For years, the most important aspect of executing in the running game for offensive linemen was getting leverage on defensive linemen. That always meant offensive linemen getting in a three-point stance, firing off the ball and getting underneath the player lined up in front of them.
In today’s NFL, offensive linemen block out of two-point stances as much as three-point stances. It isn’t necessarily the way some Steelers want to execute their blocks, but the change is a byproduct of how the league has trended toward the passing game in recent years.
“It’s a passing league,” left tackle Kelvin Beachum said. “You hate to say it like that, but it is what it is. It’s the league. It’s not just our team. Generally, there are a lot of times when you’re up in a two-point stance more than you’re down in a three-point stance.”
There are a few reasons for this. Quarterbacks are changing plays at the line of scrimmage more than ever, and it’s easier to run-block out two-point stance than it is to pass-block out of a three-point stance because defensive linemen and defensive ends are faster and quicker than ever. And for some players, being upright in a two-point stance allows them to survey the field better and see when defenders might be coming on blitzes or stunts that will, in turn, alter their movements.
You might be surprised how infrequently offensive linemen are lining up in the traditional three-point stance. Against the Baltimore Ravens last week, the Steelers called 26 designed running plays. All five Steelers linemen lined up in 3-point stances on just five occasions. On every other running play, at least one and sometimes all five linemen were in two-point stances.
“We’re doing it a lot more this year,” right tackle Marcus Gilbert said. “We made an emphasis this offseason to come out of a two-point stance. Now we’re a lot more comfortable with it.”
The change has not had an adverse effect on the Steelers running game thus far though Le’Veon Bell’s two longest runs against the Ravens came when his linemen were in three-point stances. Bell’s 21-yard came when all five linemen were in three-point stances. His 22-yard run came when everyone except Kelvin Beachum were in three-point stances.
Still, there were productive runs when the linemen were in two-point stances, including an 8-yarder from Bell in the first quarter when all five were upright. Sometimes one side of the line gets in two-point stances and the other side in three-point stances. Sometimes, the left guard and right tackle are up and the right guard and left tackle are down.
According to the players there is no rhyme or reason to the way they do things. Offensive line coach Mike Munchak allows his players to choose the stance from which they operate.
“He hasn’t talked to us at all about it,” left guard Ramon Foster said. “It’s just a preference thing. He trusts us enough if we’re up we’re not going to be high in our blocks and he’s going to let us play ball.”
So far, so good. The Steelers rushed for 167 yards against the Ravens are averaging 4.3 yards per carry for the season, which ranks 11th in the league.
Tackles are in two-point stances more often than guards because they have to deal with speedy edge rushers. Still, Beachum prefers a three-point stance when possible.
“When we’re running the ball I want to be in a three-point stance,” Beachum said. “But there are nuances to it. If the quarterback checks to a running play, you don’t want to put your hand in the dirt because you would give it away.
“And when a pass play is called, coming out of a predominant run stance and trying to pass block… you don’t want to put yourself in a bad position. You always want to put yourself in the best position to thrive. But when it’s a run down, I want to be in a run stance, a three-point stance, and get after it.”
Gilbert is regarded as the better run-blocking tackle, but he said being upright in a two-point stance gives him a better ability to see what defenders are doing.
“Just in case we want to check the play we can get better steps, but we can also see the defense a lot better,” he said. “We can see if someone is coming down and make a push call. It makes it easier on us coming out of a two-point stance. You can be more aggressive and get after them.”
First Published: April 6, 2016, 4:07 p.m.
