Although many people consider the quarterback the most important position in football, the team will falter without a strong offensive line that can shield him from opponents. According to Jim Dougherty’s “Survival Guide for Coaching Youth Football,” football teams win or lose based on what goes on in the trenches. The offensive line consists of a center, two guards and two tackles. A secondary player, the tight end, may extend the offensive line. The guard's role in football is to block for the run and the pass.
The Position
The two guards, called the left and right guards, are positioned to either side of the center. Guards tend to be large, strong and quick -- they have to force their opponents backward and move the line of scrimmage, or the imaginary line that traverses from one side of the field to the other and on which each team must stay behind until the next play begins.
Blocking Tactics
If the play is a run, the guard launches off the snapped football and charges into the opponent directly opposite him. Using his arms and legs, the guard pushes his opponent back and out of play and creates a hole for the running back to travel through without being tackled. The guard will typically “punch” or “pop” his opponent’s shoulder pads with his hands, notes Dougherty. This tactic not only neutralizes his opponent’s charge but creates distracting noise. Driving forward, the guard aims to get beneath his opponent’s center of force. If the running play is right up the middle, the offensive guard helps the center and double-teams the defensive nose guard. In order to block for a pass, the guards and the rest of the offensive line will try and create a wall that the defensive line can’t penetrate
The Pull Out
Guards will use a maneuver known as a pull out on certain offensive plays, such as a sweep. In a sweep, the running back takes the ball from the quarterback and runs parallel to the scrimmage line. The guard must move rapidly, or pull out, to protect the running back before he heads up the field. In this case, the guard rotates on the snap of the football and tries to trap his opponent who is running across the line. The guard will then hit the defender from the side. Because an opponent typically fails to see this blocking maneuver, it tends to be used often and successfully.
Types of Footwork
In order for offensive guards to block a pass or a run requires different types of footwork. Angle steps and pull steps comprise the most important types of footwork for offensive guards. On the majority of the plays, guards will use an angle step with their play-side foot. For example, if the play is a run to the right, the two guards will make a first step with an outwardly angled right foot. They will extend their hands to engage their opponents. In contrast, pull steps are close to the ground and flat. A pulling guard needs to squat, turn and move rapidly to cover the running back.
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