Lessons Learned from a Very Nasty Lineman

[OldSchoolLion]

Conrad Dobler's claim to fame was his nastiness as an offensive lineman and "playing in the gray area."  He played the bulk of his career for the Cardinals in the 1970's.  The following video clip talks about his unorthodox/questionable style.  I am not glorifying dirty play here...look beyond that and there are some important, constructive lessons.    

 -Peristence and internal drive

-"Fight" every day in practice

-Make a play out of a bad one

-Get the opponent out of his game

-Adjust your game and develop your own style 

Sometimes elite athletes come up just a bit short on natural talent when it comes to size, speed, power, etc.  The great ones adjust.  Ben Askren was a great collegiate wrestler at the U of Missouri back in the early 2000's.  He did not have the speed to dominate his opponents, so he tended toward a style that many described as "funky,"  with unorthodox moves that utilized his strengths...scrambling.