Trench Warfare

By Brandon Thorn

In-depth discussion and insight into the world of OL/DL play with Brandon Thorn and guests from around the football world.

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FAQs about Trench Warfare:

How many episodes does Trench Warfare have?

The podcast currently has 29 episodes available.

Trench Warfare episodes:

June 17, 2025 Trench Warfare Podcast with special guest Commanders O-Line coach Bobby Johnson
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit trenchwarfare.substack.com

Commanders OL coach Bobby Johnson has spent the last 15 years coaching the tight end and offensive line positions in the NFL. He is coming off of a stellar season in Washington where he, along with head coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, joined forces as recently fired coaches who had never worked together to assemble a stunningly impressive 2024 campaign. The Commanders posted a 12-5 record and appeared in the NFC Championship against the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles.
Overview - Topics covered
The legacy of NFL coaches from Ohio
The value of being able to coach the defensive line early in his coaching career at Akron
Understanding fronts, coverages, rotations and how to think like a defensive lineman
How coaching tight ends at the collegiate and pro level furthered an understanding of coverages as it relates to blocking schemes
Unpacking the unique skill-sets of Marcedes Lewis and Lee Smith
What “tough and smart” means in a practical sense and why it is vital for the offensive line
Some epic examples of these traits from Lee Smith, Dominic Raiola, Jon Feliciana and Matt Slauson
Unpacking “Making it easy for us and difficult for them” as a coaching philosophy
Evolving as a coach and the constant pursuit of improvement
Leadership 101: Accentuating the strengths of your players and minimizing the weaknesses
Specific examples of how coach Johnson has done that during his career
Diving into coach Johnson’s affinity and proximity to players with legendary toughness and their value to the room
Coach Johnson’s strategy for communication to the players in Washington that helped lead to them developing cohesion and chemistry throughout the season
Drawing on prior experiences and relationships to coach each playe
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39min
May 30, 2025 Trench Warfare Podcast with special guest Bills O-Line coach Aaron Kromer
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit trenchwarfare.substack.com

Offensive line play has gotten more attention and credit over the last few seasons than anytime I can remember over the last decade of studying the position due to the unit’s repeated and undeniable impact on team success in the NFL. Naturally, getting to sit down and learn from Aaron Kromer, who has been one of the architects of great line play for ove…
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21min
May 12, 2025 Trey Smith's 2024 Highlights & Outlook
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit trenchwarfare.substack.com

Kansas City Chiefs right guard Trey Smith enters his fifth career season with 80 career starts (67 regular season/13 playoff) under his belt, only one missed game over that span and two Super Bowl rings. He’s coming off his first Pro Bowl selection in 2024. The Chiefs placed the franchise tag on him this off-season ($23.4M guaranteed), which gives them …
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8min
January 01, 2025 2024 OL All-Pro Teams with Duke Manyweather
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit trenchwarfare.substack.com

Duke and I selecting our first, second and third-team All-Pro teams with detailed discussions on each player and landscape of the position
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15min
October 31, 2024 2024 Midseason OL All-Pro Teams and more with Duke Manyweather
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit trenchwarfare.substack.com

Video version:
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1h 6min
October 23, 2024 Trench Report - Week 7
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit trenchwarfare.substack.com

Topics covered this week
Eagles OL with multiple backups dominating (a bad Giants run defense) in the run game
Frank Ragnow dominating Harrison Phillips
Terron Armstead & Aaron Brewer as run blockers
The Chiefs elite, tier one interior trio
Arizona’s dynamic run game
Amarius Mims
Tristan Wirfs brilliance
Graham Barton putting on a show against very good competition
Spencer Brown’s developmental journey
Jared Verse is a menace
The Titans problematic right tackle position
49ers concerns on the interior defensive line
Tyron Smith’s over reliance on his outside hand getting him into trouble again
Texans continued issues at center/left guard and potential fixes
The Giants dramatic drop-off at left tackle without Andrew Thomas + a possible answer
Panthers’ bottom-feeder defensive line
Video version:
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45min
October 16, 2024 Trench Report - Week 6
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit trenchwarfare.substack.com

Topics covered this week
Trent Williams unmatched physical prowess
Rashawn Slater’s dominant return to the lineup
Tristan Wirfs’ dominant performance against the Saints
Patrick Mekari/Daniel Faalele
Jackson Powers-Johnson’s aggressive demeanor and flashes of power continue to be notable
Sam Cosmi’s ascension and standout game against Nnamdi Madubuike
Andrew Thomas vs. Trey Hendrickson
Dion Dawkins vs. Michael Clemons
Seattle’s disastrous right side
Nick Allegretti
Roger Rosengarten
Blake Fisher, Juice Scruggs & Kenyon Green struggles
Taliese Fuaga’s repeated struggles in pass protection
Adding context to Joel Bitonio and Zack Martin’s struggles in Week 6
Adding context to the Cowboys struggles on the OL
Amarius Mims’ underwhelming start
Tyron Smith’s struggles
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47min
October 09, 2024 First Look at the 2025 O-Line Class with Dane Brugler
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit trenchwarfare.substack.com

Players discussed:LSU OTs Will Campbell & Emery Jones Jr.
Texas OTs Kelvin Banks Jr. & Cameron Williams
Ohio State LT Josh Simmons
Ohio State LG Donovan Jackson
Minnesota LT Aireontae Ersery
Arizona RT Jonah Savaiinaea
Alabama LG Tyler Booker
Georgia RG Tate Ratledge
Oregon OTs Josh Conerly Jr. & Ajani Cornelius
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1h 7min
October 03, 2024 Trench Report - Week 4
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit trenchwarfare.substack.com

A rundown of my weekly film study with a focus on the best/worst performances and adding context to each selection, including level of competition, outside factors & more
Topics covered this week
Cam Heyward
Zach Frazier vs Grover Stewart
Quinn Meinerz on double-teams
Vikings pass protection plan
Cody Mauch vs Jalen Carter
Jackson Powers-Johnson first start
Ronnie Stanley
JC Latham
Bears pass protection plan vs Rams
Adding much-needed context to the performance of the Commanders O-line
Jared Verse
Wanya Morris
Amarius Mims
Kenyon Green
Eagles O-line without Lane Johnson
Saints interior OL
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33min
September 26, 2024 Trench Report - Week 3
Topics covered this week
Chris Lindstrom vs. Chris Jones
Quenton Nelson
Will Fries
Zach Frazier
Zion Johnson
Broncos DL
JC Latham
Dion Dawkins
Spencer Brown
Rams rookie DL Verse/Fiske
Brandon Coleman
Saints OL moving forward
Browns OL
Chargers OL/Slater (pec) & Alt (MCL) getting hurt
Bucs OGs
Titans right side of OL
Cody Whitehair
Bengals IDL
Andrew Thomas
True Pressure Rate introduction/methodology/overview

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit trenchwarfare.substack.com/subscribe
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49min

FAQs about Trench Warfare:

How many episodes does Trench Warfare have?

The podcast currently has 29 episodes available.