Luca Venier
St. Edmund Campion
LINEBACKER TECHNIQUE
Stance
It is important to have a good stance as a linebacker because it helps eliminate
extra movements and allows you to move more quickly. You should be in a balanced
stance (not one front in front of the other) with your feet shoulder width apart and on
your toes. Your knees and hips should be bent at a 90 degree angle with your back
straight and your head up. Get comfortable doing this because this is also the best
position to make a tackle or take on a blocker.
Let your arms hang loosely in front of you with your elbows in tight and thumbs
facing forward. Also, keep your fingers wiggling. This will help concentration.
Pre-Snap Reads
The offence will often give clues about the upcoming play before it happens.
Always have your eyes open for these clues. Look across the entire offence and check
out their eyes, hands, feet and general demeanor. Often times, players on their offence
will stare at their assignments before the snap. For example, a tailback will stare to one
side or an O-lineman will focus on a specific player. Just by looking at their eyes, you
may be able to determine the direction of the play.
The OL’s hands and feet can help determine run or pass. If an O-lineman is
placing a lot of pressure on his hands or his feet are very staggered, the more likely he is
going forward. Therefore, it is probably a run play. If his feet are more balanced or there
is little pressure on the hand, likely the next play will be a pass. Finally, if you see a
guard giving a pass clue and the other O-linemen down in run position, starting thinking
counter/trap.
In terms of demeanor, always look for players who look or act disinterested.
Specifically look for sloppy stance, wandering eyes, gloves not strapped up or mouth
guards out. Receivers are notorious for this.
Once you see a clue, communicate it to your team mates and make a self
adjustment. My suggestion is take a half step in the direction of your clue. If you think
the ball is going left, set up a foot to the left. If you suspect run, then get tighter to the
line. Football is a game of inches and a half step in the right direction can often be a
huge advantage. Anticipation is good but guessing is very bad. Always play the your
keys.
Triangle Keys
It is very difficult for a linebacker to figure out what is happening on offence at
the snap of the ball without using keys. A key is something/someone that a defender
specifically watches and reacts to in order to get himself in the proper position. There are
several keys that coaches use to train linebackers. Some coaches use pure lineman keys
because they are the most honest. Other coaches focus on backfield keys because the are
the easiest to read and allow for linebackers to be more aggressive. At the college and
professional level, most linebackers use a triangle key.
Luca Venier
St. Edmund Campion
A triangle key means that the linebacker watches
three things at once; a specific lineman, the closest
running back and the QB. Depending on the defense,
triangle keys can get pretty complex.
However, I like to use a simplified version of a
triangle key for my linebackers which focuses on the
Offensive Guard, the Quarter Back and the near
Running Back.
Reading the Guard: the guard is the first thing you focus and you are only looking for
one thing: a pull. This is easy to spot and can be determined instantly. If the guard pulls,
screw everything else, go with him. If he doesn’t, shift you focus to the near RB.
Reading a Running Back: there are three Running Back
paths that you must know. They are the Sweep, Power
and Dive path. Depending on the defense, your reaction to
each path will be different. However, you must be able to
instantly recognize these paths and react very quickly.
Since, these paths can happen to the left and right, there
are six different reads that you must make. Always react
to a RB key. However, keep your eyes up and continue to
keep the QB in sight.
Reading the QB: The QB has the ball and ultimately the ball is what you are after.
Even though you are watching the Guard and Running Back, use your peripheral vision
to track the QB. You cannot fully commit to anything unless you know that the ball has
left his hands. However, do not immediately react to the QB, he is the third person you
must consider. Focusing on the QB is the easiest way to get fooled.
Luca Venier
St. Edmund Campion
Sample Triangle Keys for a Weak Side Linebacker in a “43 Over” defense:
Gap Responsibilities:
In this defense, the Will Linebacker is a 2 Gap
player. (B Gap and D Gap to his side).
Keys and Reactions:
Luca Venier
St. Edmund Campion
Pursuit:
Staying Square:
Staying square to the line of scrimmage is the most important aspect of pursuing
the football. Obviously, this is only the case when the ball is in front of you. If the ball
carrier gets past your position, turn your butt around and run. The reason we stay square
is to be better able to play cutbacks. If you turn your shoulders towards the sidelines, you
immediately give the ball carrier the opportunity to cut behind you.
Shuffling:
Shuffling your feet helps you be in the best football position possible: low and
square. It is also pretty slow. This is completely intentional. As a linebacker, your
coach has aligned you so that you can protect a specific gap or area. When a running
back gets the ball, the linebacker is immediately put in a bad position. If you don’t attack
the ball carrier, you may not get there in time. If you do attack him, he may cut back
through the area you were responsible for. Therefore, you must pursue the ball carrier
under complete control while always being in position to beat the ball carrier back to
your gap. The biggest running plays always happen when a running back cuts behind an
over pursuing backside linebacker. Until the ball carrier commits, being slow is good.
The only hint for shuffling well is to move forward as you shuffle. Don’t get into
the habit of shuffling laterally. Linebackers should always be moving forward.
Running like a Linebacker:
When the ball carrier commits, a linebacker will break out of his shuffle, open his
hips and start running. However, while you run, turn your body so that your shoulders
remain as square to the line of scrimmage as possible. If the ball carrier cuts back on
you, plant your foot and snap your hips back. This will quickly get you in great position
to make a tackle.
The Right Position
Always try to pursue a ball carrier at an equal depth and width. For example, if a
ball carrier is 3 yards in front of you, he should also be 3 yards wider than you. This is
the best possible relationship to protect from cutbacks while prevent the runner from
turning the corner.
Pressing:
Luca Venier
St. Edmund Campion
A Press, or Run Through, is when a linebacker fires through the line of
scrimmage in an attempt to make a tackle in the backfield. This is not a blitz. Rather, the
linebacker does it spontaneously based on what he sees.
Pressing is something all great linebackers do well. If you are pursuing and you
see an opening in the blocking scheme, think about running through it. Yes, it is risky
and no, you may not be coving your specific assignment. This means that if you take the
chance, you have to make the play.
This is something to work on in practice everyday. Look for press opportunities
during scrimmage and learn from your successes and mistakes. A linebacker who makes
good decisions and presses at the right time can be devastating to an opponents running
game.
Defeating Blocks
The Right Attitude:
As a linebacker, you must not try to run around blocks. Instead, you must take
them on aggressively. Train yourself to be personally offended that someone is trying to
block you. Punish them for it! It is important that you are in proper position to take on a
bock and that you are focused on the football. However, always deliver a crushing blow
to anyone who puts himself in a position to block you.
The reason we take on blocks is that it enables us to play cutbacks. If you simply
blow past a blocker to one side, the ball carrier will cut to the other side and will continue
up field. If you take on a blocker properly, you will be able to pursue the ball carrier to
both sides.
Pad Level:
Your pads MUST be under his. Get yourself into a good football position with
your ankles, knees and hips bent, back straight and head up.
Feet:
Correct foot placement is the most important aspect of taking on a block. In most
cases you will not take on a blocker straight on. Rather, you will try to gain inside or
outside leverage on your opponent. For outside leverage, stomp your inside foot hard on
the ground between his legs directly underneath his testicles. (Opposite foot for inside
leverage) The other foot should be back in a heel toe relationship. Your feet should also
be slightly more than shoulder width apart.
Poor foot placement can really hurt your performance. If you have your feet
staggered the wrong way, the blocker will turn your shoulders more easily. If your feet
are placed too wide apart or staggered to far, it will limit the amount of hip and leg thrust
you will generate. Finally, if you do not stomp your foot in the ground as you make
contact, you not be in full control of your body. This will reduce your ability to play the
cutback.
Hips and Legs:
As you make contact, violently straighten your legs and pop your hips forward.
Try to stay low as you do this so that the force of the impact goes straight into your
opponent. If your rise too high, you will deliver a weaker glancing blow and end up with
a high pad level.
Luca Venier
St. Edmund Campion
The majority of your power will come from good foot placement and good hip
and leg explosion. If you want to be a more powerful hitter, focus on good technique and
do lots of power cleans in the weight room.
Hands Part 1: The Forearm Shiver Technique
To deliver a proper shiver, you the same leg and arm combination. (i.e. left leg
up, make contact with leg arm and shoulder) Make a fist and place it in the middle of
your chest with your knuckles. Your other hand should at your side just like your were
about to reach for a gun strapped on your belt. As you make contact, thrust your forearm
and shoulder up into the blockers chest. At the same time, your other hand should fly up
and strike the blocker underneath the padding that covers his shoulder. If done well, you
should be able to hold your ground and gain good separation from the blocker. Through
the whole process, ensure that you stay square to the line of scrimmage.
This technique has advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that it is best
for delivering a hard blow to your opponent and protecting yourself from blockers who
have a lot of momentum. This disadvantage is that is more difficult to control your
blocker and eventually release from the block. This technique is very old school and not
widely used in the at higher levels of football. However, it is my personal favorite for
youth and high school players because it is fast and aggressive. Many younger players
try to catch blocker rather than attack them. The forearm shiver technique eliminates this
habit.
Hands Part 2: The Hand Shiver Technique
To deliver to hand shiver, your hands should start at your hips. As you explode
with your hips, shoot your hands quickly and try to lock out your arms. Make sure your
elbows are tight to your body and your thumbs are up. Always try to be loose and quick
with your punch, never hard. Your targets should the corners of his numbers. Grab his
jersey/pads and immediately turn the blocker’s shoulders by pushing with one hand and
pulling with the other. All the while, you should stay square to the line of scrimmage.
When done well, this technique is far superior to a forearm shiver. However, it is
easily done poorly.
Releasing from the Block:
If you have made contact properly, your should be able to see into the backfield
by looking around the blocker. Never look over a blockers shoulder to find the ball
because high pad level will hinder your ability to release from the block.
When releasing from a block, move your same hand and leg together. If, for
example, you were releasing to the left, you would start by taking a long 45 degree step
with your left foot. At the same time you would execute the first part of the release move
with your left hand. It doesn’t matter what you do (pull down on his jersey, swat his
shoulder, smash his wrist, jam his elbow inside etc), as long as it is very quick and
violent. Then you would take a long step with your right leg that will put you past the
blocker while simultaneously performing a rip or swim move with your right hand.
(reverse this process if you are releasing to the right)
If using a swim move, make it as compact as possible. Instead of bringing your
arm high in the air, try punching though his shoulder. With a rip, it’s the opposite
situation. Rip as high as you possibly can.
Luca Venier
St. Edmund Campion
You should blow past him with your second step. On your third step, get square
with the line of scrimmage in a low and balanced stance. From this position, you can
make a tackle or pursue in any direction.
Playing the Pass:
2 Simple Rules for Zone Coverage
Get Deep:
Your zone responsibility will most likely cover a depth of between 5 and 15
yards. The first 5 yards after the line of scrimmage are called the “No Coverage” Zone.
Don’t worry about anyone until they are 6 yards deep. Always stay deeper than the
deepest man in your zone.
Also, when a man enters your zone, you must immediately get depth on him.
Never try to close the distance without getting on top of his position. In this way, you
will be able to have the QB and Receivers in the same line of sight. Always remember,
in zone coverage depth is better than width.
Squeeze in, squeeze out:
Playing Zone does not mean standing in one spot and waiting. Rather you are
playing man-to-man on the deepest receiver in a specific area. Therefore, as soon as a
receiver enters your zone, cover him immediately. Stay on him until he exits your zone.