T-Lloyd: In the Trenches (Touchdown Edition)

Chapter 1: The Line

Everything is quiet on the line. Almost too quiet. The sounds of the crowd seem far off in the distance. The players up front—the guys who look superhuman in size and strength—kneel across from one another in a 3-point stance. Hands clench into fists, cleats dig into the dirt, and hearts begin to race. In a few seconds, the whistle will blow and the ball will be hiked. Then the quiet calm will disappear, and the field will turn into a war zone, ruled by brute strength, strategy, athleticism, and passion.

Coaches bark last-minute instructions from the sidelines, but at this point they don’t mean much to the guys on the line. Everybody knows what to do. Each player stares into the eyes of the person he will soon be doing battle with. There are just a few inches separating them, so a grunt, or even some trash talk, will be the last noise he hears before impact. For now, the only thing each player can do is wait behind the line and try not to flinch or show weakness.

The imaginary line that keeps these warriors apart is called the line of scrimmage. It’s where every play begins, and where the outcome of every play is decided. The line can’t be crossed by either team until the ball is hiked. This area is known to football players as the trenches. On both sides of the line are some of the strongest men on the planet—offensive and defensive linemen. From the start of the game until the very last play, this is where they earn their living and make names for themselves.

The action in the trenches is not pretty, and it’s certainly not glamorous. Linemen are trained to hit hard and show no mercy. They want to strike quickly and with great force. Success is achieved when their opponents are lying face down on the field, unaware of anything except the smell of the dirt and grass stuck in their helmets.

The intense activity on the line sets the stage for everything else that happens in a football game: for the quarterback who leads his team into enemy territory, for the running back who explodes into the open field, and for the wide receiver who sprints past the defense and gracefully catches a pass for a touchdown.

Football holds a very special place in the hearts of countless Americans. Millions of fans tune in every Sunday from September to February to see how the season will play out for their favorite teams. The Super Bowl is the most anticipated sporting event of the year. It’s watched by more than 130 million people from around the world.

Across the nation, young football players are training hard and developing their skills every day. When summer ends and fall arrives, Friday nights mean one thing: high school football. From small towns in Pennsylvania and South Dakota, to large cities in California and Texas, epic battles take place on the gridiron. For these high school players, it’s all about the love of the game. For many of them, it’s also about trying to earn a college scholarship.

College is a whole different level, of course. To begin with, the players are bigger, faster, and stronger. That’s also the time when many star players start thinking about making it in the pros. Sure, they’ve been dreaming about it their whole lives, but now it’s so close they can almost taste it. They know how tough it is, though: less than 300 players are drafted into the NFL every year. It’s a long shot, but still, most elite college football players wake up every day with that goal in mind.

Aside from actually playing football, nothing is more exciting than watching a game in person. Most fans, when they can’t attend a game, watch it on TV and cheer for their favorite teams. Yet, without realizing it, even the most knowledgeable football fan tends to focus only on the most obvious parts of the game. That’s because the cameras follow the ball (for the most part). It’s important to keep in mind that there are 22 players on the field at all times. So, following the ball the entire time gives viewers a limited idea of what is actually happening—especially in the trenches.

When a play ends, the cameras often shift to the quarterback. We see his disappointment when he throws an interception or the satisfaction on his face when he tosses a pass for an important first down. But the quarterback isn’t doing it all by himself. Most people don’t realize just how much he depends on his teammates. His receivers have to find ways to get open. The offensive line has to block oncoming defenders to give him time to throw. His running backs have to recognize holes in the defense, and also help block on passing plays. If anyone doesn’t do his job, the entire play breaks down.

To win a football game, an all-around team effort is required. There are 53 players on each NFL roster—far more than teams in other major sports—and any one of them might play a big role in the outcome of the game. In fact, during a 60-minute NFL game, most of these players will see action at some point

Offensive teamwork all starts in the huddle. The players gather around the quarterback, who calls a play. The responsibility of the offensive linemen is to give him enough protection so he can execute that play. On the other side of the ball, the defensive line gets ready. They want to pressure the quarterback, while creating a wall of bodies that running backs can’t penetrate. The next time you watch a football game in person, try an experiment: Don’t watch the ball for a few plays—instead, focus on the action that is taking place at the line of scrimmage.

Even if the average fan doesn’t pay much attention to the activity in the trenches, coaches and star football players certainly do. In 1991, Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys rushed for 1,563 yards. His response? He bought $5,000 Rolex watches for each player on his offensive line! He knew that without their skilled blocking, he wouldn’t have had such a successful season. A running back makes his living running through holes created for him by his offensive line. As one prominent offensive coordinator says, “The line is the key—because if you can’t protect the quarterback and run the ball, the game is lost.”

For every offensive player who is trying to make the play run smoothly, there is a defensive player who is trying to disrupt it. For the most part, the cornerbacks and safeties are guarding the receivers. The linebackers are usually positioned between the linemen and the safeties and corners. Linebackers follow the ball—if it’s a running play, they attack the line of scrimmage, looking to make a tackle. If it’s a passing play, they either blitz the quarterback or drop back into coverage.

Defensive linemen are different. They are trying to plug the holes in the line and keep the offensive lineman from pushing them backward. Of course, if they get the chance, they will go after the quarterback or the running back. But that’s not their main focus. They are simply trying to keep the line from moving ... and the other team from advancing forward.

That’s what defense is all about—trying to stop skilled players like Tony Romo, Adrian Peterson, and Larry Fitzgerald. It’s a difficult task, but the defensive mindset is to prevent these superstars from “doing their thing.” Just ask any coach in the NFL, and he’ll tell you that defense wins championships.

Speaking of defensive linemen, here’s a quiz: think of your favorite NFL team and see if you can name the nose tackle. Stumped? Well, you’re not the only one. Most football fans couldn’t tell you who their nose tackle is. But football insiders know that he is one of the most important players on the field. The nose tackle, also sometimes called the nose guard, is the defensive lineman that lines up right on the nose of the football, across from the center. He’s right there in the heart of the trenches.

When the ball is snapped, one, two, or sometimes even three blockers crash into the nose tackle—on every play. He must hold his ground so his teammates can make a play. This is why many coaches consider the nose tackle to be the anchor of the defense. If he is getting pushed backward, the offense is probably having a big day. On the other hand, if more than one offensive lineman has to worry about blocking the nose, that’s one less guy available to protect the quarterback or open holes for the running back.

The job requirement for a nose tackle is simple: be willing to accept the punishment, and keep coming back for more—just so other guys can get the glory. Strap on your helmet, get out there, and get pounded ... on every play! That’s the life of a nose tackle. Although it’s not a glamorous position, it is manned by some of the strongest and bravest football players in the world. Bob Golic, a former all-pro nose tackle, might have said it best: “If you’re mad at your kid, you can either raise him to be a nose tackle—or send him out to play on the freeway. It’s about the same.”

Golic’s funny remark drives the point home very well. Nose tackles take an insane amount of pounding throughout the course of a football game. So, the obvious question is: Why on earth would anyone want to play this position? Well, one incredible young athlete might be able to provide the answer. His name is Thomas Lloyd III, known to his family as “T.J.” With his friends, though, and on the football field, he goes by “T-Lloyd.”

This 18-year-old nose tackle from Hurst, Texas—formerly of New Orleans—has loved the sport of football his entire life. But he wasn’t born to play quarterback or wide receiver. He was built to be a warrior in the trenches. He’s a team player who never gives up—and at just under 270 pounds, he’s a physically dominating force.

Vince Lombardi, perhaps the greatest coach in the history of professional football, once said, “Individual commitment to a group effort—that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” Nobody understands this idea better than nose tackles. One of the best of them is Thomas Lloyd III—T-Lloyd.