The Trench Warfare Film Room featuring Dolphins LT Terron Armstead

Welcome back everyone to a very special edition of the film room with Dolphins LT Terron Armstead. He’s joining to share insight on a variety of topics from his 2021 season with the Saints and share his expertise on playing offensive tackle at the highest level.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”

- Pablo Picasso

This is the essence of what great players do in the NFL, and that theme embodies Armstead’s game over the last half decade or so. It manifests itself in many ways on film through technique, timing and nuance.

I spoke to Armstead many times at OL Masterminds over the last several years and got to pick his brain about his approach to the game, but we never have sat down to watch tape together. This session is meant to illustrate and bring to life some of his brilliance and toughness as a player.

The raw film that we watched was from a highlight tape I made of his 2021 season that you can watch in its entirety here.

Armstead was articulate and forthcoming throughout our sit down. Considering we recorded the night after his first training camp practice with the Dolphins, I am especially grateful for the opportunity to shine a light on his game, the position and share it with you all.

Here are some of the specific topics we covered:

• Using patience to set the hook and bait pass-rushers

• Why not presenting or giving hands to the rusher prematurely is a critical factor in Armstead’s success as a pass-protector

• Matchups against Rashan Gary, Shaquil Barrett, Brian Burns and more

• Preview: Armstead breaking down Panthers Edge Brian Burns & how to combat his vaunted ‘ghost’ technique:

• Armstead sharing details of a major elbow injury that he suffered early in the season last year and what it was like playing with essentially one arm afterwards

  • Preview:

• The art of making adaptations and learning to compensate to stay in the fight

• Mixing up sets and hands based on film study, the rusher’s stance, QB drop point and passing concept

• Pushing boundaries and walking the tight rope of sound technique and ‘just playing ball’ expressed in Armstead’s angles and body positioning during pass-protection

• Preview: Armstead discussing Packers Edge Rashan Gary’s “elite” power and how to combat it:

• Armstead sharing a certain run-blocking technique that he has used sparingly during his time in New Orleans that will become much more prevalent in Miami due to the change in scheme

• Armstead’s excitement about Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel’s scheme and how it will feature him in the running game