See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack

Episode: David Pollack and Aaron Taylor Talk CFB's Biggest Problem

Date: March 19, 2026
Guest: Aaron Taylor (Super Bowl Champion, Two-Time All-American, Analyst, Joe Moore Award Co-Founder)

Episode Overview

This episode brings together David Pollack and Aaron Taylor for an unfiltered, passionate discussion about what they believe is college football’s biggest on-field problem: the decline of offensive line play. The conversation ranges from heartfelt stories about coaching legends and the values they instilled, to a comprehensive breakdown of how NIL, the transfer portal, trends in offensive schemes, and even camp culture are damaging the craft and cohesion of offensive lines in the college game.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Remembering Lou Holtz & Coaching Influence

• Lou Holtz's Lasting Impact

  • Aaron shares how Holtz shaped players as men, not just as athletes.

    "We thought it was just X's and O's and controlling lines of scrimmage, but it was much deeper than that. He taught us how to be good men, how to be good husbands, good fathers, good employees without us even realizing that."
    (Aaron Taylor, 02:21)

  • Holtz’s reunions and funeral brought out deep camaraderie among former Notre Dame players.

• Life Lessons through Football

  • Aaron tells a story illustrating Holtz’s brilliant but tough teaching style.

    "Coach Holtz was sending a message...what we do matters, that people are counting on me. And if I don't do my job, if I make what's more important to me...other people pay the price."
    (Aaron Taylor, 05:39)

The Joe Moore Award: Creating a Culture of Teamwork

• Award Genesis & Philosophy
  • Joe Moore Award is unique—celebrates the best O-line group annually.

    "There was nothing that really captured the essence of what our game, what our country, what our businesses and communities are built around. And that's teamwork, tackle to tackle, sacrificing yourself for the greater good."
    (Aaron Taylor, 08:15)

  • Award emphasizes resilience, toughness, and true unity above personal accolades.

The Deterioration of O-Line Play in College Football

(Main Theme, 09:47–41:07)

Why O-Line Play Has Declined

• Impact of NIL & Transfer Portal

  • High attrition and lack of long-term player development hurt group cohesion.

    "Transients in the NIL plus the portal I think have had the biggest impact...five have to function together as one...it takes time."
    (Aaron Taylor, 14:13)

  • Frequent roster changes destroy the chemistry vital for O-lines.

• Technique & Toughness Are Fading

  • Core characteristics—toughness, effort, and finishing—are disappearing.

    "Toughness, effort, and finishing are the three characteristics that we're seeing as a position that are starting to go away."
    (Aaron Taylor, 10:25)

• Constant Scheme and Tempo Changes

  • RPOs, tempo offenses make linemen play less aggressively and with less technique.

    "When you run tempo, it makes you efficient, but it takes away your physicality. I can't run downfield 20 yards and peel somebody off the pile because I got to be right back on the line of scrimmage."
    (Aaron Taylor, 19:56)

  • Linemen are practicing technique at 80% because of offensive system limitations.

• Practice Changes and Camp Culture

  • Offseason focus on 1-on-1s & 7-on-7 drills reinforces bad habits.

    "We're starting to practice and replicate bad habits. When I see these one-on-ones that are full speed on pass protection...what are we doing? ...These drills are skewed to be in the defense's benefit."
    (Aaron Taylor, 24:58, 26:40)

  • Less real pad work and more skill-centric showcases hurt physical development.

• Evolution of Defenses

  • Defenses have gotten smaller, more athletic, and more deceptive, making traditional O-line play harder.

    "Defenses have gotten too athletic and too cute on that side of the ball...I think in the next five to ten years, football will start to get more physical again."
    (Aaron Taylor, 23:12)

What Makes a Great Offensive Line Today?

• Coaching is Key

  • Consistent, effective coaching (e.g. Iowa’s George Barnett) remains paramount.

    "You're only going to be as good as your coach on a day-in and day-out basis. The coaches set the standard and it's the job of the players to live up to that."
    (Aaron Taylor, 30:38)

• Programs That Embody Old-School Physicality (31:25)

  • Iowa, Notre Dame, Michigan, Army (past winner), and aspects of Miami, Georgia Tech
  • O-linemen who “don’t like people” and units that finish beyond the whistle stand out.

  "The biggest tell that I use when I'm watching tape to see if this is a unit worth consideration or that gets it...is the finishing. What happens at the end of the play?"
  (Aaron Taylor, 32:10)

• Technical Clues: Hands, Finishing, and Physicality

  • Punching with hands, finding work after the play—traits of well-coached, physical teams.

Systemic Change & Positive Trends

• Rule Changes Favoring O-Linemen

  • Crackback/cut block restrictions have made it easier for linemen to dominate on the edge in space.

  "Now everybody got to stay on their feet. If I stay on my track, that defender has to play through me, which works to my advantage."
  (Aaron Taylor, 36:19)

• Hope for the Future

  • Aaron predicts a comeback for physical, less system-driven line play as offenses and defenses continue to adapt and counter-adapt.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Notre Dame Brotherhood & Holtz:

  "He invited me on his podcast...I was the guest and I just laid into a man and took chances and was vulnerable and say all the things you would say to somebody that you loved and respected if you knew that was the last you were going to say."
  (Aaron Taylor, 03:24)

• On O-Line Culture:

  "The fun we have in our position is kicking people's butts." (Aaron Taylor, 13:13)
  "Offensive line is the most selfless position." (David Pollock, 09:04 and 37:27)

• On What to Look for in Great O-Lines:

  "We used to take pride in looking for work and how many knockdowns we could get."
  (Aaron Taylor, 32:28)

• On Lifestyle Contrast:

  "When I go to a restaurant, they ask me if I have any food restrictions. My first answer is small portions. So we got on one side somebody's psycho about their diet and the other side is like, feed me, get in my belly."
  (Aaron Taylor, 40:34)

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment | Timestamps (MM:SS) | |-----------------------------------------------|-------------------------------| | Lou Holtz Legacy + O-line Life Lessons | 01:37–06:58 | | Joe Moore Award Origins & Meaning | 06:58–09:47 | | The Decline of O-Line Play & CFB's Biggest Problem | 09:47–16:01, 18:41–41:07 | | Practice & Camp Culture Issues | 24:58–27:55 | | Best O-Line Programs & What to Look for | 27:55–35:09 | | The Positive of Recent Rule Changes | 35:09–37:27 | | Life Balance and Closing Banter | 37:47–41:07 |

Tone and Style

• Tone: Candid, passionate, brotherly, at times nostalgic but always analytical.
• Style: Good-natured banter, in-depth real talk, with technical insight but accessible language.

Summary Takeaway

This episode is a heartfelt tribute to the tradition of line play and the underlying values of football culture, diagnosing why the O-line is struggling in today’s game and what must be done to bring back its toughness and identity. The conversation wraps with both men’s appreciation for leadership, family, and a nod to the enduring value of selfless teamwork—on and off the field.