Size
Ideal size is one of the things that vary from position to position. At the tackle positions, generally you are looking for a guy in the 6-4 to 6-7 range around the 300-to-325 pound mark, preferably with long arms to lock onto defenders. When it comes to guards, you’re looking for basically the same thing, although shorter players with a lower center of gravity and more body mass can be a better fit for the position.
Because of the value of a center who can get to the second level in the NFL, mobility is an important asset, so generally, the elite ones are smaller than their counterparts at guard and tackle. Of course, the ideal size of a lineman can also vary from team to team depending on the type of blocking schemes used. Some teams rely on smaller, quicker players in zone blocking schemes while others prefer bigger linemen in more of a power-blocking game.
Strength
There’s not a lot to say about a player’s strength. Obviously, he must have the power to hold up to bull rushers or he won’t have a lot of success at the NFL level. Strength is measured in the bench press at the NFL Combine, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Just like players that don’t play as fast as their 40-yard-dash times would indicate, some players just don’t play as strong as their bench press reps might make you think they would. A lot has to do with how well they use leverage and technique to make that strength pay off.
Initial Quickness & Mobility
Quickness off the line is important to establish an advantage over the defender, and the best way to compare is to watch how a player compares to others on both sides of the ball. Slow motion can often be helpful in illustrating a player’s jump on the ball. Having the initial burst that allows a lineman to fire off the line and the mobility to get to the second level in the running game is a huge plus.
Also look for interior lineman with the athletic ability to pull consistently and get outside and downfield. I also like a guy who takes pleasure in getting to, and laying a lick on the linebackers. Mobility and athletic ability is also very important for the tackle position, specifically on the left side, as teams like to use speed rushers to attack the edge on the quarterback’s blind side.
Use of Hands/Arms
Long arms are very beneficial in pass protection, especially at the tackle position, as is the ability to use them properly. Like I mentioned earlier, teams like to attack the edge on a quarterback’s blind side, and an offensive tackle must be able to use his arms to ride those speed rushers out of the play. Long arms can also can come in useful in getting that first “punch” when making initial contact with the defender.
Good hands come in handy (no pun intended) once an offensive lineman locks onto a defender. Generally he can get away with grabbing a defender as long as he keeps his hands toward the inside of the opponent’s body, but getting them out near the shoulders or using the jersey to pull the player down will result in a holding penalty. A solid blocker should be able to control the defender without allowing his arms to slip to the outside by using his strength, good leverage, and proper footwork.
Technique
Technique involves the proper use of the hands and arms, as we just talked about, as well as the use of good footwork and leverage. The techniques used vary depending on whether a team is attempting to run or pass, and an entire article could be dedicated to discussing them, so I’ll just touch on them briefly here. In the run game, power and leverage are key, so an offensive lineman must stay low in his blocks and not allow a defender to get under his pads. Once that happens, the defender has the advantage and can easily turn or get past the blocker.
