Weston Richburg Comments on Offensive Line Coaching and Grading in NFL

New York Giants center Weston Richburg was one of the breakout stars in the entire league during the 2015 season, but he recently turned some heads with critical comments about the way offensive linemen are coached and evaluated at the NFL level.    

Richburg was one of a group of offensive linemen who discussed the position with Pete Prisco of CBS Sports while they were at the O-Line Performance Center. Former lineman LeCharles Bentley owns the center and helps the players train for the upcoming season.

Richburg discussed the coaching he and others receive, per Prisco: “There isn’t much teaching going on at all. It’s kind of sink or swim. That’s why I am here. … They try and put you in a cookie-cutter. … You have to be coachable and respect what they say. But ultimately you’re the one out there on Sunday. You have to do what you are trained to do.”

Prisco noted there are a number of reasons offensive linemen potentially don’t receive the proper technique training from their coaches to help them perfect their craft in the NFL. There are limits enforced on the amount of practice time each team has to work with, and that means coaches focus more energy on installing and perfecting offenses rather than teaching those techniques and basics.

Prisco also pointed to the proliferation of spread offenses at the college level, the decrease in contact during practices and the fact free agency breaks up offensive lines and doesn’t allow them to develop together as other explanations for poor offensive line play.

According to Prisco, there are 30 offensive linemen who spent eight weeks at Bentley’s center with the hopes of improving their technical skills and fundamentals.

Richburg also …

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