Playing Center in the NFL - Article in the New York Times

[WestCoastJoe]

Interesting article about the importance of the center in calling blocking assignments, etc.

We have been blessed with the BC Lions over the years: Al Wilson, Jamie Taras, Angus Reid.

Like the quarterback, centers need more than just physical skills. They need to play a very cerebral game and communicate a lot of information during a game.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/02/sport ... nted=print
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September 2, 2007 N.F.L. 2007 Preview

As Line’s Choreographer, Center Holds Key to Success

By CLIFTON BROWN

Crouched and holding a football between his legs, a center in the N.F.L. faces crucial split-second decisions before each snap.

What formation is the defense in? Is the line about to stunt? Is a blitz coming? Where will it come from? Do I need to change our blocking assignments?

Those questions and many others race through the mind of a center, who plays the most cerebral offensive line position. He is the choreographer of the line, giving verbal and nonverbal commands that determine his team’s blocking schemes. It takes a strong personality to play the position, because when a center makes a mental mistake, a defender can be left unblocked, leading to a quarterback or a running back being smashed in the backfield.

It is not a coincidence that last season’s Super Bowl teams had a Pro Bowl center — Jeff Saturday of the Indianapolis Colts and Olin Kreutz of the Chicago Bears. Many fans do not appreciate a center’s importance. Teammates and coaches do.

“To play center, you have to be mentally tough, able to handle stress and able to handle a lot of multitasking,â€

[WestCoastJoe]

Al Wilson

Jamie Taras

Angus Reid

That is quite a legacy we have of centers who have played for the BC Lions.

[Robbie]

But with Jamie Taras, I think most people remember him more as a guard than as a center. For the Lions all-time dream team, he was selected as a guard.

What do you think of Lions centers:

Ian Hagemoen, who was center during the 1964 Grey Cup win?
Ian Sinclair, who served as center for 11 seasons and played 180 games with the team?

[WestCoastJoe]

Oh yes, I was quick in writing down the first 3 names and the list is too short.

I would also add Gary Schwertfeger. I was looking at the film of the 1964 Grey Cup win by the Lions. Schwertfeger blew huge holes in the middle of the Ticats defense.

When I started coaching junior high school football he was the head coach of the senior team.