Coach,

This week we highlight the offensive line at Toledo. Toledo has the #3 ranked rushing team in the country averaging 248.7 yards per game.  They also have the #1 ranked team in sacks allowed.  They have only allowed 2 sacks on the season.  

For me, this comes as no surprise.  I had the opportunity to coach against Offensive Coordinator/OL Coach Mike Hallett when he was the head coach at Heidelberg University.  He always had gritty offensive lines and they ran the ball very well.  In fact, they still hold the single game rushing record with 465 Cartell Brooks in 2013.  

Mike is old school in his approach with a focus on executing the fundamentals very well. Here's an example of that as Coach Hallett explaining how they work the Lag Hand in protection:

Video: Lag Hand

Do you have issues on offensive linemen keeping their feet going?  Coach Hallett explains a drill that has been helpful for him in a 2 on 1 base block drill in which he uses 2 defensive guys against 1 offensive lineman which forces them to work their feet correctly while keeping the correct posture and hip engagement.

Video: What drills do you run to keep feet moving in zone

Those are a couple quick examples that show the details that Coach Hallett puts into his teaching.  Good luck to Coach Hallett and the Rockets the rest of the way!

Here are a few other notable performances in the first half of the season:

FBS

Liberty #2 Rushing 255.2 - Bill Durkin 

UCF #5 Rushing 246.3 -  Herb Hand

Kansas #6 Rushing 232.3 - Scott Fuchs

Tennessee #7 rushing 231.2 - Glen Elarbee

FCS

Montana State #1 322.4 - Taylor Housewright

Davidson #2 313 - Scott Abell

NDSU #4 256.6 - Tyler Roehl

DII

Ferris State #3 276.0 - Sam Parker 

Tiffin #6 256.8 - Cris Resiert

DIII

Springfield #1 404.3 - Tony Valentino

Have a great week of preparation!

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski