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If you're not following former Bengals offensive lineman Willie Anderson on Twitter, you're missing out. The five time All Pro and Pro Bowl tackle is an entertaining follow on social media where today, he offered some funny, and true, advice to football players, high schoolers and the general public.
He started with advice for quarterbacks, based on his experience as a lineman.
Quarterbacks make sure you tell your Lineman today "how much you appreciate them." It's hump day so encourage them thru conditioning drills
— Willie Anderson (@BigWillie7179) June 22, 2016
From what I’ve seen and heard, Andy Dalton is one to make sure to take his lineman out for meals, and AJ McCarron had reportedly done the same late last year. Happy lineman are more likely to keep their quarterbacks safe, per Anderson.
And, Andrew Whitworth retweeted Anderson's Tweet, including Dalton, who also responded.
@BigWhit77_fndn @BigWillie7179 haha I got you
— Andy Dalton (@andydalton14) June 22, 2016
QBs U risk getting pummeled on the field if Uhaven't taken us out to eat or invited us over to your house to eat.-Lineman Of the World
— Willie Anderson (@BigWillie7179) June 22, 2016
He then continued with some words of wisdom for running backs, which certainly ring true.
Runningbacks quit telling the media your goals for Rushing yards for the season when your ass haven't had a convo with us linemen about it
— Willie Anderson (@BigWillie7179) June 22, 2016
His Tweets are also a reminder that football is a team sport. If Jeremy Hill or Giovani Bernard have a huge season, it’s often just as much because of the way the offensive line plays as it is due to the way the running backs are playing.
Anderson also had something to say about youth football. He feels the lack of head coaches who are the parents of offensive lineman leads to lineman getting treated poorly. (Hey, o-lineman parents, step up to the plate!)
Why isn't the HC of a youth football program never A Offensive Lineman's dad? always other positions dads. Thus lineman getting treated bad
— Willie Anderson (@BigWillie7179) June 22, 2016
Should offensive lineman be doing the same drills as skill position players? Anderson doesn’t think so.
Why in 2016 "We" Lineman are doing the same conditioning drills as Receivers and DBs? Cmon Coach! 100 yard gasser for real? our knees?
— Willie Anderson (@BigWillie7179) June 22, 2016
Anderson also has some good and funny advice for high school girls.
Attention Highschool freshman girls. Don't make a mistake of not dating the 6"3 Awkward frosh lineman. You'll regret it N the 2023 nfl draft
— Willie Anderson (@BigWillie7179) June 22, 2016
I'm just saying. Don't get offended @my last tweet! U know its true! Keep it real! Or the kid could go invent something like Apple #BIGman
— Willie Anderson (@BigWillie7179) June 22, 2016
And, Sara Zeitler, Bengals guard Kevin Zeitler’s wife, seconded Anderson’s Tweet... Kind of...
They do make the best husbands. Not that you were ever awkward in high school babe @kzeit70 https://t.co/muRJEbN53C
— Sara Zeitler (@Mrs_S_Zeitler) June 22, 2016
Anderson also sent a reminder that offensive lineman are just like us!
Lineman have to be team players & selfless. Besides being 6"3-6"6 300-360 pounds The average fan should relate to us the best. #Olinepride
— Willie Anderson (@BigWillie7179) June 22, 2016
To recap, quarterbacks and running backs should remember who’s paving the way for their success, more parents of offensive lineman should become youth football head coaches, high school girls shouldn’t neglect awkward lineman and offensive lineman are just like us!
If you’re not following Anderson on Twitter, you should probably click the follow button for more of his can’t-miss advice.