Trench Warfare

Inside the Colts OL Room with Tony Sparano Jr.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit trenchwarfare.substack.com [https://trenchwarfare.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] Colts OL coach Tony Sparano Jr. joins me for a deep discussion on offensive line development, pass protection philosophy, scheme design and what truly separates elite offensive line play. We discuss: • Building the Colts OL room for 2026• Quenton Nelson's leadership and competitiveness• Bernhard Raimann, Tanner Bordelini, Matt Goncalves and Jalen Travis• How Indianapolis tailors scheme to player strengths• Shane Steichen, play action and protection design• Whether modern offenses have made life easier on OL• Developing offensive linemen with fewer padded practices• Simplifying teaching and building confidence• Two-hand vs independent hand usage in pass protection• Brayden Smith's hand technique and proactive striking• Why pass protection remains football's most difficult skill challenge• And why Sparano calls offensive line "the most collaborative position in sports." Timestamps available on Substack. Subscribe for full video access and future OL conversations, film rooms and trench-focused analysis.

2026 Pre-Combine OL Overview: Top Prospects, Mid-Tier Value, Late Sleepers (with Dane Brugler)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit trenchwarfare.substack.com [https://trenchwarfare.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] The Athletic’s Dane Brugler joined me to break down the 2026 OL class — from top-ranked prospects to mid-tier value and late-round sleepers — with specific player-by-player takes throughout. Key Takeaways Why this class creates wide variance team-to-team (position drop-offs + similar grades). The top OT/OG group: who has the safest floor vs the biggest ceiling bets. Day 3/late-round OL profiles worth gambling on (traits, development arcs, role fits). Timestamps 0:00 Intro + why now (Combine list week)0:46 Big-picture class feel: your OL grades vs Dane’s board (top 50/top 100)2:09 Why this draft is tough to rank (drop-offs, tight clusters, team need variance)4:46 “True 1st-round” OL: your 3 vs Dane’s 14 total 1st-round grades6:10 How the top OL order could vary (scheme/value context) Top OL: early-round targets 7:13 Spencer Fano: movement, balance through contact, run game weaponization10:31 Utah context: heavy run scheme + projection/scheme fit questions11:43 Francis Mauigoa: clean tape early, exposed late; tackle vs guard projection14:31 “Maximized at guard” vs “survive at tackle” (Zack Martin-type framework)16:37 High-variance tackles with upside: Proctor / Lomu / Freeling18:57 Proctor: elite traits vs technique/discipline; positional leverage theme21:06 Why his current pass-pro style may not translate at 350+ (must dictate reps)22:39 Lomu + Freeling: youth, development runway, projection outcomes Next tier + developmental tackle bets 23:12 Markel Bell (Miami): size/length profile + path to starting25:39 Dane’s view on Bell: just outside top 100 + Senior Bowl context29:25 Arm-length discussion + historical comps (Dawand/long-arm database)31:33 Late bloomer theme (Aamil Wagner example)32:02 Max Iheanachor (Arizona State): late-to-football profile, upside vs readiness33:12 How high is too high to draft a developmental tackle?36:45 Day 3 darts: Isaiah World / Diego Pounds / Crownover38:34 Crownover: Senior Bowl helped; why he rose for you39:10 Aamil Wagner (Notre Dame): swing tackle path; traits/length/“lose slowly” profile41:48 Penn State OL disappointment; Drew Shelton note; Bowery’s Senior Bowl struggles Interior OL: guards/centers with payoff 42:41 Chase Bisontis (Texas A&M): strength profile + movement/processing upside43:12 “Strongest player he’s ever coached” quote + what shows/doesn’t on film46:13 Bisontis: leverage/technique vs recovery skills; why his ceiling is intriguing48:24 Two upside guards: Keylan Rutledge (GT) + Billy Schrauth (ND)49:06 Schrauth: leverage/power/athletic traits; health is the swing factor50:47 Rutledge: brawler temperament; Senior Bowl versatility reps (incl. center)52:16 Rutledge medical backstory + why Combine checks matter Popular name vs film reality 54:01 Gennings Dunker: personality buzz vs stiffness/limitations; likely guard projection56:21 Why NFL teams will still like him (mentality, hands, communication) Late-round interior favorite + Combine list reactions 57:47 Oklahoma IOL (Febechi Nwaiwu): walk-on story, processing, center projection59:45 Combine invite list: surprises + notable omissions (Rucci, others)1:02:05 Wrap + value of the Combine for finishing evals1:03:06 End + tease upcoming draft player interview

The 2025 NFL Offensive Line All-Pro Teams — and our Top 3 Protector of the Year Selections

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit trenchwarfare.substack.com [https://trenchwarfare.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] Each year, Duke Manyweather and I put together our NFL Offensive Line All-Pro teams — 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Team — and for the first time in 2025, our Protector of the Year Award selections. This show represents the culmination of another season spent studying the position full-time: grinding film, trading daily notes, and working to quantify what actually shows up on Sundays. Our goal is simple — do right by the offensive line. Put in the work, shine a light on the position, and elevate the players who truly define it. We take the process seriously. And we still have a lot of fun doing it.Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome + framing the annual OL All-Pro show01:00 – All-Pro criteria: snaps, starts, and why thresholds matter03:40 – Why this year’s OL evaluations were tighter than usual 05:20 – 1st Team All-Pro: Left Tackle08:35 – 2nd & 3rd Team: Left Tackle 14:50 – Left Guard All-Pro Teams (1st–3rd Team) 25:35 – Center All-Pro Teams (1st–3rd Team) 36:20 – Right Guard All-Pro Teams (1st–3rd Team) 44:50 – Right Tackle All-Pro Teams (1st–3rd Team) ~58:00 – Protector of the Year Award (Top 3)~64:30 – Final thoughts + season wrap-up

Special episode recapping key trench matchups from Week 1 with Terron Armstead

Former Saints and Dolphins LT Terron Armstead has a new YouTube channel and show titled ‘The Set [https://www.youtube.com/@T-Stead]’ airing every Monday and Thursday this season. Terron asked me to join him for a segment every Monday to recap key trench matchups of the week which I am very excited for. You can find this segment in video form airing every Monday on Terron’s channel beginning in Week 2. Here’s the backstory on why the Week 1 edition is airing here: After Week 1 we hit a snag in scheduling so I wound up recording the video for Terron to give his producer to edit and get up on his channel. Unfortunately, the audio did not match up with the video and since Terron only does video (for now) the file became unusable, until now. After realizing that the audio itself was uncorrupted and full of valuable insight and analysis, I asked Terron if I could post it on my channels which he graciously agreed to. That brings me to this episode. Terron is the host speaking as if this will be airing on his channel before we get into the good stuff:The three Tyler’s in Dallas (Guyton, Smith and Booker) against the Eagles front Commanders LT Laremy Tunsil vs. Giants edge-rushers Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter Lions RT Penei Sewell vs. Packers edge-rusher Micah Parsons Titans LT Dan Moore vs. Broncos edge-rusher Nik Bonitto If you want to hear Terron and I break down key trench matchups all season make sure to go check out his channel here [https://www.youtube.com/@T-Stead]. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit trenchwarfare.substack.com/subscribe [https://trenchwarfare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Trench Warfare Podcast with special guest Commanders O-Line coach Bobby Johnson

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit trenchwarfare.substack.com [https://trenchwarfare.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] Commanders OL coach Bobby Johnson has spent the last 15 years coaching the tight end and offensive line positions in the NFL. He is coming off of a stellar season in Washington where he, along with head coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, joined forces as recently fired coaches who had never worked together to assemble a stunningly impressive 2024 campaign. The Commanders posted a 12-5 record and appeared in the NFC Championship against the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles. Overview - Topics covered The legacy of NFL coaches from Ohio The value of being able to coach the defensive line early in his coaching career at Akron Understanding fronts, coverages, rotations and how to think like a defensive lineman How coaching tight ends at the collegiate and pro level furthered an understanding of coverages as it relates to blocking schemes Unpacking the unique skill-sets of Marcedes Lewis and Lee Smith What “tough and smart” means in a practical sense and why it is vital for the offensive line Some epic examples of these traits from Lee Smith, Dominic Raiola, Jon Feliciana and Matt Slauson Unpacking “Making it easy for us and difficult for them” as a coaching philosophy Evolving as a coach and the constant pursuit of improvement Leadership 101: Accentuating the strengths of your players and minimizing the weaknesses Specific examples of how coach Johnson has done that during his career Diving into coach Johnson’s affinity and proximity to players with legendary toughness and their value to the room Coach Johnson’s strategy for communication to the players in Washington that helped lead to them developing cohesion and chemistry throughout the season Drawing on prior experiences and relationships to coach each playe