Trench Warfare
Film-driven analysis of offensive and defensive line play in the NFL and college football.
Written by Brandon Thorn, Trench Warfare provides in-depth scouting, film breakdowns, and advanced trench analysis focused on the most influential — and most misunderstood — position groups in football.
If you want to understand why quarterbacks succeed or struggle, why run games work or fail, and how pass rushers actually win, it starts in the trenches.
About Brandon Thorn
Brandon Thorn has studied offensive and defensive line play since 2014 and is widely regarded as one of the leading analysts of trench play in football.
His work focuses on evaluating technique, scheme fit, and positional traits through extensive film study and contextual analysis.
Over the past decade Brandon has built relationships with players, coaches, trainers, and analysts throughout the football world, helping shape one of the most informed perspectives on line play available outside of an NFL building.
Who Should Read Trench Warfare
This newsletter is built for:
• Players, coaches, and scouts at all levels of football
• Serious fans who want a deeper understanding of offensive and defensive line play
• Casual fans who want clearer insight into why their favorite quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers succeed or struggle
If you want to see football beyond the ball, this publication is for you.
What Makes Trench Warfare Different
Most football analysis focuses on skill positions and highlight plays.
Trench Warfare focuses on the details that actually determine outcomes — the leverage battles, technique adjustments, assignments, and decision-making that occur on nearly every snap.
Every piece of analysis published here is built on:
• Extensive film study
• Scheme and contextual evaluation
• Identification of position-specific traits that translate to NFL success
• Clear explanation of why plays succeed or fail
The goal is not just to evaluate players — it’s to teach readers how to see the trenches the way coaches and scouts do.
What Paid Subscribers Get
Paid subscribers receive full access to the most detailed trench analysis available anywhere in football, including:
• Advanced trench metrics including True Sack Rate
• Complete tiered rankings and position group analysis
• Exclusive film breakdowns not available anywhere else
• Access to the full Trench Warfare scouting archive
Why The Trenches Matter
Football is often described as being “won and lost in the trenches.” That idea is frequently dismissed as a cliché.
In reality, it consistently proves true.
Quarterbacks may be the most valuable players in the sport, but their success depends heavily on two things:
• Protection
• Space created in the run game
On the defensive side, the ability to collapse the pocket and disrupt timing often determines whether an opposing offense functions.
The two position groups closest to the quarterback — offensive and defensive line — frequently have the greatest impact on whether games are won or lost.
This newsletter exists to study and explain that reality.
Scouting Philosophy
My evaluation process is built around identifying the core traits required for success at each position and letting the film tell the story.
Each evaluation incorporates:
• Extensive film study
• Scheme and contextual understanding
• Identification of translatable traits
I also believe in having strong opinions that are loosely held.
The objective is not to win arguments, but to arrive at the most accurate evaluation possible.
Another guiding principle is focusing on what players can do, not just what they cannot.
Most offensive linemen are only noticed when they fail, while defensive linemen are most visible when they produce highlight plays. In reality, the majority of trench play happens between those moments.
That is where this newsletter focuses.
Start Here: Essential Trench Warfare Reads
If you’re new to the newsletter, these articles are a great place to start.
Annual Free Agency Rankings (2026)
A full tiered breakdown of the offensive line market with detailed evaluations of the top players available.
True Sack Rate (TSR)
A deep dive into the proprietary metric designed to identify which players are earning their production vs. which players are the beneficiaries of fortunate circumstances
How Elite Pass Rushers Actually Win
Film study examining the techniques and counters that separate the NFL’s best pass rushers.
True Pressure Rate (TPR)
A guide to identifying the traits and techniques that determine success in the trenches.
Annual Top 75 OL Rankings (2025)
A full tiered breakdown of the top 15 at each of the five OL positions with detailed snapshots of each player.
Comprehensive resource to increase your knowledge of each unit, what they prioritize and how they stack up relative to their counterparts across the NFL.
More analysis like this is published 1–2 times per week for subscribers.
What Experts Around The Game Are Saying
”There isn’t a football mind that is as thorough as Brandon Thorn. Brandon takes great pride in his work and understands the intricacies, the nuances, the micro and macro details of Offensive Line Evaluation and advance scouting.
Brandon is a big part of OL Masterminds™️ with his advanced scouting work and he reminds of a quote I heard years ago:
‘Do the things that allow others to shine... The things that allows others to excel...The things that let people know you really care... The things that encourage...The things that inspire... The things that are necessary... The things that are INVISIBLE but INVALUABLE!!!’”
- Duke Manyweather, founder of OL Masterminds
”Brandon shines incredible and truthful light on the trenches. His dedication to his work as well as his knowledgable approach sets his content, film breakdown, and analysis apart. As I have transitioned into media as well as mentoring current players, I have turned confidently to Brandon’s evaluations to further study the game and gain insightful breakdowns of offensive linemen across the league. His understanding and communication of different techniques, schemes, versatilities, strengths, and weaknesses offer consistent evaluations of the offensive line that I can depend on to study and learn from. I am very thankful for Brandon and his commitment to producing the highest caliber of intricate OL breakdowns.”
- Andrew Whitworth, Super Bowl Champion & All-Pro left tackle
“Brandon has become a highly respected voice in the football world. His understanding of technique, scheme and assignment is next level. His will to study, scout and analyze has made of one of the most credible and reliable sources in our game today!”
- Terron Armstead, All-Pro left tackle
“I first noticed Brandon’s works a few years ago as one of the few analysts breaking down and highlight OL play on social media. He not only spotlights our play but shows people how and why we succeed. He’s a great analyst that’s dedicated to learning about the game, and sharing it. Few have the knowledge Brandon possesses, and even fewer can articulate it the way he does. And no one outworks him.”
- Mitchell Schwartz, Super Bowl Champion & All-Pro right tackle
“He is a true student of offensive line play. He studies and understands the nuances of the game as well as different techniques used by players league wide. Brandon understands set lines, angles, as well as schematics when it comes to different players and systems. You can take what he says to the bank.”
- Lane Johnson, Super Bowl Champion & Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro right tackle
“I am excited to see the work Brandon has planned for his new service because I believe he has put in the time to truly study and ask the right questions of the right people to learn the ins and outs of OL/DL play. He will give an unbiased opinion based on facts from the FILM and that’s all anyone can ask for when evaluating the most under appreciated and misunderstood position in football and that’s the offensive line.”
- Bryan Bulaga, retired 12-year NFL O-lineman
”B Thorn is one of the best... if not the best O-Line analyst around! His work is not only detailed, but very fun to watch. It’s great to have guys like him who appreciate the trenches and point out what most people don’t see in the game of football. The man is also great tool if you need questions about an opponent.”
- Jedrick Wills Jr., NFL left tackle
“As a 7th round pick I remember Brandon being the first to give me some props back in my SF playing days and as now one of the elite O-lineman in the NFL I’ve always thought it was pretty cool how Brandon is one of the few that actually took the time to know and understand OL play instead of spewing nonsense out of their ass!!”
- Trent Brown, Super Bowl Champion & Texans right tackle
”I appreciate Brandon’s work and breakdowns of different guys offensively and defensively that helps me break down players more and even helps add tools to my book from seeing him highlight details of O-line play more precisely than the general eye would from just seeing them play on tv etc.”
- Shaq Mason, 2x Super Bowl Champion right guard
”Brandon knows what makes OL play an art. The man is extremely knowledgeable. He understands the differences between schemes and the techniques that are used in those schemes. You can tell how much time and effort he puts into his scouting. I would say outside of an NFL scouting department, his insights into line play are second to none.”
- Graham Glasgow, 136 game starting interior OL
“Brandon shines a light on an incredibly important part of the game that is often overlooked or misunderstood… through all of his study, analysis and conversations with players and coaches he is able to bring to life some of the very best players in this game so that they (and their work) may be appreciated by football fans everywhere. His work also educates fans of the game on the technical and schematic nuances of the position and how it impacts every play of the game they love.”
- Tony Sparano Jr., Colts O-Line Coach
”There are very few people I follow on Social Media who dissect the game from the eyes of a Lineman along with giving very knowledgeable insight. Brandon is one of the best I’ve come across who truly gives Offensive Linemen credit when credit is due along with pointing out fault or flaw that happen In ways that only OL and OL coaches appreciate.”
- Brent Key, Georgia Tech Head Coach
”The time and research Brandon takes studying players and techniques is invaluable. The attention he has brought to the frontlines of football, have shed light to many of the people who never knew how technical it was. I look forward to watching this new adventure take shape for him.”
- Mason Miller, Baylor OL coach
”Over the years Brandon has been one of my favorite follows on social media. When I view Brandon’s post on social media, I can confidently say he understands what goes on in the trenches of an NFL game. He truly has an eye for talent and really understands blocking schemes and concepts!”
- Jonathan Goodwin, Super Bowl Champion & retired 13-year NFL O-lineman
”In a world with a LOT of fake OL analysts, Brandon is as reals as it gets.”
- Austin Blythe, retired 7-year NFL O-lineman
”There’s no one who spends more time evaluating trenches than Brandon. He’s got a keen eye for understanding technique and scheme, and grades players according to those principles. I trust Brandon’s evaluation of the trenches.”
- Geoff Schwartz, retired 6-year NFL O-lineman
“Brandon is dedicated to elevating the way we approach, teach, interpret, and talk about offensive/defensive line play. At the highest levels of the sport there is a lack of contextual evaluation for offensive and defensive lineman that leads to a detriment in how young lineman are picked and developed. Brandon is leading the charge to change this and continue to positively impact the sport of football we all know and love.”
- Marshall Newhouse, retired 9-year NFL O-lineman
”There are very few people I trust when it comes to scouting and breaking down the trenches, Brandon is one of them. I have found him to be a credible and excellent resource and truly value his opinion.”
- Mark Schlereth, 3-time Super Bowl Champion & Pro Bowl O-lineman
Nobody puts in more work and film study than Brandon Thorn . One of the best follows on Twitter when it comes to Line play. I can’t wait to check out his new website!”
- Olin Kreutz, retired 14-year All-Pro center
“Brandon’s effort to learn, study, evaluate and quantify line play can only be described in one word: RELENTLESS. His evaluations are built off of a mountain of time he has invested into studying individual players as well as resourcing coaches, trainers and heads of the industry in order to give the most accurate depiction he can. It is rare to see someone as dedicated and passionate about line play as Brandon. I look forward to seeing where this new venture will take him.”
- Matt Jones, Falcons assistant offensive line coach
“Scouting the trenches is tough, thankless business. Much like playing the position, there’s no substitute for putting in the time to study an incredibly complex unit. Brandon puts in the time and then some, providing detailed written and video breakdowns that are easy to digest and incredibly informative. His expertise is well-earned and widely respected. When I’m breaking down an OL, Brandon’s page is one of my first stops to make sure I’m on the right track.”
- Mike Golic Jr, Co-host of Golic & Golic on FanDuel
“Brandon has put his head down and gone to work on all aspects of the trenches building out his knowledge and his ability to showcase what is happening in the trenches on the digital platform. He’s a humble, hard worker and highly respected in the business for his knowledge and work ethic to bring what he has learned to the public.”
- Lance Zierlein, NFL draft analyst for NFL.com
Join Trench Warfare
If you want to better understand the most important — and most overlooked — aspect of football, subscribe to Trench Warfare.
Players, coaches, scouts, and analysts rely on this publication to study the trenches in greater depth.
