and do it again.

The ball will be kicked off again. The whistle will blow again. The rock and the hill will be waiting.

So we push the rock.

Again.

To read more blogs, visit https://olineskills.com/

How we do things matters more than what we do.As teams across the country report to training camp, they will all run dri...
08/06/2026

How we do things matters more than what we do.

As teams across the country report to training camp, they will all run drills, lift weights, install offenses, teach defenses, and develop special teams. The what of football is remarkably similar from one program to the next. The difference between average programs and exceptional ones is rarely found in what they do. It is found in how they do it.

Culture is built in the details.

Two teams can run the exact same drill. One jogs from station to station, goes through the motions, and waits for the whistle to end the rep. The other sprints between stations, finishes through the echo of the whistle, encourages teammates, and demands excellence from one another. The drill is identical. The outcome is not.

The standard is never the drill itself. The standard is how the drill is executed.

Successful programs understand that excellence is a habit. It doesn’t magically appear on Friday nights. It is developed in practice, in the weight room, in the classroom, and in every repetition. We communicate. We compete. We finish. We pay attention to details. We hold one another accountable. Those habits become our identity.

Anyone can build impressive facilities, purchase the latest technology, or install the newest offensive or defensive scheme. Those are resources—not culture. Culture is built through consistency. It is refusing to cut corners. It is doing the little things right when no one is watching. Every action either reinforces the standard or erodes it.

Our philosophy is simple: games are not won on Friday nights. They are won in the thousands of decisions players make long before kickoff—decisions about effort, discipline, preparation, attitude, and accountability.

When players fully embrace how we do things, the what becomes far less important. Whether we’re running a fundamental drill for the hundredth time, studying film, lifting weights, or practicing indoors on a rainy day, our standard never changes.

We work hard.

We work smart.

We are tough.

Long after our players forget the plays they ran or the drills they completed, they will remember the standards they lived by. More importantly, those standards will continue to shape them as students, leaders, husbands, fathers, coworkers, and members of their communities.

That is why how we do things will always matter more than what we do.

To read more blogs, visit https://olineskills.com/

The 2026 North East Kingdom 7v7 Tournament, Strongman Competition, and O-Line Challenge were a tremendous success for ev...
07/29/2026

The 2026 North East Kingdom 7v7 Tournament, Strongman Competition, and O-Line Challenge were a tremendous success for everyone involved—players, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers, and spectators alike.

Our student-athletes had the opportunity to showcase the skill, strength, and commitment they developed throughout the summer. The level of competition was outstanding, and it was rewarding to see their offseason work on display.

A special thank you goes to our football parents, who operated a very professional and courteous concession stand while serving hundreds of attendees throughout the day. Their dedication and countless hours of volunteer service played a significant role in making the event possible while reflecting great credit on themselves and our program.

The combination of all these elements created a tremendous showcase for St. Johnsbury Academy, and all that the students, faculty, staff, and community contribute to the North East Kingdom.

To read more blogs, visit https://olineskills.com/

Every summer, football programs across the country host 7-on-7 tournaments. Quarterbacks showcase their arms, receivers ...
07/23/2026

Every summer, football programs across the country host 7-on-7 tournaments. Quarterbacks showcase their arms, receivers make highlight-reel catches, and defensive backs compete for interceptions. It’s exciting football and an outstanding way to develop the passing game.

But championships are built on all eleven players.

That is why our 7-on-7 Tournament also includes a Strongman Competition and Offensive Line Challenge. While the skill players compete through the air, offensive linemen have an opportunity to compete in events designed specifically for the athletes who make every offense possible.

The Strongman Competition and Offensive Line Challenge allow linemen to demonstrate the traits that define outstanding offensive line play: strength, power, explosiveness, agility, mental toughness, and competitive spirit.

Instead of watching from the sideline, linemen become active participants in a competition built for them. The events are challenging, fun, and intentionally designed to foster camaraderie among players from different schools.

One of the unexpected benefits of the day is the interaction between programs. Athletes compete fiercely during each event, then encourage one another when it’s over. Coaches have opportunities to connect, exchange ideas, and strengthen relationships throughout the football community.

Competition and sportsmanship can—and should—coexist.

Winning is exciting, and presenting trophies at the end of the day is rewarding. But the greatest accomplishment isn’t determining who finishes first. It’s that offensive linemen leave feeling appreciated. It’s that younger players see there is value—and pride—in playing offensive line. It’s that coaches reinforce the message that every position matters. And perhaps most importantly, every athlete goes home understanding that football is bigger than individual recognition.

The best teams are built when every player feels valued. As coaches, creating an environment where every athlete has the opportunity to compete, contribute, and be recognized may be the most important competition we ever organize.

To read more blogs, visit https://olineskills.com/

One of our assistant coaches recently reviewed our training camp practice schedule and suggested shortening two of our 1...
07/16/2026

One of our assistant coaches recently reviewed our training camp practice schedule and suggested shortening two of our 10-minute receiving periods that focus on body positioning before and after the catch. His thought was simple: reduce each period to five minutes and use the extra time for another drill.

First, I’ve worked hard to create an environment where every coach has ownership and feels comfortable offering ideas. I’ve seen staffs where intimidating leadership stifles initiative, and as a result, great perspectives never get shared. Second, his question was a good one. There is, however, a deliberate reason those periods remain exactly as they are.

Repetition can feel mundane, even redundant. But if we expect players to execute a technique instinctively on Friday nights, they must perform it enough times in practice that it becomes second nature. Muscle memory is not built through constant variety; it is built through purposeful repetition. Once fundamental movement patterns become automatic, we can layer on additional techniques, decision-making, and game-like variables.

As Friedrich Nietzsche wrote, “He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying.” That progression applies directly to football. Players cannot be expected to make difficult, split-second plays under pressure if they have not first mastered the underlying fundamentals through disciplined repetition.

OTAs and training camp are our teaching seasons. This is when we install techniques, establish habits, and build the muscle memory that allows players to perform confidently at game speed. Once the season begins, practice time shifts toward preparing for a specific opponent, leaving far less opportunity for fundamental instruction.

Our objective during camp is not simply to expose players to as many drills as possible. It is to ensure they master the techniques that will consistently show up on Friday nights. That requires intentional repetition—even when it feels repetitive.

My Marine Corps friends tell me they think of training as a way to create a natural reaction to a given set of circumstances, and education serves as a process for thinking and making decisions when new conditions or circumstances present. The best teams don’t execute fundamentals because they’re thinking about them. They execute fundamentals because they’ve practiced them so many times that they no longer have to.

To read more blogs, visit https://olineskills.com/

We wrap up Week 5 of our OTAs with just two weeks remaining before our 7-on-7 Tournament, Strongman Competition, and Off...
07/09/2026

We wrap up Week 5 of our OTAs with just two weeks remaining before our 7-on-7 Tournament, Strongman Competition, and Offensive Line Challenge.

Over the past five weeks, I missed two OTA sessions—one for a family wedding and another while recovering from knee replacement surgery. At first glance, a head coach being absent from training might seem like a leadership void. Instead, those absences created opportunities for other leaders to step forward.

We often talk to our players about having a “next man up” mentality when a teammate is sidelined by injury. The same principle applies to coaches. When one person is unavailable, someone else has the opportunity—and the responsibility—to lead.

As I continue my recovery, simply moving from the field for speed and agility work, to the weight room for strength training, and back to the field for football drills has been more exhausting than I expected. As a result, I’ve spent more time observing than directing. That perspective has allowed me to watch our coaches teach, encourage, and connect with our players in ways I might have otherwise missed. It has been rewarding to see each of them grow in confidence, embrace greater responsibility, and take ownership of our program.

Leadership is not about one person filling every role. Strong programs are built when many people are prepared to lead. Sometimes what first appears to be a void is actually an opportunity—for others to step forward, for a team to grow, and for everyone to become stronger together.

To read more blogs, visit https://olineskills.com/

Consistency is one of the cornerstones of our program. Every workout, every practice, and every opportunity to improve m...
07/02/2026

Consistency is one of the cornerstones of our program. Every workout, every practice, and every opportunity to improve matters. Progress is built through repeated effort over time. But just as consistency matters, so does perspective.

This year, we’ve decided not to hold a training session on Friday, July 3, allowing our athletes and their families to enjoy an extended holiday weekend celebrating America’s 250th birthday.

One workout, while valuable, will not determine an athlete’s physical development or the overall progress of our team. Strength, conditioning, skill, and chemistry are built over weeks and months of disciplined, consistent work—not in a single session. Our success comes from the habits we establish together over time, not from any one isolated practice.

In fact, taking a day off at this point in our offseason may be exactly what our athletes need. We’re roughly halfway through our summer training schedule, making this an ideal opportunity to recharge both physically and mentally. Recovery is an essential part of improvement. Muscles adapt during rest. Minds reset when given the chance to step away. Athletes often return with renewed energy, sharper focus, and a greater appreciation for the work still ahead.

Just as importantly, this decision recognizes something bigger than football. Our athletes have families who make tremendous sacrifices throughout the year—adjusting schedules, providing transportation, attending practices and games, and offering constant encouragement. Holidays give us an opportunity to slow down, spend time together, and create memories that will last far longer than any single workout ever could.

The values we strive to develop in our program—commitment, discipline, teamwork, and character—extend well beyond the football field. Taking time to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday with family and friends reflects those values as much as any workout does. Football is important, but it should never come at the expense of appreciating the people and principles that make the game worthwhile.

When we return after the holiday weekend, we’ll get right back to work with the same focus, energy, and intensity that have defined our offseason. One day away won’t set us back. If anything, it will remind us why we’re so eager to come back together on Monday.

To read more blogs, visit https://olineskills.com/

Football is not for everyone, and that is okay.Football is hard. It requires a level of commitment that most other sport...
06/25/2026

Football is not for everyone, and that is okay.

Football is hard. It requires a level of commitment that most other sports do not, and tests each of us in surprising ways. One example is summer workouts; while they may come with the expectation of physical challenges, they also pose mental/emotional ones. One expectation comes from the realization that your teammates depend on you. ESPN and Hollywood movies provide countless examples of team dynamics and teammates’ expectations, yet in many ways, our own ideal of what we could be at our very best is the most daunting example of all. Integrity, discipline, accountability, and a willingness to do the right, often hard thing, when the easy is in reach, and no one is watching.

For those who choose football, however, it’s the very challenge that is often so rewarding. The lessons learned through adversity, teamwork, perseverance, and commitment extend far beyond the playing field.

A football program should never apologize for being demanding. The standards should be high. Over four decades of playing and coaching, I’ve found teams rise to meet high standards time and again. At the same time, coaches are often challenged to balance between building a competitive program and keeping the door open for multi-sport athletes and families who wish to take vacations during the summer months.

The reality is that successful football teams are usually built through consistent offseason development. Strength, speed, and football-specific skills improve dramatically when athletes train year-round. At the same time, if participation requires too much commitment too early, some potential players may decide not to play at all.

The opportunities are available for those who want to maximize their development, but we welcome all athletes. We would rather have a student play football and attend some workouts than not play football because they feel they cannot attend every workout. Such a philosophy is part of our culture, and I’d like to think it’s played a role in our long term success.

For high school programs, especially in smaller communities, participation numbers matter. Coaches must create an environment where the most dedicated athletes can pursue excellence while ensuring that new players do not feel excluded because they cannot commit to every offseason activity.

The goal should be to make football accessible while making improvement available. Those are not always the same thing, but the best programs find a way to accomplish both.

As is anything of value… Football is hard. That is precisely why it has the power to change lives.

To read more blogs, visit https://olineskills.com/

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