Spencer Sanders Has a Rant. He Wants Fans to Respect the Offensive Line

Good to hear. The OL will make or break us this year. Pray they remain healthy.

I just became a full-fledged Spencer Sanders fan, not because of what he does, but what he said. At the same time, my respect for Coach Gundy has skidded after saying this re OL line conditioning vs "skill players":

"the skill kids are going to come along. They're the most athletic."

Maybe that's just coach talk by a former prima donna player, but it really PO's me when OL's are only thought of as big uglies. Who the hell thinks O linemen don't have skills? Aren't athletic? Maybe Coach Gundy ought pay attention to some of what Spencer Sanders says.

OLGramp

philtruman@cox.net said:

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I just became a full-fledged Spencer Sanders fan, not because of what he does, but what he said. At the same time, my respect for Coach Gundy has skidded after saying this re OL line conditioning vs "skill players":

"the skill kids are going to come along. They're the most athletic."

Maybe that's just coach talk by a former prima donna player, but it really PO's me when OL's are only thought of as big uglies. Who the hell thinks O linemen don't have skills? Aren't athletic? Maybe Coach Gundy ought pay attention to some of what Spencer Sanders says.

OLGramp

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LOL... Oh my.

that is the common term for those positions, coach did not say anything out of line.

What Is A Skill Position In Football?
by Fourvertsfootball.com

Skill positions in football are the positions that value talent and expertise more so than strength and size. Skill positions play on the offensive side of the ball and are the primary scorers and offensive weapons on the team.

The term skill position is reserved for groups of players that get the ball in their hands. Though not every player that gets the ball on offense is considered a skill position.

https://fourvertsfootball.com/what-is-a-skill-position-in-football/

philtruman@cox.net said:

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I just became a full-fledged Spencer Sanders fan, not because of what he does, but what he said. At the same time, my respect for Coach Gundy has skidded after saying this re OL line conditioning vs "skill players":

"the skill kids are going to come along. They're the most athletic."

Maybe that's just coach talk by a former prima donna player, but it really PO's me when OL's are only thought of as big uglies. Who the hell thinks O linemen don't have skills? Aren't athletic? Maybe Coach Gundy ought pay attention to some of what Spencer Sanders says.

OLGramp

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Phil, I think this wasn't meant at all as disrespect by HCMG. The OL guys don't normally just come in as freshman and immediately make an impact. That's a very rare find if it happens and that guys probably an NFL lineman when it does rarely happen (see Russell Okung). A 160 pound Braylon Pressley will likely round into an offensive threat very quickly. An offensive lineman coming in at even 300 lbs. will likely still need at least a year if not two or three to "come along, mature and build a body" ready to fight against NFL worthy DL players in college.

OSU has only moved OL up quickly of late when injuries and/or dismissals devastated their OL depth. It's bad business generally and not fair or healthy for an 18 or 19 year old facing 22 and 23 year old defenders in the trenches play after play.

A freshman receiver may get hit 3 times in a game. An OL guy may get hit 85 times+.

California Cowboy and Orangeheart72 -

Yep, I understand how the experts define the positions. But that doesn't mean it's correct.

Your statement, "Skill positions in football are the positions that value talent and expertise more so than strength and size." proves my point.

Ask any O-line coach, hell, ask Spencer Sanders and anybody in the backfield, about the talent and expertise required by a O Lineman. Receivers have hands, an RB has speed, QB's have an arm, but without the talent and expertise from the O Line on how to use that strength and size, the "Skills" wouldn't do jack.

With all due respect to you both, and not to get all Woke on ya, but that statement is downright insulting. There's an underlying disrespect to that description. It's like saying, "Poor kids aren't as smart as rich kids."

All I'm saying is all 11 players, all 22 (24 counting kickers), have skills, talents, and expertise. It's a team game, not a game of runners, throwers, and catchers.

OLGramp

philtruman@cox.net said:

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California Cowboy and Orangeheart72 -

Yep, I understand how the experts define the positions. But that doesn't mean it's correct.

Your statement, "Skill positions in football are the positions that value talent and expertise more so than strength and size." proves my point.

Ask any O-line coach, hell, ask Spencer Sanders and anybody in the backfield, about the talent and expertise required by a O Lineman. Receivers have hands, an RB has speed, QB's have an arm, but without the talent and expertise from the O Line on how to use that strength and size, the "Skills" wouldn't do jack.

With all due respect to you both, and not to get all Woke on ya, but that statement is downright insulting. There's an underlying disrespect to that description. It's like saying, "Poor kids aren't as smart as rich kids."

All I'm saying is all 11 players, all 22 (24 counting kickers), have skills, talents, and expertise. It's a team game, not a game of runners, throwers, and catchers.

OLGramp

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your opinion doesn't really matter that IS the definition.

that's just the way it is, whether you like the definition or not

Carved in stone is it? Thank you, Woody Hayes.

Guess you told me, huh?

philtruman@cox.net said:

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Carved in stone is it? Thank you, Woody Hayes.

Guess you told me, huh?

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the ONLY thing that I "told you" was that skill position is common vernacular. Everyday English usage.

I got that, Mr. Authority. But you seem to miss my point. Good thing you weren't around when they introduced the forward pass… or were you?

philtruman@cox.net said:

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I got that, Mr. Authority. But you seem to miss my point. Good thing you weren't around when they introduced the forward pass… or were you?

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Oh, I get it now....

you're still bemoaning the demise of the flying wedge..... like that skill?

it's a freaking definition. That is all.

I read a quote from an olineman just yesterday (not one of ours) who said we open the holes for the skill players, we're the guys that play with our hands in the dirt.

but I can see how you might be offended by being referred to as skill less.