Einstein need not apply for Blocking 101 at Stonewall Jackson. While intelligence may make it easier, playing on the offensive line usually means more brawn than brains.
"When I was in college, you almost had to be a Rhodes Scholar to know what was going on," Stonewall Jackson coach Dick Krol said. "In high school, we need to make it pretty simple."
Luckily for Krol, his right tackle, Wes Stout, has both the brains and the brawn to play the position. Stout carries a 3.0 grade point average — although Krol said it should be way higher — and has the size (6-foot-3, 265 pounds) to overpower just about any defensive tackle who dares to line up across from him.
The fact that the Generals' blocking scheme is simple is just an added bonus for Stout.
"It makes it a lot easier for everybody," the junior said. "You just have to know the three rules and be able to help someone out once in a while. It's not complicated."
The "three rules" are head up, inside gap and inside linebacker.
In other words, if there's no defender directly in front of Stout, he blocks the inside gap. On other plays, his job is to pick up the linebacker.
Stout's favorite play, however, is when he gets to stretch his legs a little bit and roam the field looking for someone to smash. For him, and most tackles, it's the quick-pitch.
"I like getting out there in front of everybody and let them see me," he said.
One instance in particular that Stout is fond of came against Clarke County last year. It was the last play of the game, and the call was quick-pitch. Stout pulled out, and his eyes started dashing from one side of the field to another looking for someone — anyone — to hit. Then it happened.
"I got out, and the guy took one step," Stout said. "I had a good 10 yards on him, and I just leveled him and ran him over."
The Generals run a Power I offense, which has three running backs with one offset to either side. All even numbered plays go to the right side of the line while the odd numbered plays go to the left. For example, a 34 Power means the "three back" goes through the "four hole" on the offensive line, or between the right tackle and right tight end.
Stout figures that out when the play is called in the huddle. From then until the ball is snapped — maybe 10 seconds — things move pretty fast. It's Stout's job as the most experienced lineman on the team to make sure everyone knows their assignments.
"When I get to the line, the first thing I do is look down the line and see how the defense is set up," he said. "Then I'll talk to [the right guard] and make sure everyone knows the count and everything. When the count goes, just fire out."
Stout's on-field relationship with former teammate Donnie Mace had been interesting, to say the least. Mace was a first-year player last season and had a hard time learning the ropes. Enter Stout, who pretty much did the brain-work for both.
"For me, looking at the playbook, it was like Chinese arithmetic," said Mace, who has since left the Stonewall team. "But with him, everything came together. Even sometimes when I didn't ask him, he made sure I knew what was going on."
The rules for run blocking are simple, but pass blocking is a piece of cake, too. It's no secret Stonewall Jackson doesn't pass much, maybe three or four times a game. When a pass play is called, however, Stout is ready to go. The linemen take a step back, balance themselves and do everything possible to keep the rushing defenders off the quarterback.
Stout would much rather run block, however.
"I don't like to just stand along the line," he said. "I like to drive them and push them out of the way."
Either way, the blocking assignments are pretty easy to nail down.
"I don't like clichés, but we try to keep with the KISS principle," Krol said. "Keep it simple stupid."
R Contact Ryan Sonner at rsonner@nvdaily.com
Five keys to playing offensive tackle
1. Get off the ball. "If you wait, you're dead," Krol said.
2. Use your shoulder pads. "We pay for good shoulder pads, use them," Krol said.
3. Drive your legs. Never stop moving your legs, always keep them going.
4. Remember your blocking rules.
5. Finish your block. Keep blocking until the whistle blows.
5a. "Get out of the way so the running backs can do their job," Stout said.
