OUR PROGRAM HAS been blessed with outstanding production from our linebackers. Our “mike” LB has averaged 126 tackles and our “buck” LB averaged 105 over two seasons. As an NCAA Division III school, hands-on coaching time is limited, so we’ve developed a system and style of LB play that has allowed us to turn loose these primary run-stoppers.
In our defense the LBs must be able to run and hit with great speed, while possessing outstanding football instincts. When we’re fortunate enough to have great athletes at the mike and buck spots, we try to stay out of their way and let them do their thing — run, hit and always be around the ball regardless of where it goes.

Attacking Downhill
Lateral movement is a term that doesn’t exist in our defensive terminology. LBs must attack everything downhill and play decisively. We use the term “attack jab” as our way to trigger a LB’s first step as he anticipates his keys.

Given all the elements that make up a game plan, LBs must know what to expect during the pre-snap “get-smart” time. They must know the down and distance, opposing personnel, field position, backfield sets, etc. Your LBs need to stem and prowl, press the line of scrimmage and try to disrupt the blocking assignments by adding movement and deception (blitzes).

Play Recognition
Defenders need to defeat plays as a defensive group, more so than having each player worry about what individual block is coming at them. “Play the play” is something you’d often hear coaches saying to our players. Since an eight-man front limits the plays that an opponent can run against us, our defenders need to concentrate on play recognition and how we defend a particular play. Good play-recognition ability allows the LB to defend with an automatic stimulus-response type of defensive flow.

LB Expectations
The following is a list of what we expect all LBs to meet in every game.

-  Anticipation Is Key. Great LBs play with their head and heart. LBs must do a pre-snap scan before every play and know what will happen at the snap with great situational awareness. Visual cues can give a defender a great sense as to what is coming.

-  Play With Balance. LB’s shoulders and hips must be square to the LOS at all times. They must play as a redirect player. LBs need to play as if their body is in a phone booth and control the hips and feet, keeping the toes squared.

-  Have Great Vision. Every second that a LB watches a play develop is 8 yards of space he could have covered — if he reads a play wrong or takes a step in the wrong direction, that player will have 8 yards to make up.

The smaller and more focused the sight key, the better a player’s concentration. Follow the saying “If you don’t know, don’t go! You will know soon enough.”

-  Aggressive Movement. LBs must go full throttle and play as if their hair is on fire!  Always attack and press downhill.

Swarm the ball with bad intentions.
-  Powerful Contact, Attack. LBs must beat every block and battle the breastplate of his opponent. Never catch an opposing player — instead “strike and sting,” making that guy close his eyes.

-  Make Big Plays Happen. The LB needs to be a big-play guy. Look for a minimum of one huge play from every defensive starting LB in every game.

LB Fundamentals

-  React Proactively. A LB’s initial attack step is toward the LOS at a 45-degree angle based on the back flow and line “feel.” Steps are quick, tight and taken in a rapid, jab-like progression (right-right, left-left).

-  Fill, Gap Responsibility. Key gap responsibility to the running back’s action. Fit through the down lineman off a stack relationship. Key the RB’s flow and watch his shoulders. Read the seams he’s reading and target his numbers.

-  “Hit And Git.” On contact with the opponent strike, sting, extend and escape. The best move is to not get blocked. If the LB plays with speed, the big boys will have to lean and lunge to find him. Learn three basic techniques to defeat blocks: “Butt And Bench” (base block), “Rip And Run” (reach block) and “Strike And Ride” (cut block).

-  “Rip, Wrap And Grab Cloth” Tackling. Come to balance (the LB’s stride shortens as the body gathers to make the tackle), continue the downhill path, eyes focus on the opponent’s far armpit and “rip, wrap and grab cloth” as the hips extend and feet explode. Combat the opponent viciously. The LB’s upper chest should blow up through the ball carrier’s lower chest.

-  Rip, Recover The Ball. The LB should always be trying to get the ball: strip it, punch it or tear out the back nose of it. If the ball is stripped loose, recover by wrapping into it, not on it. Secure the ball and bring the knees to the chest. Scoop the ball up and try to score if space allows.