It’s not easy playing offensive line in the NFL, moving backwards while blocking some of the NFL’s best athletes and pass rushers whose salary is directly tied to their ability to get after the quarterback. Stopping them has been Dylan Cook’s mission since switching from quarterback to offensive tackle in college, logging and impressing in his first NFL snaps last season.
In a recent conversation with former Steelers defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko, Cook described his technique and when to use one hand versus a two-handed punch.
“I’d say power versus speed,” Cook told Fehoko on his The Fehoko Show podcast. “If you got a speed rusher who’s a hand swiper? If you throw two hands and he swipes both of ’em, you’re screwed. But if he swipes one, you can get the second one on or you can reload because you’re not throwing all you got into it.”
But if you got a power rusher, one hand ain’t gonna stop him.”
It’s an idea common among offensive line coaches, but one especially held true by Pat Meyer, who was Cook’s offensive line coach his entire Steelers’ tenure until James Campen was hired this offseason. In our article breaking down Meyer’s philosophy, we had a near-identical quote.
“Meyer is also a big proponent of playing with independent hands. Meaning, not two-hand striking very often. He prefers the independent hand method because it eliminates the chance of the defender swiping/wiping away both of the linemen’s hands and getting beat. If one gets knocked down, the lineman still has the other. He prefers the idea of a low/high punch and flashing a “dead hand” to get the rusher to declare his pass rush move, knock one hand down, and allow the lineman to punch and control the block with the other. There are times where Meyer is ok with a two-hand punch and he says it’s fine to use as a change-up but expect independent hands to be the main teach point in Pittsburgh from now on.”
What does it look like? Though not Cook, here’s OT Dan Moore Jr. using independent hands, a one-hand punch, in a 2022 game. Moore throws his inside/right hand first before bringing his left.
Written and talked about it some this year but Dan Moore’s independent hand use has really improved his play. Took time adjusting to new OL coach Pat Meyer but arrow pointing up.
Snatch & trap to win these two reps Sunday. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/RnliDpceUH
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) November 16, 2022
A two-hand punch is just that. Throwing both hands at once. That is mainly used to stop power rushes like bull rushes, allowing the lineman to throw all his power and weight to slow it down.
Under Campen, Pittsburgh’s technique could change. Cook and the other returning linemen may have to “unlearn” some of the previous philosophy. But Campen is also arguably the best and most accomplished offensive line coach the Steelers have hired since Mike Munchak.
Meyer’s tenure can be debated. There was good and bad, but Campen’s mission will be to elevate the group another rung higher. That includes Cook, fighting for a starting spot at right tackle, as he enters restricted free agency after the season.