Immediate Reaction: Inaugural Trenchlab Gauntlet 2024
Having just made it back home from the greater-Atlantic City area for Coach Keith Alston’s inaugural Trenchlab Gauntlet, I wanted to share some immediate thoughts on the event. Featuring nearly 50 of the area’s most competitive offensive and defensive linemen, they competed…
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Continue ReadingHaving just made it back home from the greater-Atlantic City area for Coach Keith Alston’s inaugural Trenchlab Gauntlet, I wanted to share some immediate thoughts on the event. Featuring nearly 50 of the area’s most competitive offensive and defensive linemen, they competed in a tournament-type event to determine the winner. The winner earned a $1500 NIL Deal to go along with the championship belt.
Well Structured for the Season’s First Go
Blessed with even numbers of offensive and defensive participants, the two groups were first brought together for a dynamic warmup. Soon after, the event broke into an Indy period where clinician coaches brushed up on fundamentals, footwork, get offs, and added a few tools to each athlete’s toolbox before they competed. Prior to the competition and elimination phase, attendees had the opportunity to get practice reps O vs. D.
Me Against the World
Every competitor saw every other competitor throughout the day. Both sides of the ball were split into four pods. Each pod, offense and defense, faced one another as every competitor received five reps during that rotation. Individual records were kept and if it was close clinicians had no issue running it back. After each competitor got their five reps, the defensive unit traveled to the next offensive pod for another round. This went on until every player in every pod received five reps in each of the four pods. From there, cuts were made.
Advancing forward was a group of 16 on each side of the ball. The process described above repeated, albeit with four total pods for round two, until we had ten competitors on each side of the ball. Ten went to four, four went to two, and two went to a champion. Finally, each and every single rep that was taken on the day was recorded
Defensive Dominated, yet Offense Won the Day
My first impression after watching about 20 minutes of action was that defense was absolutely pillaging the offense. Defense was fast, furious, fixated, and ferocious early on. I saw a variety of moves, pass rushing with a plan, counters, and killer first steps. The feet of the offensive linemen seemed stuck in cement and it appeared that the defense had an answer for anything the offense tried to do. After the first round of action I thought it was a forgone conclusion that a defensive player was going walk away with the belt.
As the afternoon wore on the tide started to shift. Truly a game of stamina, defensive players became winded and exhausted every move they had. Suddenly, the feet of the offensive linemen started to look quicker and more spry. Sizing up and scouting their opponent with a copious amount of reps, the offensive players soon had a clear picture of what each opponent brought to the table.
By the end of the afternoon I was forced to eat a bit of humble pie. It was an offensive player that ended up winning the belt and taking home the loot.
Spread Love, it’s the South Jersey Way
I expect this event to grown even bigger next year and become the excuse for my annual late-April weekend getaway to Atlantic City. The entire Oakcrest High School staff was supporting Coach Alston in his endeavor. From the head coach, to the parent club opening the concession stands, to their players earning volunteer hours as part of their graduation requirement – everyone was behind coach.
Further, as I was scrolling through my Twitter feed later in the day it was all love and praise for Coach Alston from fellow South Jersey/West Jersey Football League coaches and staff. The consensus was that he put forth an innovative, ground-breaking endeavor for the linemen in the traveling area. In an era dominated by skill players in 7on7, he has given a unique exposure opportunity for my people – linemen – to get better, compete, shake the rust off, gain recognition, and earn scholarship money.
Lastly, an out-of-towner like myself from up north was welcome with open arms to the event and shown plenty of love.