The Trench Warfare 2023 NFL Draft Film Room - Episode 8 featuring Wisconsin C Joe Tippmann

Photo via Tyler Wise

Welcome everyone to the eighth edition of the 2023 NFL Draft film room series where I sit down with OL prospects in the upcoming draft class. The intent is to shine a light on each player’s story and skill-set while watching their college film together. The focus will be on the best competition they faced to best assess the strengths of their game and what they can rely on during their pro careers. 

We will discuss technique, scheme, dive into opponents and take you inside their preparation leading up to the game and how they processed information in real time. During our talks, players often share unique anecdotes and stories from the game and their careers that you can only find here on Trench Warfare.

So far for the 2023 draft class I have had on Tennessee RT Darnell Wright, Northwestern LT Peter Skoronski, Florida RG O’Cyrus Torrence, TCU LG Steve Avila, Oklahoma LT Anton Harrison, Minnesota C John Michael Schmitz and Ohio State RT Dawand Jones. Next up is Wisconsin C Joe Tippmann.

Wisconsin C Joe Tippmann

Joe Tippmann is a two-year starter at the pivot with rare blend of size (6’6” 313) and athletic ability at the center position. He turned 22-years old on March 24th and declared for the draft as a redshirt junior. Tippmann is an easy mover with high-end burst, quickness and fluidity that Wisconsin weaponized in the zone-based run game featuring an extensive pin-pull series to feature Tippmann as a puller. Tippmann is also an adept zone run-blocker knowing how to ricochet up to the second-level to intersect linebackers while also excelling on back blocks to wall off backside pursuit.

For a more comprehensive and detailed view on Tippmann as a prospect you can read my scouting report on him here.

Here are some of the topics we discussed during our film room:

• Taking a closer look at the legacy of Wisconsin offensive line and what it looks like being a part of that tradition

  • Video preview:

• Discussing where the NFL views his best position as a pro (guard or center)

• The aiming points, landmarks and execution of the ‘back block’

• Highlighting an epic 2-for-1 block to spring an 80+ yard touchdown run

  • Video preview:

• Breaking down about a dozen pin-pull runs

• Tippmann sharing the specific location of his eyes during a one-on-one pass protection rep

• Handling the double ‘A’ gap mug look pre-snap

• Why knowing where the landmark of the running back is critical to understand how to best track second-level targets

  • Video preview:

• The art of getting yourself out of a bad position and why that is so important in effective line play

• Providing help along the way to the primary target on pin-pull

Full Joe Tippmann Film Room: