Rocket fuel
It's a typical sweltering mid-summer Tuesday at Slippery Rock High.
Football players mill into the school to get in some offseason work.
Only the workout on this day is anything but typical for the offensive lineman — the fuel that fires the Rockets' explosive offense.
Instead of lifting weights, the linemen lift tires, cement blocks, giant stones and medicine balls — anything but traditional barbells and dumbells.
It's a strongman challenge gone wild and the mastermind of Lou DeJulia, a licensed physical trainer and teacher in the school district.
And the linemen love it.
“It's a lot of fun,” said 6-foot-2, 240-pound senior lineman Camren Neal. “It works your entire body all at once. It's definitely helped the line a lot.”
Colten Raabe, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound senior lineman, said the unorthodox workouts helped break the monotony of the summer.
“It's exciting,” Raabe said. “It's what Coach DeJulia does. He likes to change things up.”
Nothing is normal about the line play at Slippery Rock and in head coach Brendan Hathaway's flexbone attack.
Linemen in that offense have to be agile, strong and smart.
It's a combination that tests even the most versed and fit athlete in the trenches.
“It's a lot mental because they have to figure out what the defense is doing,” Hathaway said about the line. “We try to keep it simple, but defenses can make it difficult on the linemen by moving around and stunting. They have to understand, first, their roles and then, secondly, how their roles change based on what the defense is giving us.”
The linemen in many ways have to be like a quarterback, reading and diagnosing a defense pre-snap.“Maybe even more so because they are reading two people where the quarterback sometimes only has to read one,” Hathaway said. “They have a tough job up there, but having the senior leadership on the line will certainly help.”Raabe is entering his third year as a starter up front. Neal also has a lot of experience and senior Blake Heller, who shuffled between tight end and center last season, will play predominantly at center this year.There is an open competition at the other two spots with a slew of guys in the mix.“We have three seniors who really know what's going on,” Hathaway said. “We have two spots up for grabs right now, but we feel pretty good about the guys who are fighting for those positions. I'm sure they're all going to get playing time.”Versatility is stressed from the players up front.“Every lineman needs to know every position, so if one guy goes down, someone else can move over and fill in,” Neal said.The linemen in the flexbone also attack.And attack. And attack.It's as style that brings a smile to Heller's face, who at 6-foot and only 170 pounds is quite small for a typical big guy up front.“You never hear a coach tell you to lay back,” Heller said. “You have to be fast and you have to be determined.”All it takes is one good block and six points could quickly roll up on the scoreboard.That's because behind that line is a stable of thoroughbreds that are dangerous once they find a crease.How dangerous?Slippery Rock averaged 9.8 yards per carry and scored 55 touchdowns on the ground last season. The Rockets rushed for a staggering 4,437 yards and speedster Ryan Lauster averaged 18.9 yards per rushing attempt.That's all the motivation the linemen need.“Oh, it's awesome. I love blocking for those guys,” Raabe said through a huge smile.“If we make one good block,” Neal added, “they're going to make a 95-yard run.”Playing offensive line isn't glamorous in any offense.But in this one, the rewards are evident in the final score each Friday.Behind quarterback Jake Whitmer, wingback brothers Ryan Lauster and Travis Lauster, and a slew of quick running backs and big, physical receivers, Slippery Rock averaged 48 points per game during its 10-0 regular season romp.The linemen get their joy in seeing the back of their teammate running toward the end zone.“When you see a Lauster brother running in the open field for a touchdown,” Heller said, smiling, “It's all worth it.”
