I think the biggest blame should go to o line, I feel like half the league has abysmal lines
O line play is terrible these days. There just are not enough humans that have the size and athleticism to handle the freakish athletes that play d line in the nfl.
And it’s only going to get worse. The physical toll it takes to be a good OL is insane. You’re putting your body through eating hell, trying to maintain a 300+ pound frame, and you hope you can have a career that lasts longer than 1-2 years? That’s insanity. Starting at the lowest levels, no parent is trying to put their kid through that when there are other options on the field.
I’ve heard speculation that part of the reason O-Line play isn’t as good is because during the last Collective Bargaining Agreement there’s stipulations against live o-line vs d-line drills. This might even mean they can’t work on basic fundamentals like pad level, footwork, positioning even at 1/2 speed.
I assumed the poor o line play was the reason for soft holding calls (no idea if that’s true I just feel like a lot of angry comments on game threads are on d line getting held all game)
Seems like you’re only getting a holding call on an outside run or a blown up scramble where the OL gets caught trying to change direction and grabs his man from the side
