ITS COLD IN THE TRENCHES

IF YOU HAVEN’T HEARD OF CRYOTHERAPY, IT INVOLVES GETTING INTO A CHAMBER THAT GOES DOWN TO FREEZING TEMPERATURES TO IMPROVE MUSCULAR SORENESS. THIS HAS SIMILAR THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS AS AN ICE BATH. I’M NOT GONNA LIE, IF YOU HAVE NEVER DONE AN ICE BATH OR CRYOTHERAPY, IT’S COLD AS HELL. BUT 100% WORTH IT BECAUSE YOU FEEL BETTER AFTER. STAYING IN COLD TEMPERATURES LIKE THIS (CRYO FOR 3 MINUTES, ICE BATH FOR 5-7 MINUTES) YOU CAN REDUCE THE PAIN FROM SORE MUSCLES. ONCE THIS PAIN IS REDUCED, YOU CAN PERFORM BETTER. IT HAS BEEN SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN THAT EVEN THE SLIGHTEST AMOUNT OF SORE PAIN CAN CAUSE SMALLER CONTRACTIONS OF YOUR MUSCLES. MEANING, LESS EXPLOSIVENESS, LESS STRENGTH, AND SLOWER SPEED IN YOUR GAME. SO IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A GOOD RECOVERY ROUTINE TO DO THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, ICE BATHS ARE A CHEAP VIABLE OPTION. IF YOU HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY LAYING AROUND, CRYOTHERAPY CAN GET YOU THE SAME RESULTS IN A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT. 

IF YOU AREN’T SORE, AND YOU WANT TO PREVENT SORENESS FROM OCCURRING SO YOU DON’T GO INTO A GAME SORE, ICE BATHS AND CRYOTHERAPY IS ALSO A GOOD OPTION. HOWEVER, YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO THIS MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK TO SEE TRUE BENEFIT. GOING ONCE A WEEK OR ONCE EVERY OTHER WEEK WON’T DO MUCH FOR YOU. I WOULD SUGGEST DOING IT MONDAY AND THURSDAY FOR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES. AND TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FOR COLLEGIATE ATHLETES. SO YOU CAN DO IT THE NIGHT BEFORE A GAME.

I PERSONALLY WOULD SUGGEST GETTING IN A HOT TUB PRIOR TO A GAME. THIS WILL HELP REDUCE PAIN BUT KEEP YOU WARM AND LOOSE FOR YOUR GAME. BUT THAT’S JUST MY PERSONAL PREFERENCE (AS A PLAYER NOT A DOCTOR). THE CHOICE IS YOURS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A SIMILAR AFFECT.

BAMA SPORTS SCIENCE - CRYOTHERAPY

WHY ALABAMA USES CRYOTHERAPY!

O-LINE TRENCH TACTICS

MY FAVORITE PLAYERS ON THE FIELD!!!! OFFENSIVE LINEMAN. GRINDING IN THE TRENCHES DAY IN AND DAY OUT. THE BLOODIEST BATTLE ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN AREN’T CARRYING THE BALL OR SCORING TOUCHDOWNS. YOUR JOB IS TO SERVE FOR YOUR TEAMMATES. IT’S A SELFLESS BLUE-COLLAR POSITION AND YOU HAVE THE MOST RESPECT FROM ME AND MANY OTHERS.

I WAS LISTENING TO A VIDEO WITH LECHARLES BENTLY AND HE SAID,

“YOU DON’T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE A GREAT ATHLETE. YOU JUST HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF THE PLAY AND HOW TO BE EFFECTIVE WITH YOUR BODY.”

OFFENSIVE LINE IS A TOUGH POSITION TRYING TO STOP THE MOMENTUM OF A PLAYER MOVING FORWARD THAT IS TYPICALLY MORE ATHLETIC WHILE YOU ARE MOVING BACKWARDS.

LOOK AT PLAYERS LIKE VON MILLER AND JADEVEON CLOWNEY. VON WAS A STATE CHAMPION HURDLER IN HIGH SCHOOL. WHILE CLOWNEY RAN A 4.5s 40-YARD DASH AT 270lbs IN THE COMBINE. FREAK ATHLETES COMING TO SACK THE QUARTERBACK. AND TYPICALLY, ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE, WE DON’T SEE THIS TYPE OF ATHLETICISM.

JESSE SAPOLU - SUPER BOWL CHAMPION O-LINEMAN LIKED TO USE DOWN AND DISTANCE TO HIS ADVANTAGE, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING UP AGAINST BIGGER AND FASTER PLAYERS.

MEANING, HE WOULD WATCH FILM AND SEE WHAT THE D-LINE WOULD DO ON DIFFERENT DOWN AND DISTANCES. WHEN IT WAS 1^ST AND 10, HE NOTICED HESITANCE FROM SOME OF THE D LINEMAN, BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO PLAY THE RUN. THIS IS WHERE HE COULD JUMP THEM AND GET IN CONTACT.

IF IT WAS 3^RD AND LONG, HE KNOWS THAT THIS IS THEIR MONEY DOWN. THIS IS WHERE THEY ARE COMING IN HARD TO GET A SACK AND YOU CAN USE THIS KNOWLEDGE TO YOUR BEST ADVANTAGE.

WITH THIS, YOU CAN CUT THE GAME ALMOST IN HALF WHEN YOU PLAY WITH THIS LEVEL OF IQ FROM THE FILM. 

AS FAR AS TECHNIQUE PLAYS A ROLE, HALL OF FAME OFFENSIVE LINEMAN JOE THOMAS, LIKED TO USE A TECHNIQUE OF OUTSIDE HAND ON OUTSIDE SHOULDER PAD AND THE INSIDE HAND ON THE INSIDE CHEST OF THE D LINEMAN. NOW, HE CAN PULL THE DEFENDER INTO HIM IF HES TRYING TO DISENGAGE AND USUALLY IF HE HAS THEM IN TIGHT, THAT HAND ON THE DEFENDER’S OUTSIDE SHOULDER PAD DOESN’T ALLOW THEM TO GET AWAY AND DISENGAGE OR PUT AN ARM UP TO SEPARATE AND SHOW YOU’RE HOLDING.