Tricks of the Trade
By Michael Silver
Posted: Wed October 21, 1998
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The well-traveled Tamm has been educated along the way.
(Al Tielemans)
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Offensive lineman Ralph Tamm has been around the block a few
times—and many of the blocks he threw in the process were
illegal. Now a long snapper with the Chiefs, Tamm built a
repertoire of tricks while playing on seven teams since he
joined the league as a ninth-round draft pick out of West
Chester (Pa.) University, in 1988. His motto: It's not dirty,
it's crafty. Here are some of the moves he's most proud of.
THE JACK "The most annoying thing for a defensive player is when
you get your hands inside his face mask or under his chin. You
only have to get your hand up there for a second. If your hand
slips up toward the guy's throat, jam it up there and then pull
it out. You really have to make a conscious effort to get it out,
or you could get flagged or, worse, bitten."
THE SNATCHDOWN "I picked this up from Jeff Bostic when I was with
the Redskins. Sometimes a defensive lineman will bull-rush with
his head down. If you see it coming, get your hands on the front
of his shoulder pads, take a couple of good hops backward and,
when he moves forward, use your leverage to drive him into the
turf."
THE PUSH-AND-PULL "I got this from Russ Grimm in Washington. If a
pass rusher is attacking your outside shoulder, grab his shoulder
on the side he's attacking from and pull it down, then push up on
the shoulder he's leaving behind. If you press really hard on the
upside shoulder, you can roll him over and flat-back him."
THE SEPARATION HEAD BUTT "I saw the Bills' Jim Ritcher do this
on film, and I really admired it, so I copied it. When a pass
rusher knocks your hands down or lifts them to get loose from
you, use a head butt to create some space, buy a little time and
try something else."
THE LEG WHIP "This is a 49ers staple. If you try to cut block a
guy and miss him—or maybe he's moving away from you to follow
the flow of a running play—you lift your back leg and swing it
into the air. You try to trip him, but it looks like you're
doing something athletic or falling out of the way. Everyone
does that."
THE HEEL HOOK "This is sort of a desperation move, but if a guy
runs right by you, you can always fall and grab the back of his
heel with your hand."
THE BELT PULL "When I was with the 49ers, I flat-backed
[Chargers linebacker] Junior Seau in the end zone on a goal line
running play. I charged forward like I was going to throw a nice
clean block, then I got my helmet and one hand up in his chest.
I grabbed his belt buckle with my other hand, then lifted and
pulled in, and before he knew what hit him, he was down and we
had a touchdown."
Issue date: October 26, 1998
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