Trench Warfare

Live with Ben Standig and Brandon Thorn

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Pass Pro Lab: Lane Johnson + The Choreography of Elite Pass Protection

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] Eagles RT Lane Johnson joins me for a 50+ minute Pass Pro Lab film room studying tape against Khalil Mack, Micah Parsons, T.J. Watt, Nick Bosa, Danielle Hunter and others while discussing how elite tackles solve problems. This conversation goes beyond individual matchups. Johnson explains how quarterback landmarks, route concepts, alignment, cadence and pass-set choreography all influence protection and why many younger offensive linemen make the game harder than it needs to be. Topics include: • Lane's evolution as a pass protector from 2017 to today• Jeff Stoutland's influence and entering Year 13 with a new OL coach• Khalil Mack, Micah Parsons, T.J. Watt, Nick Bosa and Danielle Hunter• Why Lane studied Laremy Tunsil's approach vs Micah Parsons• Change-ups, jump sets and manipulating rushers• Route concepts + QB landmarks shaping pass protection• Pre-snap tells, stance discipline and the "game within the game"• Why elite pass protection is often choreographed before contact ever occurs• And Lane's advice for younger tackles entering the league Originally recorded as a film-room conversation, portions reference specific tape and visuals, though the discussion stands on its own as a detailed look into how one of the NFL's premier tackles studies and plays the position. Full video + timestamps available on Substack.

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