Coach Nate Freier

@RosemountMNFB OL Coach. 10 szn HFC in PA and MN. Former Army Officer. @SJUAlumni, @TroyAlumni, @CUAAlumni. RTs not endorsements.

[Coach Nate Freier @CoachFreier]

God called a great man & a born leader home last night! The almighty must’ve needed a warrior! I love you, Pat! @bubblerbball @GoBubblers

[Coach Nate Freier @CoachFreier]

@coachtf Thanks for this. This is all spot on. As a long-time OL Coach, I like to use the phrase “of, not above” when describing what an OL coach should be. It is the greatest and most unique fraternity/sub-culture in any sport that I know. It is a privilege to be “of” it.

[tony franklin @coachtf]

To Be An Offensive Lineman is To Understand Real Life:

10 Thoughts:

1) I was not an offensive lineman. I wished I had been.

2) I didn’t coach OL ( except once in high school in 1981-82… and it taught me more about football than anything since)

3) OL develop better/deeper/ lifetime friendships than any gang of humans I’ve seen in my 68 years of existence

4) Brotherhood can easily be defined in Webster’s Dictionary as : “See Offensive Lineman”

5) Want to learn complicated communication? Go To OL school

6) Want to learn how to Always Get The Blame and Never The Glory ( See OL Life)

7) Want to have a secret club where there’s a skillset and language that others can’t ever understand but your Gang of OL are fluent in (See OL)

8) Want to understand and appreciate food better than any cult in the history of mankind (See OL)

9) Want to get old and be surrounded by a gang of comrades who live in blissful nostalgia ( regardless of how bad life is) every time the old gang gets back together ( See OL)

10) And finally…Want to die with 5 humans that were beside u thru thick and thin, thru marriage and divorce, thru wealth and bankruptcy, thru fat and GLP1’s, Thru cancer and cure, thru birth and tragedy…Simply See OL…

I wish I had been good enough , big enough, smart enough, tough enough, unselfish enough, and ego-less to be the best…Because that would have made me an Offensive Lineman

[Coach Nate Freier @CoachFreier]

@CoachDanCasey I love this. I have coached QBs in the past (fellow OL coaches don’t take my membership card away 😂) and have always been interested in integrating backside read schemes under center. This is neat. It’s all in the eyes and footwork. I see a potential RPO here as well.

[Coach Nate Freier @CoachFreier]

@MRittCGS When I talk about each OL position in meetings, at an occasional clinic, etc, I always highlight the MDM (or toughest job) for each position. Guards and Tackles is always the inside shade 2i/4i. And, Center is an active 0.

[Mike Rittelmann @MRittCGS]

The 2i technique remains one of the most effective and versatile interior defensive line alignments in modern football

Aligned on the inside shoulder of the guard in the A-gap, the 2i is designed to disrupt blocking schemes, control interior run lanes, and prevent offensive linemen from working cleanly to the second level

Its value has grown significantly against today’s spread offenses, zone run concepts, and pass-heavy systems because it creates immediate interior stress on the offensive line

The 2i technique can:

✅ Disrupt Inside Zone and Power schemes
✅ Prevent easy guard-center combination blocks
✅ Clog interior run lanes quickly
✅ Force running backs to bounce runs outside
✅ Slow down pulling guards in gap schemes
✅ Keep linebackers clean and flowing freely
✅ Create confusion in protection schemes
✅ Affect both the run and pass game

Against gap schemes like Power, Counter, and Iso, the 2i forces the guard to immediately account for inside pressure, making it harder for offenses to create movement at the point of attack

Against zone schemes, the 2i helps close interior running lanes and prevents offensive linemen from climbing efficiently to linebackers

The technique is especially valuable because it allows defenses to dictate leverage and force offenses into uncomfortable blocking angles

However, the 2i also demands discipline and technique

To consistently win from a 2i alignment, defensive linemen must:

✅ Maintain low pad level
✅ Win the initial punch
✅ Control leverage
✅ Play with disciplined gap integrity
✅ Keep active hands
✅ Anchor against vertical movement
✅ Finish through contact

Without proper leverage and hand placement, a 2i defender can get washed vertically or displaced by double teams

The 2i is not always about immediate penetration

Sometimes its biggest impact comes from controlling space, muddying blocking schemes, and forcing the offense to play laterally instead of downhill

In today’s game, where offenses want clean interior movement and vertical displacement, the 2i technique helps defenses regain control of the line of scrimmage and force offenses to play on the defense’s terms

[Coach Nate Freier @CoachFreier]

Happy Mother’s Day to the best life partner and mom ever! The kids and I are so blessed! We love you so much! #38YearsStrong #ToughMother

[Coach Nate Freier @CoachFreier]

I know what you’d like me to say here (and there have been a lot of great HuskerFBs), but, based on on the WHO and WHY I coach, I gotta go #DeanSteinkuhler

[Last of the Fullbacks @TheLastFullback]

Fullbacks.

[Kyron Samuels @kyronsamuels]

watching kirk ferentz talk offensive line details is amazing. fundamentals like this are always the difference. no surprise why iowa churns out sunday guys up front.

[Markus Lawrence @Coach_Poke]

Tight Zone Progression 🏈
(Playside/Covered OL)

✅Coaching Points:
🔘Low pad level (Defender on one knee)
🔘Kill roaches with steps 🦶🏾💢🪳
🔘Scoop water with strike 🤲🏾💧
🔘Hat across 🧢➡️
🔘Strain & Finish THROUGH whistle‼️

[Tip of the Spear @TipoftheSpearFB]

Many Coaches teach a Gallop or “high leg” by the FST (FSG on an “Ace” call) on Double Teams on Gap Runs but you can further maximize lateral displacement by implementing a Flipper Cross Shove.

Learn more at https://t.co/kilgXozSq9

[Coach Nate Freier @CoachFreier]

@CoachShiffman We all like big, strong, athletic, and EDGY (at least, that’s what I call it). Edgy to me is an instinct for relentless attack (think two blocks on a play or “knockout”kickout block). “Edgy” is tough to coach into a player if it isn’t already there.

[Coach Nate Freier @CoachFreier]

@CoachDingus Coach—I don’t know about “replace” but last season I sprinkled in a rapid fire “two lvl” chute drill. Base block under chute, drive, whistle, (shield holder steps L/R and second level defender fills from depth), base blocker, attacks, gathers and blocks second lvl defender.

[Coach Dan Casey @CoachDanCasey]

2016 Iowa State running QB Super Power

[AJ Forbes @AREA__57]

Tennessee OL coach Glen Elarbee on coaching the “Hammer technique” at @thecoolclinic 🔨

✔️ Used on single blocks in the run game

✔️ Lateral first step w/ inside football

✔️ Vertical 2nd step through the crotch of the defender

[Coach Nate Freier @CoachFreier]

@TweetsbyCoachP @StolafRBC @TweetsbyCoachP Agree with the sentiment in this post. I am very keen to start with this…

High School Football = Life Changing Opportunity.

We really need to embrace our role for the majority of players that fall into this category.

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

That jersey was worn before you.
It’ll be worn after you.

Your only job?

Make the next person proud to put it on.

[Coach Nate Freier @CoachFreier]

@kurt13warner @TheUFL Agree. I am a die hard @UFLDefenders fan. Coach has got a great operation rolling. @NFL could take a cue from the diversity of offensive systems and rule tweaks as well. It’s gameday #DCDefenders.

[Kurt Warner @kurt13warner]

Gotta say I have really enjoyed watching @TheUFL this season, some good football with some good football players… the NFL needs to get behind this and use to grow players like they used to with #NFLEurope (I know the incredible value it would have)!

[Coach Nate Freier @CoachFreier]

@coachspeak_pod interested in talking to you about early steps in the project described below. Drop me a DM.

[Coach Nate Freier @CoachFreier]

Attention coaches with military or public service experience! I’d be grateful to hear from you! See post below. Everyday I see the impact of my military and public service experience in my approach to coaching. I am keen to hear your stories as well. Feel free to DM me.

[Coach Nate Freier @CoachFreier]

Attention coaches with military or public service experience! I’d be grateful to hear from you! See post below. Everyday I see the impact of my military and public service experience in my approach to coaching. I am keen to hear your stories as well. Feel free to DM me.

[Coach Nate Freier @CoachFreier]

Been very quiet on X lately. But, I am back with a purpose. A “day job” colleague and I are starting a project on translating the lessons military veterans and public servants bring to coaching team sports. We are interested in hearing different perspectives. Three quick asks.

[TeachTapes @TeachTapes]

Start great. Finish great. #HaveADay