When you think of offensive linemen, you might think of mammoth 325-pounders who look like the only running they're capable of is to the nearest all-you-can-eat buffet.
But second-year offensive line coach Jon McLaughlin has other ideas.
McLaughlin "has implemented what he calls the 'green-light system,'" senior guard Jesse Rigler said. "Red-light foods constitute fats, cakes, cheesesteaks, cookies, ice cream, beer, good stuff you'd like to have. Then you have your fringe foods, like extra butter and chocolate milk. Green light is your solid proteins, your vegetables, good milk and water. Coach Mac really tries to instill a 'green-light lifestyle.'"
"We want [our linemen] to be as lean as possible, with enough power to do their job," McLaughlin said. "We're not looking for guys that are heavy for no reason. We have guys that have lost 30 pounds over the last 18 months."
At the same time, head coach Al Bagnoli is quick to point out that the linemen aren't exactly pipsqueaks.
"Size is relative," he said. "When you're talking about lean, they're still 290 pounds, just not the 310 they were."
And this new look is working. After giving up two sacks to Brown on Saturday, the Quakers are now tied with Samford for the fewest sacks allowed in the Football Championship Subdivision, having allowed just four so far.
The O-line has been a strong point in a less-than-successful season.
The line was "a big question mark coming into the season," Bagnoli said. "But playing with an injured running back, the starting quarterback out for the year and under duress, I thought they've done a great job. Overall they've acquitted themselves very well."
Last year, three All-Ivy linemen graduated: Sean Estrada, Marko Grzan and Andrew Wietstock.
But has a downsized line brought an upgrade in the unit's ability?
"We want leaner guys because the flexibility allows them to play with leverage," McLaughlin said. "Being physical is not just a by-product of strength, aggression and effort but leverage, as well. We want our players to be able to bend, and flexibility affords that."
In addition to flexibility, Bagnoli believes that the added quickness plays an important role.
"This offense is geared more on agility," he said. "To put it in NFL terms, we're closer to the Broncos, who emphasize smaller, agile linemen than, say, the Cowboys. So agility is a premium, space is a premium, balance is a premium and acceleration is a premium. And obviously when you're smaller you can do those things better."
Along with McLaughlin's eating patterns, the linemen follow strength coach Jim Steel's workout regime.
"We've done everything Coach has come up with," senior center Brian Brazinski said. "It's pretty rigorous . and we only take one week off a year, and it's the first week after the season is done."
With the results that the diet and workout have brought, it seems Penn linemen are going to be leaner for the long run.
So the next time you see a lineman at Commons, who knows? Maybe he's just there for the salad bar.
