Quote:
Originally Posted by jTheUmp
As a former offensive lineman, I can tell you there's no advantage gained by offensive linemen encroaching on the NZ... in both pass and run blocking, I'd like the extra space to give myself time to maneuver into position between the snap and initiating the block on the defender. It's one of the reasons my least-favorite position was center, and one of the reasons why most o-line alignment problems are from players lining up too far back from the NZ.
D-linemen, on the other hand, usually want to get as close to the NZ as possible, because it puts them that much closer to the QB/runner and helps them disrupt the blocker before he can get his initial steps completed.
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As a line coach I can tell you that sometimes there would be an advantage for an OL to line up in the neutral zone. There are tactical reasons for lining up as far back as possible, and also for lining up as far forward as possible, and different systems of offense produce different preferences on that. If you could line up in the neutral zone, you could get a better angle on blocks against DL on either side of you. And that's to say nothing of the advantages the offense could gain if some of their players could line up several yards in advance of the neutral zone!