Hambone wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 6:00 pm
Blitz wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 12:01 pm
Switching from the left side to the right side or vice versa is a huge change for any offensive lineman. It involves a different stance, different lead foot, different drop foot on pass protection, different punch hand, etc.
Jovan Olifioye was a rare exception. He started out winning a CFL West All-Star Award as a 22 year old rookie tackle on one side of the OL then switched to the other side the following year to start a streak of 6 straight CFL All-Star Awards. Conversely when LT Rob Murphy headed to Toronto in free agency in 2009 his bookend RT Jason Jiminez was asked about switching from RT to LT to replace Murph. Jiminez said he didn't think it was a good idea as the transition would be difficult for all the reason you suggest. He was in his comfort zone on the right side and had zero interest in switching.
As a relatively mediocre plumber calibre rec and oldtimer hockey player and right hand shot I was always much more comfortable playing RW or RD. Some guys had no problem playing the off-side. Some preferred it. Me? Turns were different. Receiving and giving passes was different. I could do most of that on the forehand on the right side but had to do most on the backhand on the left side. There were some years where I had to play LW. I'd eventually adapt but it usually took at least a dozen games to finally feel somewhat comfortable there.
You are most perceptive Hambone that Jovan Olifoye was a rare exception who was able to switch so successfully from the right side to the left side of the offensive line. Olifoye actually began hisLeo days as a starting right guard. Its a very challenging thing to switch from one side to the other. Its even more difficult to switch from right tackle to left tackle.
In all liklihood, I have been a much more mediocre plumber calibre hockey player than you state you are Hambone (and I am on the injured list to boot with a torn meniscus) but differently than you I played center and left wing while being a right handed shot. So I was used to taking passes on my backhand and enjoyed the ability to cut into the center of the ice. On the rare occasions that I played right wing, it felt as if I was in prison, in comparison, with the moves of a Ronnie Ellis.
But the key to your point is that you shared your actual experience in playing a sport and switching to the other side. From switch hitting in fastball or baseball to playing one wing or the other in hockey, to playing one side of the line or the other in football, its much more challenging than most people assume.
In football, the same is true for defensive end play, cornerback, etc. - switching sides is a challenge. Now have you finally got rid of that right handed slapshot Hambone?
"When I went to Catholic high school in Philadelphia, we just had one coach for football and basketball. He took all of us who turned out and had us run through a forest. The ones who ran into the trees were on the football team". (George Raveling)