What Advice Would Tim Lelito Give to Andrus Peat?

As we all know, the offensive line is particularly instrumental in the success of an offense. They don’t seek individual glory but work together as a unit to ensure a play goes as planned and if not, to fix it so good results happen. They have to know each other and work together as a unit because unit cohesiveness is critical to achieve the head coach’s desired results. The quarterback and running backs depend on them to do their job and to do it well. They take great pride in a job well done even if no one notices just how great they are out there.

What Advice Would Tim Lelito Give to Andrus Peat?

How do rookies get introduced into playing with a new unit? Is it communication or formation?

"More communication and verbiage than anything. The formation stuff comes with experience. And technique things, how we do certain blocks."

Oct 19, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton shakes hands with guard Tim Lelito (68) before the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

So the play dictates the blocks?

"Rookies need to understand our language and what it means for them to be able to communicate during a game. Yes the type of play dictates the block, is it a zone scheme, or man scheme … Outside zone or inside zone…"

So, we didn’t switch strictly to a zone scheme? It’s a combo of zone and man?

"Yes. We don’t run all man or all zone but a combination of both. Just whatever looks good against certain teams when we prep for them during the week.Same goes for running and passing. We aren’t going to try and run the ball when the defense puts eight guys in the box, and vice versa"

How would you prep a rookie for a loud stadium? Is it a difficult communication problem?

"Yes, loud stadium such as Seattle, so it’s even more important to know your blocking assignment, and it also helps to know what everyone else is doing as well."

Do you spend more time together as a unit to get a better feel for each other?

"I mean we are always together every day. But we do have an offensive line dinner once a week. It’s more of getting everyone on the same page, knowing the assignment so if something happens then someone can step up and get the same results."

What advice do you wish someone had given you as a rookie?

"I got real lucky being with the Saints because of the older guys would remind me and give advice on things daily, anywhere from finance to football and everything in between. The one thing that was a reminder to me at the end of the year was that it is a business and it’s not personal. When some of my friends got cut or traded to different teams."

Aug 15, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints offensive center Tim Lelito (68) during a preseason game against the Tennessee Titans at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

What would you tell Andrus Peat?

"Come in and be a sponge. Soak up everything. They got him for a reason because he was great in college, but now everyone is great so you have to learn to evolve and get better yourself. The defensive ends aren’t 6’1″ 245lbs anymore. They’re 6’5″ 290 and can run a 4.6 40."

What three football characteristics are unique to being a successful offensive lineman?

"Football, I think you have to be tough, you have to be smart and versatile can’t be afraid to grind games out, because sometimes that’s how they go."

What three personal characteristics are unique to being a successful offensive lineman?

"And that goes right along with personal, where you have to have the intestinal fortitude to grind games out and get the win and put the team on your back even when you are downI think you generally have to be a good person to play O-line, as a team all eleven on offense are important on one play, but that gets broken down even more to the five on the line, if the line breaks down, it’s almost a guarantee the play isn’t going to be good. You have to learn to work a one unit the entire game.If you can’t get along with the guys you’re working with, it’s not going to work"

We were impressed with these answers. Lelito (and the offensive linemen in general) take great satisfaction is a job well done and protecting the play for New Orleans Saints.

More from Who Dat Dish

Home/Saints News