Former NU HC Callahan has joined his son, who became the Titans HC, as the OL coach. Callahan has long been considered one of the best OL coaches in the business.
Callahan invented a padded blocking sled he refers to as "Bertha". The idea is the blocking sled does NOT move unless it is struck with the proper degree of angle from the OLman.
Seems like a really cool concept, and prove to be helpful in teaching a "perfect angle into contact". For example, the helmet and forearm placement as well as degree of angle and width of the feet an OLman needs to really drive a DLman backwards.
The short clip I watched was rookie lineman Latham, from Alabama, 6'4" 342 striking Bertha with the sled not moving, he then made a slight change in body angle and he then moved the sled. If nothing else, he is imposing more direct physical force on Bertha.
Time will tell if it is effective, but I could envision NU buying a dozen or so of this unit, and working the OL as a unit on specific plays which call for drive blocking. Maybe 6 sleds across the line from the OL and a TE and potentially teach each lineman the perfect angle they need to "get into" a DLmen's pads in order to move it.
Doesn't seem as though the OL coach actually has to "teach" the perfect angle, seems Bertha requires it in order to move.
Say the TE, LT, LG move the sled to their left and the C, LG, and LT move the sled to the right to create a hole in the middle, etc, etc.
Seems to me like something that might revoulutionize OL blocking. The issue being the DLmen are not stationary, but moving targets. However, once the OLman gets into contact, it would improve the total unit. Nothing would say you couldn't have the OLmen lined up slightly left or right of Bertha to simulate a DLmen who shifts either direction prior to the snap.
Obviously, a Teddy or Bryce at 6'9" or so would need a much sharper angle into contact than the 6'2" - 6'6" guys. Then the issue becomes striking a DLmen who might be 6'3" or 6'7" comes into play. Seems like the benefit would be by "feel."
I say NU buys a dozen of them bad boys. If Rhule, who loves teaching Offensive Linemen think they have application, I would not be surprised to see him tell the AD to pony up the money.
