I have used the acronym SACKER to summarize the six most important items a linebacker needs to be efficient and effective.

S - Stance
A - Alignment
C - Concentration
K - Knowledge
E - Evaluation
R - Responsibility What does a linebacker have to do well?

• Quick reads and reactions.
• Quick play recognition.
• Be more athletic.
• Taking on and getting off blocks.
• Tackling.
• Catching the ball.
• Effective at man-on-man coverage. Stance: Should be slightly forward and ready to go in all directions.

Stance Drill - Step with each foot in every direction, keeping power going forward. Get players in a stance and have players take a six-inch step with each foot in clockwise and counter clockwise manner taking one step. After that, do two steps while the shoulders stay square.
Alignment: Linebacker should be able to see everything, using peripheral vision. He should be shaded on the shoulder of the offensive lineman, five yards off the LOS.

Alignment Drill - For rapid formation alignment stance and key recognition, have five barrels as offensive linemen and six scouts or players line up in different formations. Use motion and shifts. Linebackers will make adjustments and tell the coaches their reads and gap responsibilities.

Concentration - Coaching Points
• Base or drive - Offensive lineman does a direct or soft step with near foot, towards defensive lineman.
• Reach - Bucket step with outside foot to near defensive lineman.
• Down block - Offensive lineman steps with his inside foot away from the near defensive lineman.
• Pass sets - High helmet with kick step backwards or a lateral step towards near defensive lineman.


Concentration Drill - Have a defensive lineman line up on the outside shade of the offensive lineman, linebacker on the inside shade. With hand signals, tell the offensive lineman to do a base, reach, fan, or a down block. Linebacker should mirror step and shuffle in the direction of the play.
Knowledge

Know the defensive call plus the strengths and weaknesses of the call. What can the offense do effectively?

Evaluation

• Evaluate the blocking scheme of offensive linemen for the running backs.
• Evaluate the offensive linemen’s feet blocking scheme –
1. Scoop - Inside step of one offensive lineman and an inside bucket step by near offensive lineman trying to take over defensive lineman.
2. Combination blocks/ Double team - Two base blocks, foot-to-foot, and hip-to-hip, blocking both sides of near defensive lineman (ball coming to your gap).
3. Fold block - Offensive lineman pulls in either direction.

• Quarterback and running backs path and flow –

1. The side the quarterback opens and his depth helps with recognition of play. The deeper the drop, the longer the play is developing.
2. Direct - Running back or backs running directly inside or outside.
3. Crossed - Running back or backs change their direction in a crossed action inside or outside.
Linebackers must be able to stay square and change directions quickly in the evaluation stage. What is the developing play?
1. Isolations, draw, quarterback and running back wrap.
2. Zone and stretch plays.
3. Power and counter plays.
4. Split zone, option and zone read.

Recognition Drill - Get two offensive linemen with one defensive lineman playing an outside shade technique on the inside offensive lineman. Have linemen double, scoop, and fold the defensive player. Linebacker reads the scheme and plays his responsibility.

Responsibility

Linebackers must know their play side and back side assignments and responsibilities.

1. Mirror the step of the individual offensive lineman.
2. Know scheme of near offensive linemen.
3. Know quarterback and running backs flow.

Barrel Drill - Have your linebackers step, shuffle and run square behind barrels. Finding and attacking the clear area, they need to be able to stop or go forward at any moment for a cutback.

Tackling instructions and Coaching Points –

1. Linebackers must be able to tackle sideline to sideline.
2. They must desire to be in on all tackles and accelerate to make tackle.
3. Keep knees bent.
4. Head on the ball on contact.
5. Lead with chest on tackle (chest to chest).
6. Keep leverage on tackles.
7. Turn all open field tackles into inside-out or outside-in tackles.
8. Widen base for power after contact.
9. Accelerate feet on contact keeping hips going in same direction.
10. Wrap up arms by the ball.
11. Grab cloth and do not let go.
12. Bring hips through, stepping on toes.

About the Author:
Tim Tobin was recently named the Linebackers Coach, Run Coordinator, and Special Teams Coach at Tusculum College in Greenville, Tennessee. For the past six seasons, Tobin was the Defensive Line, Kickers, and Strength and Conditioning Coach at Kutztown University.