I'm sure there's a simple answer to this, but it's a concept I still am not sure I can understand. When I watch NFL games, I hear things like "Tate is coming in to give Foster a breather" and "defense has been on the field for so long they're tired." But never with O linemen. In fact, it seems to be the one group that never gets rotated around due to stamina issues. I mean, I can sort of understand them probably running the least of all positions. But they are also the biggest guys on the field, and these days tend to move a lot more with the need to get down to the 2nd level blocking. Yet it seems they are quite capable of finishing 15 play/90 yard drives without just being gassed.
Adrenaline and upper body strinfths.They die before everyone else, so it probably evens out in the end.
i can't explain it but it must be similiar to being on offense in basketball. you just have way more energy to play offensively than defensively. it's a lot easier for me to drive strong for a layup than play on my heels on D.
For the most part, offensive linemen only have to hold their ground. That means they get low, plant their feet, and just push/wrestle. They're not running as much as other players on the field.
That's what I was guessing. But then wouldn't the DLinemen also not be that tired? Yet they seem to need rotation even more than LBs. At least from what I understand, which admittedly isn't much.
On a 12 yard running play, an offensive lineman may not block to the whistle. He may block his man for 2 seconds, as the runner flies by, and then he might be done. On the offensive line, you aren't necessarily watching the play, you're mostly blocking the guy in front of you. If that guy disengages, and you've heard no whistle, you get upfield in the direction of the play and block. This doesn't always happen, though, as most NFL plays are quick. An running back is either carrying the ball and running for his life, blocking, or running a pass route. Easy to get tired when you're doing all that sprinting. Same as a receiver. Take for example, a 60 yard touchdown catch by Walter. The offensive lineman blocked the guy in front of them for about 5 seconds. Pass blocking doesn't take as much out of you as run blocking either. All of the skill positions were either blocking or running a route. Doing this over and over can get tiring. It's essentially the same reason why a quarterback doesn't have to leave the game for a breather. Yes, he's running drop-backs and bootlegs, but they're only short bursts. Decent cardio will allow your body to catch up in the twenty to forty-five seconds between plays. Defensive lineman are sprinting around, constantly trying to get to the ball, just like other defensive players. You're either rushing the quarterback, or sprinting to chase someone down from behind. This takes its toll on you. Besides that, nowadays, pass rushing is essential, so it's better to have a 100% fresh d-lineman out there, than someone who is sucking wind at 50%. Unless you have JJ Watt. Then you only come out when your tank is on E. And it never is.
I think the most interesting thing is how little running backs actually do in a game. A football game takes 3 hours, but is 60 minutes long in terms of clock. Most of that is actually huddled up between plays - the ball is in play an average of about 11 minutes per game, if I remember correctly. Of that, the offense would be on the field for 5 minutes (5 defense, 1 special teams). For a running back that plays in a tandem, you're in-play actually doing something at full-speed for about 2-3 minutes over the course of 3 hours. Same with a DL or LB that's in a rotation.
From what my high school football coach had said, I understand it this way: "You're on offense, you're not looking to tackle someone with the ball. Don't tell me you're tired." Offensive linemen aren't struggling to look for the ball handler in order to stop the play. Defensive players have to constantly look for someone to grab. This is more difficult and "tiring" than just running a route or blocking for a run.
They don't run around like everyone else on one play. And plus when the ball gets to the second level and beyond. Defensive and Offensive linemen give up on the play by stop attacking each other, or just barely jog to the ball carrier. Rarely do linemen have to run at top speed. Linemen are kind of like the special forces of football. they train for hardcore kickassery and endurance. not for size and speed.
The D-Line are more tired because they have to launch themselves at the O-Line. If you're constantly running against a barely movable object, you'll get tired. Fast. Not to mention that some people spin, juke, etc. to get past that O-line player, while the O-Line player just has to stay grounded.
