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There’s a cold war brewing between the NFL’s offensive and defensive linemen, initiated by Denver Broncos sack artist Von Miller’s annual pass-rush summits. Miller has huddled with a mix of the game’s best and newest defenders each summer, putting everyone together where their experience and diverse skills sets can help make everyone better. New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan has been a regular participant, offering his input while soaking up as much knowledge as he can.
However, Jordan was recently being studied hard by his opponents across the line of scrimmage. Not to be outdone by Miller, Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson organized his own summit for the NFL’s big men, inviting them for a long weekend of tutelage and training. Jordan’s teammate Terron Armstead has joined Johnson each year, and was tapped to speak to the group of first-year players at the 2020 event.
“It’s something you can do in Walmart, in the cereal aisle,” the All-Pro said to his audience, pointing out that they don’t need a world-class practice facility to hone their craft. Sure, that helps, but at the end of the day he and other blockers can get a workout in anywhere they can move.
Armstead drove off his message, adding, “Over and over. Repetition.”
It might feel odd to think about Armstead as an older, experienced voice, because it doesn’t feel like he entered the NFL all that long ago. Drafted by the Saints out of small-school Pine Bluff in Arkansas back in 2013, Armstead has gone on to establish himself as one of the best left tackles in the game today. When healthy (and sometimes even when not), he’s capable of stonewalling any defender that tries to cross him. Of course he’s going to be a leading voice at this sort of conference. But hopefully he learned enough on his own without betraying too many of his teammates’ secrets.
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