For linemen, one-on-one drill can be most unforgiving, high-stakes part of training camp

FOXBOROUGH — To really appreciate what goes on in the corner of the practice field roughly halfway through each training camp session, you’d need the whole thing to unroll in slow motion, set it to Sam Spence/NFL Films music, and bring back John Facenda provide narration. It's that dramatic.

While the rest of the team runs through a series of different drills, the offensive and defensive linemen gather for what is probably the most bottom-line element to anything that’s done over the course of an NFL training camp: one-on-ones.

So what happens when the big fellas get down to business? It can be a defining moment for players on both sides of the ball.


First, some context: the one-on-ones have been a mainstay at camp for many years. (The occasional one-on-ones between Vince Wilfork and Logan Mankins were absolutely epic struggles.) Currently overseen by line coaches Brendan Daly and Dante Scarnecchia, it’s pretty simple — one defensive guy against one offensive guy, surrounded by teammates. The edge guys going against tackles, and guards and centers against the defensive tackles. The offensive lineman’s job is to hold off the rusher, while the defensive lineman is looking to get around him by any means necessary.

You blow the whistle, and it’s like something out of Thunderdome. Two men enter. One man leaves. A few seconds later, the whistle blows again, and it’s done. The winner? Whoever did the best job either advancing or defending his piece of land.

It’s tough, nasty work, compounded by the fact that it’s being done in 80- to 90-degree heat in full pads. In an era where padded practice time is at a premium, it’s become a very simple way to measure line play. (There’s a reason Greg keeps detailed charts on the winners and losers in each of the head-to-head matchups. It’s a good way to see how individual linemen are doing.)

While offensive line play can be considered a collective effort, you can be exposed in one-on-ones, both literally and figuratively. For guys who are at the end of their careers -- like when veteran Robert Gallery made an appearance in Foxborough in the summer of 2012 -- it's the sort of thing that can accelerate you into retirement. For younger guys getting their first taste of the NFL, it can be enough to make you ponder tapping out. If you get beat here, there’s nowhere to hide. And if you win, it’s another plus in your column in the race to land a roster spot.

In an unforgiving game, it's the most unforgiving drill an NFL lineman can endure.

“We’re in the trenches, and it’s all about warfare in the trenches,” explained defensive lineman Lawrence Guy.