Linebackers
Objective: If you had only one word to describe the objective of a
linebacker it would be attack. The primary purpose of a linebacking
corps is to vigorously pursue the ball, aggressively attack and punish
ball carriers, and stop the running game. The secondary mission of
linebackers is to act as pass defenders.
Breakdown Position – The breakdown position is the basic football
position and also serves as the stance for linebackers. A good
breakdown position starts with a solid balanced base with the feet
about shoulder width apart, ankles bent, knees bent, chest out, head
up with hands resting on the thigh pads. Don’t overlook this simple,
yet very important fundamental.
Gapology - Every defense is set up or designed to control each gap
otherwise offenses will find the uncontrolled gap and exploit it.
Some coaches prefer the 4-3 to control each gap while others prefer
the 5-2 and of course there are many variations of each and others as
well. The specific assignment of gaps simply comes down to a
“Base” defense that a team will choose to line up in as a base set
most of the time, and then some change ups or different looks to
mix it up. When a defense starts stunting, the gap responsibility will
change as certain players are stunting into certain gaps so others
have to cover for them or switch with them etc.
Weak Side vs. Strong Side: The strong side of an offensive
formation is the side where the Tight End is aligned. In the graphic
below the Tight End is aligned on the right side of the formation.
(Red = Defense and Blue = Offense)
-The following graphic explains Gap Alignments of a basic 4-3
defense. These alignments are for a generic 4-3 defense and these
alignments are not written in stone. There are many variations that a
clever defensive coach could devise from this formation.
*Linebackers align 5 yards from the line of scrimmage.
WILL: The WILL is the weak side linebacker
MIKE: The MIKE is the middle linebacker.
SAM: The SAM is the strong side linebacker
Weak side C Gap – Weak side Defensive End
Weak side B Gap – WILL Linebacker
Weak side A Gap – Weak side Defensive Tackle
Strong side A Gap – MIKE Linebacker
Strong side B Gap – Strong side Defensive Tackle
Strong side C Gap – Strong side SAM
Strong side D Gap – Strong side Defensive End
Gap Alignment vs. Assignment – Linebackers have gap
alignments as described above, however linebackers do not maintain
the exact same gap discipline that a defensive lineman does. For
instance, the MIKE linebacker in the above graphic is aligned on the
strong side A Gap, although this gap is his primary responsibility
and he must be there to make the play, he must also develop the
ability and the discipline to read what the offense is trying to do and
be prepared to attack any gap where a window appears. The MIKE,
WILL and the SAM are all looking for “The Window,” the same
window the running back is looking for, that the offensive line is
trying to open. A linebacker cannot simply run to the same gap at
the snap every time and expect to be successful with any regularity.
A disciplined linebacker reads the offense first, finds the window
and then attacks. If a savvy offensive coach were to see a linebacker
firing to the same gap every time he would simply lay a trap for him
and run the ball right past him. This is where the gap discipline
differs from lineman to linebacker. The offensive lineman has his
gap responsibility and his discipline to maintain control of that
specific gap whereas the linebacker has to be disciplined to not only
cover his gap but also decipher the play and be ready to attack
anywhere.
Linebackers Page 2
Reads - In order for a young player to develop into an effective
linebacker he must learn how to quickly decipher what the offense is
trying to do. Learning to read an offense takes a lot of practice but if
a youngster can develop a basic understanding of what (run, pass) to
look for and where (weak, middle, strong) to look for it he will have
the building blocks to be successful as he progresses to higher levels
of play.
Run Reads - The first element of a Linebacker read is a read step. A
read step is an aggressive step toward the line of scrimmage at the
snap of the ball that gets players moving and prevents them from
being flat footed, as young players tend to be. As the read step is
being taken, the linebackers are gaining their vision and making
their initial read on the offensive linemen. The WILL is reading the
tackle on his side, the MIKE is reading the guards and the center
and the SAM is reading the tackle on his side. As soon as the
linebacker’s foot hits the ground on his read step he will know if the
play is a pass or a run. It may seem difficult to accomplish a read
this quickly but what the linebacker is looking for is a pass block. It
takes an offensive lineman the same amount of time to step back
into a pass blocking position as it does for the linebacker to take his
read step. In effect what the linebacker is doing is eliminating the
pass block first. This may seem contradictory because the main
focus of a linebacker is to stop the run, but by quickly eliminating
the pass block he can then instantly focus on his next read.
Finding the Window (Where) – As the linebackers have made
their initial read and have eliminated the pass block and deciphered
a run play, they must immediately be focused on the running backs
and the quarterback. What linebackers must understand is that the
offense is pouring all of their energy into creating a window for
their running back to pass through. The linebackers must find this
window, while keeping track of the ball, and attack it to make the
stop. Young players learning the linebacker position will tend to
have tunnel vision and focus all of their attention either on the
running back or looking for the window. The ability to watch the
ball and find the window takes practice and things will eventually
slow down for them and they will develop the ability to see plays
develop and take action. One thing that will help them learn to read
a play a little quicker is the knowledge that there are only three ways
the ball will flow: weak side, strong side, or up the middle. The flow
of the offensive will be to one of these three areas (*Except for
reverse action plays see below). So for instance, if the WILL sees
the flow of the play moving away from him to the SAM he knows
the offense is trying to open a window on the strong side. The SAM,
seeing the action coming his way, can quickly decipher that the
window will be in his area and must prepare to meet either the lead
blocker or the ball carrier in the window. At the same time the
MIKE, having read this same action will be seeking the same
window on the strong side. The most difficult plays to react to are
quick hitters up the middle, only because the reaction time is so
limited. Reaction time is another element that will improve with
experience and practice.
* If a SAM or a WILL see a play moving away from them to the
opposite side they must develop a discipline to look for a reverse
action play such as a bootleg or reverse. If they develop the habit of
just saying the words “Bootleg and Reverse” as they see the action
move away from them it will help them always be aware of this type
of play.
An effective linebacker crew must learn how to work as a unit by
funneling the play to a teammate when necessary (Force Play) and
covering a teammate’s backside by cutting off running lanes (Angle
of Attack).
Force Play – Force play is simply forcing the ball inside when the
offense is attempting to run the ball outside of the tackles. When a
WILL or SAM is being blocked by an offensive lineman or a lead
blocker and he cannot escape the block in time to make the tackle,
he must then work to force the play to the inside where the strength
of the defense is. In order to force the play inside, the linebacker
must attack the outside shoulder of the blocker. Good footwork and
an understanding of the half-man concept will help a linebacker
with force play. The half-man concept is simply attacking or
controlling 1/2 of the blocker. Have your players visualize a vertical
line running from the forehead of the blocker down to the ground,
dividing the blocker into two halves. The linebacker steps on the
imaginary line with his inside foot to establish the half-man
position. As he is stepping on this imaginary line, he must at the
same time strike and grab the blocker with his hands to gain control
of the blocker. The aiming point for the inside hand is the center of
the chest plate and the aiming point for the outside hand is the
outside shoulder of the blocker. It is perfectly legal for the
linebacker to grab hold of the blocker. The linebacker must then
press (push him like a bench press) the blocker to keep him at arms
length in order to maintain leverage and maneuverability. The
linebacker must always keep the blocker at arms length, stay parallel
to the line of scrimmage and attack the outside half of the half-man.
*Lead blockers (Between the Tackles) – When a linebacker sees a
lead blocker coming to an inside window between the tackles, he
must attack him before he gets to the hole and deliver a neutralizing
blow. In order to neutralize the lead blocker the linebacker must
strike the blocker with both hands directly on the chest plate, grab
him by the jersey, press him, and force the running back to take a
side. The linebacker must strike the blocker squarely and not take a
side and create a hole.
Linebackers Page 3
Angle of Attack - As mentioned above a linebacker crew must
develop the ability to work together to be effective. There are three
basic first level attack angles that linebackers utilize; perpendicular
to gap range, 45 degrees to gap range and parallel to gap range.
Example 1 – If the window appears within the SAM gap range the
SAM then has a perpendicular angle, the MIKE a 45, and the WILL
parallel. The WILL must run parallel to the line of scrimmage and
come behind the MIKE to cover the backside of his MIKE. The
SAM is either trying to blow up the play in the window or force the
play over to his MIKE. If the ball gets by the MIKE the WILL is
there to shut the door and cut off any avenue of escape.
Example 2 – If the window appears within the MIKE gap range the
MIKE then has a perpendicular angle, the SAM and the WILL have
a 45.
Example 3 – If the window appears within the WILL gap range, the
WILL then has a perpendicular angle, the MIKE a 45 and the SAM
parallel. The SAM must run parallel to the line of scrimmage and
come behind the MIKE to cover the backside of his MIKE.
Angle of Attack (Sweeps) - When persuing a sweep or a run around
an end, linebackers must learn how to work as a unit and take proper
angles in order to shut down an outside running lane. The playside
backer becomes force and tries to keep his outside arm free and
force the running back inside or make the play if he goes to the
outside so his angle needs to take him to the ball carrier’s or lead
blockers outside shoulder. The Mike needs to find the window and
run to it and make the play if the RB cuts back inside of the OLB.
The backside backer is checking for a reverse action play first
(bootleg, counter or reverse) and then beginning to pursue flat to a
downfield angle after he ensures that no cutback against the grain
will take place.
Linebackers Page 4
Pass Reads – The pass read is no different that the run read as
previously described. The linebackers are looking for a pass block
from the offensive lineman within their gap range as they are
making their read step. When a pass block is recognized the
linebackers must quickly drop into their pass coverage zone or cover
the receiver that they are responsible for.
Zone Coverage – Each linebacker is responsible for a specific area
of the field in zone coverage. The SAM and WILL are looking for
short 10-12 yard hooks or curls in the flat. The MIKE is looking for
a drag route or crossing routes coming through his zone.
Linebacker Pass Coverage Areas
Linebacker positions after they have dropped into their zones. The
linebackers must drop to the back of their zones, keeping the
receivers in front of them.
Re-routing – As long as the ball is not in the air defenders are
allowed to knock receivers off course and disrupt their patterns.
Providing that the defender doesn’t grab the receiver and the ball is
not in the air this technique is within the rules. When linebackers see
receivers running routes within their zone they must make every
effort to re-route them to prevent them from running their patterns
effectively.
Dominant Position – The dominant position is a technique that pass
defenders use to out-position receivers in order to knock the ball
down, disrupt the timing of a receiver or even intercept the ball. On
a vertical route a defender gains the dominant position by keeping
his outside shoulder just in front of the inside shoulder of the
receiver and then make contact by bringing the outside arm across
the body of the receiver and then leaning the receiver to the outside.
To achieve the dominant position on a crossing route a linebacker
must focus on the topside shoulder of the receiver and keep his ballside shoulder in front of, and on top of the topside shoulder of the
receiver. By being in this position the linebacker maintains a
window to the ball and is in position to break on the ball or rake the
arms of the receiver as the ball arrives.
Defeating Blocks
Avoiding Blocks – Linebackers must always try to avoid being
engaged by a blocker, and the most effective tool that a linebacker
has to avoid a block is the rip technique. The rip allows a linebacker
to quickly get around a blocker and avoid engagement. The keys to
an effective rip are to stay low, quickly step through while bringing
the inside shoulder down and then punching upward. If engagement
is inevitable linebackers rely on the following techniques and
fundamentals to defeat blocks.
Pad Level - Good blockers will try to keep their pad level lower
than the player they are blocking in order to develop a leverage
advantage. Good linebackers on the other hand know this, and must
counter this by keeping their own pad level low and neutralize the
leverage of the blocker.
Keep Blocker at Arm’s Length (Press) - While maintaining a low
pad level, linebackers must grab the blocker’s jersey at chest level,
keep the blocker at arms length by using their arms to press them,
and not let the blocker get up into them.
Attack Outside Shoulder - While at arms length a linebacker must
then maneuver to attack the outside shoulder (half-man) of the
blocker while keeping his own outside shoulder free. (*Outside the
tackles)
Disengage - Once a linebacker is engaged and has out-positioned
the blocker and has him under control, he can then either rip through
the blocker or legally grab, throw, shove, push and do whatever he
has to do to get off of the blocker and either force the ball to a
teammate, blow up the play, or make the tackle.
Pass Blocks – When linebackers blitz the quarterback they must
rely on another set of tools to defeat pass blocks. These techniques
are the same techniques that defensive linemen use to combat pass
blocks.
Shuck: The shuck is a basic grab and throw technique where a
defensive lineman uses the blocker’s weight against him. The
defender executes this technique by pulling the blocker violently
towards him and then to the ground and then using a rip or swim to
get around him.
Club: The club is used to keep the blockers hands off of the
defender. The defender executes the club by bringing a forearm
down across the arms of the blocker.
Spin: A spin move is set up by rushing the outside shoulder of the
blocker and then when he commits to the rush, spinning hard to the
inside. On a pass rush it is important to spin only when the defender
gets as deep as the QB-never deeper.