Linebacker Manual

FROSTBURG FOOTBALL LINEBACKER MANUAL

2012 FROSTBURG FOOTBALL – DRILL BOOK

LINEBACKER DRILLSTABLE OF CONTENTS

STANCE AND STARTS

“W” DRILL

ATTACK THE POST

ATTACK THE LINE

BLOW DELIVERY

STRIKE AND ESCAPE

EXPLODE THE HOLE AND TACKLE

TRIANGLE DRILL

BOOT DRILL

TEACHING ZONE DROPS AND FIELD DISTRIBUTION

1 ON 1 PASS RUSH DRILL

4-CONE DRILL

FLOW DRILL

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LINEBACKER

I. STANCE AND STARTS

II. OBJECTIVE OF DRILL Check the vital part of Linebacker stance Check the initial footwork from stance

III. FREQUENCY Daily

IV. RELATIVENESS TO GAME Every play starts with a good stance

V. DESCRIPTION Three lines of Linebackers Check stance for angles in Hips, Knees and Ankles

Check for false start by bringing the Linebacker by you.

VI. DIAGRAM

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LINEBACKER

I. “W” DRILL

II. OBJECTIVE OF DRILL To teach and develop plant and drive out of back pedal To catch the ball and accelerate To explode in front of the ball carrier and become a blocker

III. FREQUENCY Daily in spring and camp. Part of the pregame warm up for linebackers

VI. RELATIVENESS TO GAME Balance – plant and drive are a part of all most every pass play. One more chance for a linebacker to catch the ball. Emphases reaction on ball caught by a team mate

V. DESCRIPTION Back pedal at a sharp 45 staying tight to work area. Hit the 5 yard mark –

stick your foot in the ground - drive forward – repeat the process completing the “W”

As the pair of linebackers come forward a ball is thrown to the outside player – he will intercept the ball accelerate across the starting line to score. Other linebacker accelerates in front of the ball carrier to become a blocker

VI. DIAGRAM

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LINEBACKER

I. ATTACK THE POST

II. OBJECTIVE OF DRILL To develop and improve the ability of a linebacker to Shuffle downhill

without crossing over. To develop the ability to explode into the hole with the shoulder square and

not allow space to occur between the DE and the LB.

III. FREQUENCY Every other day Spring Practice and Fall camp Once a week in season

VI. RELATIVENESS TO GAME Basic fundamental footwork of a Linebacker Teaches LB to work up into the hole instead of staying flat.

V. DESCRIPTION Linebacker assumes good stance just inside one post of the cage. He

shuffles downhill as fast as possible, attacking the far post as if it were the hip of the D.E.

Once the linebacker gets to the far post he will explode out of the cage staying as close to the post as possible.

Easy to add coach or manager at the end of drill with a ball and add scope and score to the drill.

VI. DIAGRAM

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LINEBACKER

I. ATTACK THE LINE

II. OBJECTIVE OF DRILL To develop and improve the ability of a linebacker to Shuffle downhill

without crossing over. To develop the ability to explode into the hole with the shoulder square and

not allow space to occur between the DE and the LB.

III. FREQUENCY Every other day Spring Practice and Fall camp Once a week in season

VI. RELATIVENESS TO GAME Basic fundamental footwork of a Linebacker Teaches LB to work up into the hole instead of staying flat.

V. DESCRIPTION Linebacker assumes good stance straddling yard line. He shuffles downhill

for 2 shuffles, transitions into crossover run, plants, then transitions back into shuffle for two.

Easy to add coach or manager at the end of drill with a ball and add scope and score to the drill.

VI. DIAGRAM

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shuffle

shuffle

shuffle

shuffle

Crossoverrun

Crossoverrun


LINEBACKER

I. BLOW DELIVERY

II. OBJECTIVE OF DRILL To teach and develop proper hand placement and explosion in to blockers To maintain consistency in the fundamental skill of blow delivery

III. FREQUENCY Daily in Spring Practice and Fall camp. Tuesday and Wednesday in season.

VI. RELATIVENESS TO GAME One of the base skill needed to play the position of linebacker The success level of this skill has a direct bearing on the ability of a

linebacker to perform.

V. DESCRIPTION Skill can be taught on a set of post mounts (works more people at one time)

or you can use a sled.

VI. DIAGRAM

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LINEBACKER

I. STRIKE AND ESCAPE

II. OBJECTIVE OF DRILL To teach explosion and lock out and then disengage from the block and

clear while still in a good football position. To strike more than one object without losing body position.

III. FREQUENCY Every other day during spring and camp Once a week during the season.

VI. RELATIVENESS TO GAME Fundamental skill

V. DESCRIPTION Linebackers work down the row of post mounts striking, escaping, and

striking again

VI. DIAGRAM

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LINEBACKER

I. EXPLODE THE HOLE AND TACKLE

II. OBJECTIVE OF DRILL To develop the ability to explode through the hole and tackle the back on

inside run. Great for hip explosion, fit on ball carrier, and toughness.

III. FREQUENCY Two to three time a week in Spring and Camp Once a week in season

VI. RELATIVENESS TO GAME Important to develop the ability to stop the runner in the hole and not let

him fall forward for extra yards.

V. DESCRIPTION Set up two tall dummies to create a running lane. Place linebacker and back

at an angle. Backs action starts the drill, linebacker meets him in the hole and tackles him

VI. DIAGRAM

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LINEBACKER

I. TRIANGLE DRILL

II. OBJECTIVE OF DRILL To teach linebacker reads and angles To teach and develop hand placement and the ability to explode and jerk

off the block

III. FREQUENCY Often in spring practice camp Once a week in season

VI. RELATIVENESS TO GAME Footwork…. Angles …. Hand placement…. Escape… happen on every

run play

V. DESCRIPTION Line LB up in front of three blockers … point to the blocker the back will

run behind. Slap the ball the blocker and the back move together. Linebacker reacts accordingly

VI. DIAGRAM

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LINEBACKER

I. BOOT DRILL

II. OBJECTIVE OF DRILL To drill proper reaction to the bootleg pass so this reactions becomes a

habit. To work both drop and secondary contain

III. FREQUENCY Two to three times a week in spring and camp Once a week during the season

VI. RELATIVENESS TO GAME Boots and waggles are simple in man to man. In zone we need a way to

develop the reaction to the boot so it becomes second nature.

V. DESCRIPTION A drill set up… two line backers Q and B (easy to add a guard) Q slaps ball

and set it at the back then starts a boot action. LB attack run flip and react. LB who has crosser Flips Run Look Intercept. Lb to Run fake sec.

Contain.

VI. DIAGRAM

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LINEBACKER

I. TEACHING ZONE DROPS AND FIELD DISTRIBUTION

II. OBJECTIVE OF DRILL To teach linebackers where zone drops are on the field as they relate to

Hash and field markings To develop a feel of where that drop is in relationship to the formation.

III. FREQUENCY Early in spring and fall camp Once a week in season

VI. RELATIVENESS TO GAME Land marks in zone drops are crucial success of the each zone coverage.

V. DESCRIPTION Place cones on the field to mark where the particular drop is in relationship

to the middle of the field. Move the ball to the hash and teach the difference in the angle to the drop.

VI. DIAGRAM

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LINEBACKER

I. 1 ON 1 PASS RUSH DRILL

II. OBJECTIVE OF DRILL To teach and develop skills needed to improve linebackers as pass rushers To refine and polish these skills over time.

III. FREQUENCY As often as possible in spring practice and fall camp Early season… once a week …. Late season every two weeks

VI. RELATIVENESS TO GAME Zone fires, blitzes are important part of package… refines this skill.

V. DESCRIPTION 1 linebacker vs. 1 back or tight end -towel on the ground at the depth of

QB drop. Beat the back touch the towel and sprint pass the line of scrimmage. If

you do not beat the back turn and sprint pass l.o.s.. once whistle blows.

VI. DIAGRAM

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LINEBACKER

I. 4-CONE DRILLS

II. OBJECTIVE OF DRILLTo develop footwork and body control through change of direction.

III. FREQUENCY As often as possible in spring practice and fall camp Early season… once a week …. Late season every two weeks

VI. RELATIVENESS TO GAME Change of direction and body control.

V. DESCRIPTION 4 cones each 5 yards apart.

VI. DIAGRAM

SHUFFLE/BACKPEDAL BACKPEDAL/SHUFFLE 45/SPRINT

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1. Shuffle2. Backpedal3. Shuffle4. Sprint

1. Backpedal2.DH Shuffle3. Backpedal4. DH Shuffle

1. 45 Drop2.Sprint3. 45 Drop4. Sprint


LINEBACKER

I. FLOW DRILL

II. OBJECTIVE OF DRILLTo teach aiming points and fits based on flow of the backs.

III. FREQUENCY Daily

VI. RELATIVENESS TO GAME Develop play recognition quickly.

V. DESCRIPTION 5 trash cans 1 yard apart. Two players simulate backfield One player as TE (if necessary)

VI. DIAGRAM

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LLBLLB

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CALLING FORMATION STRENGTH

The Mike Backer is responsible for calling Front Strength (“Right” or

“Left”) in our defense. Take control and be the commander. Be loud and

confident in your call. Front Strength depends on Front call. All fronts

with the exception of Split/Cat and Eagle follow the same strength rules.

Base Rule One TE= Call strength to the TE

No TE= Call strength to multiple receivers or field

Dbl TE= Call strength to multiple receivers or field

Balanced/Even formation= Left in the MOF or to the Field.

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“CHAIN”

When the Away Side LB has twins to his side in any of our 2-high

coverages, the away side backer must give a “Chain” call to the Read-Side

backer. Chain works as if the two LB’s are connected by a chain. As the

away side LB is pulled out by the #2 receiver, the Read Side LB must

adjust with him.

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RB AB C

WSFS

SSC

ER T N


Away Side Backer Hole Technique

Technique used by defender when he must remove from the box to perform pass coverage responsibilities.

Alignment- Split the difference between EMOL and #2 Receiver favoring the football-4yards deep.

Stance- Toe to heel with outside foot back-shoulders square.

Key- Near back through offensive tackle.

Flow to- Take initial read step with inside foot. Do not attack the LOS as there is no immediate blocking threat, but there is an immediate pass threat. If the ball threatens you, attack the LOS aggressively taking away blocker’s angle.

Flow away- Offensive Tackle releases inside, Back and Ball away. Fold hard across the top of your end to secure cutback.

Offensive Tackle bases or pass sets with ball away, use slide technique inside for pass/run recognition. Pass-drop appropriately. Run-fold aggressively inside.

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STACK ALIGNMENT(BASE ALIGNMENT)

Align with heals 4 yards from LOS on the outside shoulder of the offensive guard.

Note: Keep outside position on backs aligned within the offensive tackles.

Key: Key tailback for flow to flowside blocking scheme.

Flow to- Take 45 degree step and hold depth. Responsibility is from A-B-C area. If the ball comes downhill, attack with an outside attitude.

Flow away- Take 45 degree directional step. Hold depth and play mental cutback. Once the ball is frontal and there is no threat of cut back, play physical on the angle of the back.

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GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Frontal

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Documents

Linebacker Manual