Taylor Decker Q&A: Future 1st-Rounder on Training, Tattoos and NFL Aspirations
Ohio State offensive tackle Taylor Decker is working out in what looks like a modified auto body shop.
It's the O-Line Performance Academy run by former Pro Bowl center LeCharles Bentley. Along with linemen such as Alex Boone, Bobby Massie and Chance Warmack, Decker is perfecting his craft through a series of unique drills designed to teach proper stance, movement and power for linemen.
Decker is doing that in hopes of taking advantage of his vast size (6'7", 310 lbs) and talent (he’s projected to go in the first round of the NFL draft). Decker sat down with Bleacher Report to talk about his preparations and other subjects.
Bleacher Report: So what brought you out here to train?
Taylor Decker: I knew about it because [Bentley] played at Ohio State and we wore the same number and one of my teammates from Ohio State [Corey Linsley] came here over the summer one year. Then I started seeing his stuff on social media and realized, yeah, he knows what he is talking about. So I was able to get his number and reached out to ask him questions about football stuff. It was like that, and I kind of asked him if there was any way I would be able to come out here and train with you guys. Luckily, I was able to.
B/R: So talk to me about the technical stuff that you have learned here.
TD: Just the subtle things, not things that you would think would make a big difference. How I was in my stance. He changed my stance up so I wasn’t so narrow in my stance and I didn’t have my toes pointed in so much so I can move laterally and redirect quickly, as opposed to what I was doing before. There were little footwork things. Like in college, I was stepping straightforward right at a guy, and [Bentley] explained it that you’re more powerful when you squat and lunge. You can’t lunge as much weight if you’re on one leg, so keep a good solid, base. On top of that, it was the diet and the supplements. I feel great, and obviously we’re going to be getting into more of the football stuff now that the combine is over.
Entire article:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...under-on-training-tattoos-and-nfl-aspirations
