In football, the acronym OG refers to the position of offensive guard. Offensive guards are interior defensive linemen who protect the quarterback and running back from potential defenders.
The two offensive guards line up on either side of the center (C) with one being the left guard (LG) and one being the right guard (RG).
For weight maintenance, guards often carry a lot of body fat. This is because they are often responsible for blocking some of the biggest players on the field.
Despite their excess weight, these guards are incredible athletes and can move extremely quickly.
With our guide to the KOS position in football, you’ll learn about other football position acronyms like OG.
In Football, What does an OG Do?
You may be wondering what exactly offensive guards do from play to play now that you know what they stand for.
In the following paragraphs, we will discuss some of the main responsibilities of guards.
Pass Protection Against Interior Lineman
On passing plays, defensive linemen will attempt to reach the quarterback through the offensive line, which is one of the main responsibilities of offensive guards.
Because guards line up on the interior of the offensive line, they will be blocking defensive tackles.
On the football field, defensive tackles are usually the strongest players and usually have the most weight as well.
To keep a defensive tackle out of the pocket, offensive guards and centers often double-team him.
Because of their position in the middle of the offensive line, centers and guards are often referred to as IOLs.
Run Blocking Against The Defensive Line
Pass blocking involves creating a wall around the quarterback, whereas rushing plays require creating a hole in the defensive line.
A hole will be communicated before the play, and it is up to the offensive lineman to position the defensive players so that the hole exists.
It is usually the guards who are responsible for creating these holes, usually blocking defensive tackles or defensive ends (DEs).
Guards are often valued more for their ability to run and block than for their ability to pass protect.
Pulling Down Field
Guards often leave the offensive line altogether to block downfield. This is typically referred to as pulling guards.
In these plays, a tackle or center blocks the pulling guard as he makes his way downfield.
This will ultimately result in the guard being downfield in front of the ball carrier. OGs are usually able to lay down devastating blocks due to their large size.
It is also common for OGs to move away from the line on screen plays. Speedy guards tend to excel at pulling downfield on such plays.
If you would like to learn more about other positional acronyms in football, see our guide to the SS or MLB positions.