When you think about desirable attributes of a successful offensive line the first to usually come to mind is physicality followed by sound technique and then somewhere down the line communication will be mentioned. Ask new Marshall offensive line coach Alex Mirabal and he’ll reverse that order.
“Our number one objective is to communicate and all be on the same page,” Mirabal emphasized. “We’re either all going to be right together or wrong together. After that is technique and physicality.”
“He’s all about communication first, then technique, then physicality,” said center Chris Jasperse.
It may sound like a bit of a departure from the normal thinking but each aspect of the game, technique, physicality, and communication, compliments the other and all are necessary to be a dominant unit. All five positions on the line must know who to block, when to pass off a defender, must make snap decisions and trust that the man next them is on the same page. That all requires communication and starts with the quarterback of the offensive line, center Chris Jasperse.
“He gives me a lot more freedom up front to make different calls,” explained Jasperse. “If I tell the guys to go one way at least we’re all going that way.”
Jasperse is right, at least if the line is all going in the wrong direction they should still be able to put a hat on a hat open a running lane for Kevin Grooms, Steward Butler, or Remi Watson, that is if the line is working as a cohesive unit. That has been a luxury for The Herd over the last three seasons as key players have battled injuries and at times patching the line together with five healthy bodies has been a challenge.
“I’d like to have a cohesive unit where it’s the same five guys in the same five spots, that way they can master their trade at that spot otherwise you become a jack of all trades and a master of none,” Mirabal explained.
While Mirabal is not the most physically imposing figure he has quickly gained the respect of his plays through his knowledge of the game and his skill as a teacher.
“He’s a great teacher. He told us to take the drills and use them in live situations. We do those for a reason. We have to take the stuff we learn at the beginning at practice and apply it during team practice,” said Jasperse.
“Just because you didn’t play in the NFL or major Division I football does not mean you can’t teach or you can’t coach,” said Mirabal. “There are a lot of guys with doctorate degrees who can’t teach a lick in the classroom.”
Mirabal has been pleased with the line’s work so far in spring drills but is by no means satisfied.
“They listen, listening is a skill just like running and lifting, I think listening is a skill and they do a tremendous job of listening and applying what they’re told,” praised Mirabal. “We’re by no means perfect but the effort is perfect and that’s what matters most.”