Trench Warfare

Jon Ledyard & Brandon Thorn discuss the Bears trade for Jeffery Simmons, the Seahawks deal for Quenton Nelson, the state of the Colts OL, best guards in NFL and the 49ers acquiring DeForest Buckner. Then the guys look through Jeremy Fowler’s potential trades article to discuss other DL/OL who could be on the move before the trade deadline.

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Pass Pro Lab: Greg Van Roten

Greg Van Roten joins me for the latest Pass Pro Lab to break down his approach to pass protection and some of the techniques that have helped him make 105 career starts after entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Penn.

We get into dictating the start of the rush, his up-kick and outside-hand usage, changing up sets, playing with help, handling games and why pass protection should not be passive. Van Roten also breaks down reps against Fletcher Cox, Quinnen Williams, Jalen Carter, Chris Jones, Dexter Lawrence and others.

We also discuss what he learned from players like Josh Sitton, Andrew Norwell and Trai Turner, his path from Green Bay to the CFL and back to the NFL, learning from Jeff Saturday and Ryan Kalil, and how working under different offensive line coaches helped him build a much deeper technical tool bag over the course of his career.

The conversation closes with Van Roten turning the questions back on me as we talk about offensive line evaluation, why assignment grading is so difficult from outside the building and why moving from tackle to guard is not automatically easier.

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Ted Karras joined me for the fourth episode of Pass Pro Lab to break down his 2025 pass-protection tape and discuss the details behind an 11-year NFL career.

Karras talks about entering the NFL as a sixth-round pick, learning under Dante Scarnecchia in New England, playing both guard and center, and how his approach to pass protection has evolved over the course of his career.

Using game film from the 2025 season, we discuss:

Pass protection philosophy

Staying square in protection

Handling twists and games

Helping guards from the center position

Strike timing and hand placement

Adjusting to different pass rushers

Scott Peters' influence

Weekly film study and preparation

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro

01:12 – Entering the NFL as a sixth-round pick

05:40 – Learning under Dante Scarnecchia

11:05 – "Know what you are"

18:10 – Bengals pass protection philosophy

20:35 – Cowboys film: staying square & handling twists

26:30 – Hand usage and strike timing

34:05 – Has NFL pass protection changed?

39:45 – Steelers film

49:15 – Scott Peters' influence

58:10 – Varying your approach by opponent

1:08:20 – Helping guards from center

1:17:30 – Weekly film study

1:25:45 – Preparing for Year 11

1:30:10 – Closing thoughts

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit trenchwarfare.substack.com

Longtime NFL analyst Greg Cosell joins Brandon Thorn for a discussion on how offensive structure shapes offensive line play.

The conversation centers on the environment around offensive linemen: scheme, quarterback play, pass-game design, protection structure, play action, quick game, movement, simulated pressures and the importance of third down.

Greg and Brandon discuss how quickly narratives around offensive linemen can change depending on system fit, using examples like Mike McGlinchey in Denver, Aaron Brewer in Miami, Coleman Shelton with the Rams, Jake Matthews and Chris Lindstrom in Atlanta, and others.

They also get into the quarterback’s role in offensive line evaluation, including timing, pocket depth, drifting, premature pocket exits, protection understanding and why not every pressure is truly an offensive line problem.

Other topics include:

• Greg’s 47 seasons at NFL Films• Learning quarterback play from Bill Walsh• How pass-game design can help or expose offensive linemen• Why third down remains the ultimate test for pass protection• The rise of five-man fronts and simulated pressures• How offensive systems can raise the floor for OL play• Evaluating raw traits versus polish in OL prospects• Monroe Freeling, Blake Miller and system-specific projection• Joe Thomas, Lane Johnson and elite tackle play• Why offensive line evaluation requires offensive context

The full video version, timestamps and additional content are available on Trench Warfare.

Host: Brandon ThornGuest: Greg CosellSeries: Trench Warfare

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Eagles RT Lane Johnson joins me for a 50+ minute Pass Pro Lab film room studying tape against Khalil Mack, Micah Parsons, T.J. Watt, Nick Bosa, Danielle Hunter and others while discussing how elite tackles solve problems.

This conversation goes beyond individual matchups.

Johnson explains how quarterback landmarks, route concepts, alignment, cadence and pass-set choreography all influence protection and why many younger offensive linemen make the game harder than it needs to be.

Topics include:

• Lane's evolution as a pass protector from 2017 to today• Jeff Stoutland's influence and entering Year 13 with a new OL coach• Khalil Mack, Micah Parsons, T.J. Watt, Nick Bosa and Danielle Hunter• Why Lane studied Laremy Tunsil's approach vs Micah Parsons• Change-ups, jump sets and manipulating rushers• Route concepts + QB landmarks shaping pass protection• Pre-snap tells, stance discipline and the "game within the game"• Why elite pass protection is often choreographed before contact ever occurs• And Lane's advice for younger tackles entering the league

Originally recorded as a film-room conversation, portions reference specific tape and visuals, though the discussion stands on its own as a detailed look into how one of the NFL's premier tackles studies and plays the position.

Full video + timestamps available on Substack.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit trenchwarfare.substack.com

Colts OL coach Tony Sparano Jr. joins me for a deep discussion on offensive line development, pass protection philosophy, scheme design and what truly separates elite offensive line play.

We discuss:

• Building the Colts OL room for 2026• Quenton Nelson's leadership and competitiveness• Bernhard Raimann, Tanner Bordelini, Matt Goncalves and Jalen Travis• How Indianapolis tailors scheme to player strengths• Shane Steichen, play action and protection design• Whether modern offenses have made life easier on OL• Developing offensive linemen with fewer padded practices• Simplifying teaching and building confidence• Two-hand vs independent hand usage in pass protection• Brayden Smith's hand technique and proactive striking• Why pass protection remains football's most difficult skill challenge• And why Sparano calls offensive line "the most collaborative position in sports."

Timestamps available on Substack.

Subscribe for full video access and future OL conversations, film rooms and trench-focused analysis.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit trenchwarfare.substack.com

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler joined me to break down the 2026 OL class — from top-ranked prospects to mid-tier value and late-round sleepers — with specific player-by-player takes throughout.

Key Takeaways

Why this class creates wide variance team-to-team (position drop-offs + similar grades).

The top OT/OG group: who has the safest floor vs the biggest ceiling bets.

Day 3/late-round OL profiles worth gambling on (traits, development arcs, role fits).

Timestamps

0:00 Intro + why now (Combine list week)0:46 Big-picture class feel: your OL grades vs Dane’s board (top 50/top 100)2:09 Why this draft is tough to rank (drop-offs, tight clusters, team need variance)4:46 “True 1st-round” OL: your 3 vs Dane’s 14 total 1st-round grades6:10 How the top OL order could vary (scheme/value context)

Top OL: early-round targets

7:13 Spencer Fano: movement, balance through contact, run game weaponization10:31 Utah context: heavy run scheme + projection/scheme fit questions11:43 Francis Mauigoa: clean tape early, exposed late; tackle vs guard projection14:31 “Maximized at guard” vs “survive at tackle” (Zack Martin-type framework)16:37 High-variance tackles with upside: Proctor / Lomu / Freeling18:57 Proctor: elite traits vs technique/discipline; positional leverage theme21:06 Why his current pass-pro style may not translate at 350+ (must dictate reps)22:39 Lomu + Freeling: youth, development runway, projection outcomes

Next tier + developmental tackle bets

23:12 Markel Bell (Miami): size/length profile + path to starting25:39 Dane’s view on Bell: just outside top 100 + Senior Bowl context29:25 Arm-length discussion + historical comps (Dawand/long-arm database)31:33 Late bloomer theme (Aamil Wagner example)32:02 Max Iheanachor (Arizona State): late-to-football profile, upside vs readiness33:12 How high is too high to draft a developmental tackle?36:45 Day 3 darts: Isaiah World / Diego Pounds / Crownover38:34 Crownover: Senior Bowl helped; why he rose for you39:10 Aamil Wagner (Notre Dame): swing tackle path; traits/length/“lose slowly” profile41:48 Penn State OL disappointment; Drew Shelton note; Bowery’s Senior Bowl struggles

Interior OL: guards/centers with payoff

42:41 Chase Bisontis (Texas A&M): strength profile + movement/processing upside43:12 “Strongest player he’s ever coached” quote + what shows/doesn’t on film46:13 Bisontis: leverage/technique vs recovery skills; why his ceiling is intriguing48:24 Two upside guards: Keylan Rutledge (GT) + Billy Schrauth (ND)49:06 Schrauth: leverage/power/athletic traits; health is the swing factor50:47 Rutledge: brawler temperament; Senior Bowl versatility reps (incl. center)52:16 Rutledge medical backstory + why Combine checks matter

Popular name vs film reality

54:01 Gennings Dunker: personality buzz vs stiffness/limitations; likely guard projection56:21 Why NFL teams will still like him (mentality, hands, communication)

Late-round interior favorite + Combine list reactions

57:47 Oklahoma IOL (Febechi Nwaiwu): walk-on story, processing, center projection59:45 Combine invite list: surprises + notable omissions (Rucci, others)1:02:05 Wrap + value of the Combine for finishing evals1:03:06 End + tease upcoming draft player interview

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit trenchwarfare.substack.com

Each year, Duke Manyweather and I put together our NFL Offensive Line All-Pro teams — 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Team — and for the first time in 2025, our Protector of the Year Award selections.

This show represents the culmination of another season spent studying the position full-time: grinding film, trading daily notes, and working to quantify what actually shows up on Sundays.

Our goal is simple — do right by the offensive line. Put in the work, shine a light on the position, and elevate the players who truly define it.

We take the process seriously. And we still have a lot of fun doing it.Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome + framing the annual OL All-Pro show01:00 – All-Pro criteria: snaps, starts, and why thresholds matter03:40 – Why this year’s OL evaluations were tighter than usual

05:20 – 1st Team All-Pro: Left Tackle08:35 – 2nd & 3rd Team: Left Tackle

14:50 – Left Guard All-Pro Teams (1st–3rd Team)

25:35 – Center All-Pro Teams (1st–3rd Team)

36:20 – Right Guard All-Pro Teams (1st–3rd Team)

44:50 – Right Tackle All-Pro Teams (1st–3rd Team)

~58:00 – Protector of the Year Award (Top 3)~64:30 – Final thoughts + season wrap-up

Former Saints and Dolphins LT Terron Armstead has a new YouTube channel and show titled ‘The Set’ airing every Monday and Thursday this season. Terron asked me to join him for a segment every Monday to recap key trench matchups of the week which I am very excited for. You can find this segment in video form airing every Monday on Terron’s channel beginning in Week 2.

Here’s the backstory on why the Week 1 edition is airing here: After Week 1 we hit a snag in scheduling so I wound up recording the video for Terron to give his producer to edit and get up on his channel. Unfortunately, the audio did not match up with the video and since Terron only does video (for now) the file became unusable, until now. After realizing that the audio itself was uncorrupted and full of valuable insight and analysis, I asked Terron if I could post it on my channels which he graciously agreed to.

That brings me to this episode. Terron is the host speaking as if this will be airing on his channel before we get into the good stuff:The three Tyler’s in Dallas (Guyton, Smith and Booker) against the Eagles front

Commanders LT Laremy Tunsil vs. Giants edge-rushers Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter

Lions RT Penei Sewell vs. Packers edge-rusher Micah Parsons

Titans LT Dan Moore vs. Broncos edge-rusher Nik Bonitto

If you want to hear Terron and I break down key trench matchups all season make sure to go check out his channel here.

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