The 5 step progression to developing great linebackers. Whether youre training inside during the winter or outside during the spring, these drills can be applied at any place and time during your football training. These are based on what is most important for your players. You can never have to many drills to make practice more productive and interesting. Linebacker drill purpose teach runners to attack the hole and drive hard, and teach tackling positions to read a ball carrier and stop the attack. The coach is about 3 yards behind the center, standing in a t position. The one man sled is a great tool, this drill helps the linebacker learn to lock um up then find the ball linebacker drills. A linebacker must be able to make a quick read of an offensive players movement and then step forward in that direction. Linebacker read drills for youth football coaching linebackers. Backpedal purpose to develop good body position during the back pedal and improve reaction time. Kalamazoo college 1200 academy street kalamazoo, michigan 490063295 usa info 269. Former university of alabama outside linebackers coach sal sunseri coaching during linebacker drills from the march 27, 2009 practice. Eventually, a successful linebackers fundamentals will be committed to muscle memory and hell be able to position himself to react to offensive threats with maximum speed and efficiency.
Using cornerback drills is the best way to develop young players into learning the skills needed for success at the position. On command, dl will twohand punch hand shield 1st, then hand shiver the butt of the stepover dummy 2nd, then repeat. There are four players in this linebacker coverage drill. The linebacker wholl run the drill first lines up between the short defender and the tight end in a proper stance. Also, we include explosive drills such as medicine ball tosses, jumps, and sprinting in our training. Being the leader in the middle of the defense in football is no easy job, but somebody has to do it. The inside and middle linebacker drills below are designed to build a complete leader to anchor the middle of the defense.
The drills mesh well with a 425 scheme or a singlegap fitting 34 okie. A combination of speed, strength and agility training are key. Linebacker drill 1 this is a simple drill that can be used to teach several fundamentals of playing the linebacker position. Eastern carolina 33 stack defense free download as word doc. The default responsibility for the linebacker is to read and react to the open offensive lineman to the lbs side of the field. For more useful tips on coaching youth football, log on to. If the offensive lineman recoils in pass protection, the lb steps back and to the outside a few steps offering p ass coverage in the short hook zone. This video covers some actual drills you can use today to build your linebackers. They are responsible for stopping the run, covering the pass and rushing the passer. Eventually, a successful linebacker s fundamentals will be committed to muscle memory and hell be able to position himself to react to offensive threats with maximum speed and efficiency. The success of a linebacker stopping a run play for minimum gain lies in his ability to read the play and react to it without hesitation.
Everything in this video was developed by coach gush. The guard read drill is the perfect drill to practice this skill and can be done every day so the linebackers naturally read their guards without thinking. Nfl strangestmost unusual plays of alltime duration. The following drills are ones that you can use to improve getoff reaction, hand speed, explosiveness, separation, leverage, and pass rush without the use of helmets and shoulder pads. Place 5 bags on the ground, two yards apart, parallel to each other. Drills react and catch snrint to dropped ball increase. Naked pass an offensive play where the quarterback fakes the running. Today im going to talk to you about linebacker drills for stopping the run. Jan 29, 2010 in a 43 defense, the middle linebacker mike is in strong a gap, the strong backer sam is in strong c gap, and the weak backer will is in weak b gap diagram 1. Jun 06, 2017 texas longhorns linebacker football drills duration. Diagram 1 if there are two or more wide receivers to a side, the backer to that side splits the difference between the no.
Linebacker baseball youth football drill coaching youth football tips, talk. He motivates his teammates by his desire to be the best player he can be. Linebackers have a demanding role on the football field. Good stuff from the 2009 harrisburg glazier clinic. Drills denny marcin new york jets consultant defensive line pass rush skills and drills.
In a 43 defense, the middle linebacker mike is in strong a gap, the strong backer sam is in strong c gap, and the weak backer will is in weak b gap diagram 1. Apr 15, 2016 we can coach linebacker in five phases. Each qb will take instructional videos home with him for the summer to continue. Whether you want outside drills andor defensive drills, the following techniques will help you get better at the game. Shuffle hips drill linebacker shuffle hips drill works on developing quickness and change of direction as well as keeping good linebacker position and never crossing feet. These linebacker drills prepare him to do his best on stopping the run. Notre dame lb football drills for coaches football defense, football coaching drills, football 101. Coach pickens takes his group through the drills that made his defense dominating. Lay a tackling dummy on its side midway between 2yard markers 5 yards and about 2 yards from the sideline. Tom bass has also developed drills for defensive backs, running backs, defensive lineman, and wide receivers, as well as other positions. During this blog post, were going to talk about individual youth football drills that we use to develop the fundamentals and principles of play for our linebackers. The linebacker mirrors the ball carriers movements. At the snap, the quarterback takes a 5 or 7step drop as the linebacker reacts to the tight ends route. The important point to remember is that you need to practice these drills everyday, keep yourself motivated, and always look at the end goal.
H f chutes coach dum m iesblack e t g c g t e q f coach h w m s y iso read drill. Urunning drive blocking, part i one main difference between a regular drive block and a running drive block is that the defender has a greater opportunity to move to his right or left, reacting to the offensive blockers path. As quickness improves, coach can back up another yard or two. After shedding low block, lb turns and sprints to execute angle tackle on rb. A linebacker has to be able to uncoil his hips into the blocker to shed. Linebacker drills to stop the run joe daniel football. Legendary linebackers such as dick butkus, bill romanowski, and lawrence taylor were known as being vicious enforcers who aimed to punish whoever held the ball. Mar 24, 2011 a linebacker has to be able to uncoil his hips into the blocker to shed. In this section, youll find our 25 favorite linebacker drills for speed, agility, runstopping, pass rush, tackling, coverage, and interception skills. This drill requires two linebackers, two guards and two running backs. A bearcat linebacker is tough, aggressive, and confident. Denny marcin, consultant for the new york jets, gives a lot of detail on pass rush, defensive line drills, and more.
Description this drill is a full speed backward drill in a 5 yd. Second level defenders need to learn how to protect themselves against blocks in space, so many of the following drills are centered around the proper hand placement and escape techniques to do so. Qb and backs run 506070 pass game versus live backers. Linebacker drills in addition to strength, speed and explosion, linebackers coverage skills will also be on display at the nfl combine. This video demonstrates the readstep drill, one of the simplest football drills to help linebackers to develop quick footwork and mirror the moves of an offensive player. Feb 15, 2011 mississippi 5a state champs 2 years running, west point high schools defensive linebacker corp is well trained. On the coachs command of score, the ball carrier runs up the nearest alley between two of the bags and attempts to get across to the linebackers side. Defenders will place toes on the line in a good stance and the body position chin over toes. Tony franklin seminar run game football 101, football workouts, football. Usually, this is a guard but may be the tackle in some alignments.
Purpose to work on speed, agility, and tackling technique drill setup place 4 cones in a. By practicing certain fundamental movements and strategies, a linebacker can begin internalizing his skills. The coach tells the tight end to run a flat, cross or vertical route. These speed drills teach the brain to send signals to the muscles quickly and efficiently. Proper linebacker stance the first drill well do will get your players into the proper stance.
Piano drill shed and throw read the play and react. Setup players in two lines, facing each other 5 yards apart, one line with the ball for running, the other line as tackling. Basic linebacker fundamentals and drills the art of. Mississippi 5a state champs 2 years running, west point high schools defensive linebacker corp is well trained. If youve done power clean or hang cleans, you know its a different action that requires practice just to get right. The linebacker square drills are ideal drills to work on footwork on all phases of linebacker play simultaneously.
The linebacker reacts by filling the hole to tackle the ball carrier. Dec 19, 2014 using cornerback drills is the best way to develop young players into learning the skills needed for success at the position. Motion a presnap lateral movement by someone in the offensive backfield. The kids didnt pay to become cross country athletes. We expect each qb to work on skills and throw, throw, throw, throw record in log for spring and summer. Each qb will be expected to participate in our weight program, agility drills, speed work, and lead all passing work with receivers fun. Linebacker position grouping between the defensive line and the defensive backs, slightly off the line of scrimmage. The linebacker requires the most versatility of all the positions on the defensive side of the ball. While at baylor he developed several standout lbs and two allbig 12 members 20112016.
Naked pass an offensive play where the quarterback fakes the running play one way and exits the other way with no protection. Dl will start the drill in a 3point stance and to the left of dummies. We want the lb to perform these drills with great form, so they do not create dysfunctional movement patterns. How to be an excellent linebacker with pictures wikihow. On the coachs command of score, the ball carrier runs up the nearest alley between two of the bags and attempts to get across to the linebacker s side. The linebacker lines up straight across from the qb. Texas longhorns linebacker football drills duration.
Both 34 inside linebackers and 43 middle linebackers have a similar role in the defense. You tube football position drills matt and steve snyder table of contents links hold ctrl and click to go to page offensive wide recievers quarterbacks offensive line running backs defensive defensive line line backers defensive backs form tackling team special teams team drills competetive drills mat drills drill diagrams. Start in 3 pt stance, on count run thru chute and base blockdrivestrike and finish. Execution coach stands behind tackler and using hand, directs. He squares up, attacks, and drives the ball carrier back.
Bearcat linebackers give great effort on game day, practice day, and workouts involving the weight room and conditioning aspects. Linebacker coverage drill lb pass defense drills football. To teach linebackers techniques to defeat blocking schemes. Plenty of info to help improve for the next practice or big game. Behind the scenes look at how the florida nutrition staff fuels the gators on the road. Principles, progressions of the linebacker position. Jan 27, 2017 the drills mesh well with a 425 scheme or a singlegap fitting 34 okie. Linebackers are known for being among the toughest and most relentless players on the field. There are two drills today that im going to use to emphasize the most important characteristics of a runstopping linebackers and the first one would be to defeat blocks. To improve pass rushing technique and pass pursuit technique number of players. However, if your looking for techniques or info on how to be a better linebacker this is not the book. A better book would be lou teppers complete linebacking.
Stopping the run and tackling are great, but the best cornerbacks can cover in both mantoman and zone defenses. This drill simulates the qb making a lane 1 action and lets the linebacker get his hands on the football linebacker drills. Check out the following drills for the running drive block. The best linebackers must be agile, strong and quick enough to read and react to a play. Killer youth football linebacker fundamentals and drills. Make multiple lines, and get more coaches involved.