tony hipchest
10-18-2006, 12:31 PM
(Editor's note: For nine years, I have written the Unsung Heroes column during the season to bring attention to the people behind the scenes that help make some of the extraordinary things happen in the NFL on any given weekend. At the end of the year, the Unsung Hero of the Year is presented a trophy made in the name of Chip Myers, a longtime NFL assistant coach and former player who passed away just days after he was elevated to his first coordinator's position with the Minnesota Vikings. Chip was well respected by everyone in the coaching ranks and embodied all the virtues assistant coaches need to be successful. He was humble, a good teacher, a loyal friend and a tireless worker.)
(Oct. 17, 2006) -- Well, Week 6 is over and every game in the NFL for all six weeks have been sold out. The product is pretty darn good, and this week it is time to recognize the coach on the staff that is responsible for the largest number of players on the field, and the guy no one recognizes at a restaurant or even outside the stadium.
The NFL offensive line coach is responsible for five starting linemen, the tight end and the fullback in the blocking schemes. No coach is more important and no coach is more obscure than the guy in charge of the hogs up front. If this coach does a bad job, his team will not score a point and the quarterback will wind up in the hospital. Here are six line coaches who did an outstanding job in Week 6's games.
Russ Grimm has made Bill Cowher's offense like Denver's where you can plug in any RB for success.
Russ Grimm, offensive line coach for the Steelers: The Steelers came alive against the Chiefs, which at the time was a highly rated defense. In the first half alone, Pittsburgh generated 372 yards after averaging 281 a contest. The line did a great job of opening holes to the tune of 219 rushing yards and protecting Ben Roethlisberger for another 238 yards of passing. Starting guard Kendall Simmons had to miss the game for medical reasons, which created stress for Grimm's group. But they played "Steelers" ball all game long and wound up winning 45-7. Grimm was a great player during his time, and now in his 15th year of NFL coaching, he is on track to be a head coach someday.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9735054 (for the rest of the o line coaches he recognizes)
(Oct. 17, 2006) -- Well, Week 6 is over and every game in the NFL for all six weeks have been sold out. The product is pretty darn good, and this week it is time to recognize the coach on the staff that is responsible for the largest number of players on the field, and the guy no one recognizes at a restaurant or even outside the stadium.
The NFL offensive line coach is responsible for five starting linemen, the tight end and the fullback in the blocking schemes. No coach is more important and no coach is more obscure than the guy in charge of the hogs up front. If this coach does a bad job, his team will not score a point and the quarterback will wind up in the hospital. Here are six line coaches who did an outstanding job in Week 6's games.
Russ Grimm has made Bill Cowher's offense like Denver's where you can plug in any RB for success.
Russ Grimm, offensive line coach for the Steelers: The Steelers came alive against the Chiefs, which at the time was a highly rated defense. In the first half alone, Pittsburgh generated 372 yards after averaging 281 a contest. The line did a great job of opening holes to the tune of 219 rushing yards and protecting Ben Roethlisberger for another 238 yards of passing. Starting guard Kendall Simmons had to miss the game for medical reasons, which created stress for Grimm's group. But they played "Steelers" ball all game long and wound up winning 45-7. Grimm was a great player during his time, and now in his 15th year of NFL coaching, he is on track to be a head coach someday.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9735054 (for the rest of the o line coaches he recognizes)