LINDBACKER PLAY
PRINCIPLES OF LINEBACKER PLAY
1. CONCENTRATION IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ASSET.
2. RECOGNITION IS ESSENTIAL IN ORDER TO ANTICIPATE YOUR ASSIGNMENT.
3. NEVER GET CUT OFF.
4. DELIVER A NEUTRALIZING BLOW TO A BLOCKER.
5. PLAY SQUARE ACROSS A BLOCKER'S HEAD.
6. NEVER MISS A TACKLE.
7. NEVER TAKE FOR GRANTED THE TACKLE HAS BEEN MADE.
8. TACKLE THROUGH THE BALL CARRIER.
9. DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO GET IN ON EVERY PLAY.
10. TAKE PRIDE IN STAYING ON YOUR FEET. STAY OFF THE GROUND.
11. ALWAYS TAKE THE PROPER PURSUIT ANGLE IN ORDER TO HIT FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
12. SPRINT INTELLIGENTLY INTO YOUR PASS COVERAGE.
13. READ THE QB AND BREAK ON HIS THROWING MOTION.
14. HIT RECEIVERS MOVING THROUGH YOUR ZONE.
15. WHEN MAKING AN INTERCEPTION, CATCH THE BALL TWICE. ONCE WHEN YOU CATCH IT, THE OTHER WHEN YOU TUCK IT AWAY.
16. NEVER TIP OFF A BLITZ.
17. WHEN BLITZING, NEVER BE LATE ON THE SNAP OF THE BALL.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
BASIC INFORMATION
EVERY INSIDE LINEBACKER MUST KNOW FOR EVERY DEFENSE:
1. CALL - BOTH IN THE HUDDLE AND AT THE LINE.
2. ALIGNMENT - BE EXACT.
3. STANCE - MUST ALLOW MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY.
4. KEY - BOTH MOVEMENT AND DIRECTION.
5. RESPONSIBILITY - AREA YOU PRIMARILY DEFEND.
6. EXECUTION - MOVEMENT AND TECHNIQUE PERFECTION.
7. PURSUIT - PROPER ANGLE TO THE BALL.
8. TACKLE - TERMINATE THE PLAY.
MIKE LINEBACKER
STANCE: TWO POINT STANCE THREE YARDS OFF THE BALL NOSE ON THE CENTER. FEET PARALLEL, WEIGHT EVENLY DISTRIBUTED ON BOTH FEET, KNEES BENT, BUTT DOWN, ARMS IN FRONT, IN A NATURAL POSITION, SPREAD THE CHEST.
BASE KEY: YOUR BASE KEY IS THE HEAD OF THE CENTER. IF THE HEAD OF THE CENTER MOVES TO ATTACK EITHER TACKLE, YOU MUST EXPLODE STAIGHT AHEAD FILLING THE VOID OF THE CENTER POSITION. EXPECT TRAP AND DRIVE THROUGH THE BALL CARRIER. IF THE CENTER'S HEAD COMES STRAIGHT OUT AT YOU, STEP-UP INTO THE CENTER AND CONTROL HIM. IF HE TRIES TO CUT YOU OFF, FIGHT THROUGH HIS HEAD AND GET INTO YOUR CORRECT PURSUIT ANGLE. IF THE CENTER'S HEAD RAISES AND GOES BACK, GET INTO YOUR PASS DROP (DROP-STEP TO THE DOUBLE RECEIVER SIDE AND LOCATE THE INSIDE RECEIVER). STAY INSIDE AND UNDER THE INSIDE RECEIVER TO YOUR SIDE.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
STOP THE TRAP!
SUPPORT ALL RUNNING PLAYS FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
FILL HARD INTO THE B-GAP (WHEN KEY INDICATES) BY SCRAPING OFF THE BUTT OF THE DT.
ON OPTION, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIVE BACK. IF THE DIVE BACK DOES NOT GET THE BALL, YOU SUPPORT INSIDE OUT THROUGH THE QB TO THE PITCH BACK.
STOP THE DRAW AND SCREEN.
MAKE TACKLES SIDELINE TO SIDELINE.
WHEN PASS SHOWS, GET INTO YOUR PASS DROP (DROP-STEP TO THE DOUBLE RECEIVER SIDE AND LOCATE THE INSIDE RECEIVER). STAY INSIDE AND UNDER THE INSIDE RECEIVER TO YOUR SIDE.
YOU HAVE AN INSIDE OUT FORCE ON ALL PLAYS, SIDELINE TO SIDELINE, FROM THE A-GAP OUT.
1. KEY OFF CENTER, GUARDS AND NEAR BACK MOVEMENT. KEY THE HEAD OF THE CENTER FIRST, THEN THROUGH TO THE FB, AND KEEP THE GUARDS IN THE CORNER OF YOUR EYES.
2. ON WIDE PLAYS TO THEIR SIDE MUST SUPPORT THE DEFENSIVE END FROM THE INSIDE. IT IS UP TO THE CORNER AND HALFBACKS TO SUPPORT THE DEFENSIVE END FROM THE OUTSIDE.
3. ON OPTION, YOU HAVE THE FB OR DIVE BACK ALONG WITH THE TACKLES.
4. THE CENTER IS YOUR FIRST GOOD READ FOR RUN OR PASS. IF THE C'S HEAD GOES BACK, THINK PASS AND GET TO YOUR PASS DROP IMMEDIATELY (INSIDE RECEIVER TO THE DOUBLE RECEIVER SIDE).
5. IF C'S HEAD ATTACKS EITHER TACKLE, FILL IMMEDIATELY AND EXPECT TRAP. IF NOT TRAP THEN GET IN THE HIP POCKETOF THE PULLING GUARD FOR POWER PLAY, SWEEP OR PLAY ACTION PASS. DISRUPT THE PLAY FROM BEHIND.
SAM AND WILL LB'ERS:
STANCE: SAME AS MIKE LB'ER. DEPTH IS 3.5 - 4 YDS OFF THE BALL.
BASE ALIGNMENT: YOUR BASE ALIGNMENT IS ON THE INDSIDE EYE OF THE OFFENSIVE TACKLE TO YOUR SIDE.
BASE KEY: YOUR BASE KEY IS THE GUARD/TACKLE TO YOUR SIDE TO THE NEAR BACK (TAILBACK IF IN AN I FORMATION). THE TACKLE'S HEAD IS YOUR BEST RUN/PASS KEY. IF THE GUARD PULLS, FLOW WITH HIM BEHIND THE LOS ALWAYS MAINTAINING AN INSIDE OUT ANGLE ON HIM. THE RUNNING BACK WILL ALMOST ALWAYS CUT UP INSIDE THE BLOCK OF THE PULLING GUARD AND YOU WILL BE THERE TO MAKE THE TACKLE.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE B-GAP TO YOUR SIDE. WHEN THE B-GAP IS THREATENED, YOU FILL IMMEDIATELY.
ON PASS YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HOOK TO CURL TO FLAT (BACK OUT OF THE BACKFIELD TO YOUR SIDE.
ON OPTION YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIVE BACK TO YOUR SIDE.
ON WIDE RUNNING PLAYS TO YOUR SIDE, YOU HAVE AN INSIDE OUT ANGLE OF PURSUIT TO THE BALL. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FORCE MAN TO YOUR SIDE TO TURN THE PLAY INTO YOUR PURSUIT ANGLE SO YOU MAY MAKE THE TACKLE.
1. FIGHT PRESSURE. PLAY THROUGH THE HEAD OF THE BLOCKER TO THE BALL CARRIER. NEVER RUN AROUND A BLOCK.
2. MAINTAIN GOOD ANGLE OF PURSUIT TO THE BALL CARRIER. BE IN POSITION TO MAKE THE TACKLE.
3. IF YOUR BACK KEY GOES AWAY (TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FORMATION), THINK COUNTER OR REVERSE FIRST. CHECK FOR COUNTER, THEN SHUFFLE BEHIND THE LOS TO THE OTHER SIDE.
4. IF THE BACK GOES AWAY AND THE GUARD ALSO PULLS AWAY (PAST THE CENTER) SHUFFLE IMMEDIATELY TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BALL TO HELP MAKE THE PLAY.
5. IF KEYS SHOW PASS, LB DROPS TO HOOK ZONE AREA DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF DEFENSIVE END (STILL WATCHING FOR SCREEN). LB'ERS NEVER ORDINARILY GET ENOUGH DEPTH FOR THIS ADJUSTMENT. KEEP AN INSIDE POSITION GIVING END (OR SECOND RECEIVER) ONLY THE SIDELINE TO CUT TO. IF THE RECEIVER DOESN'T HOOK IN THIS AREA AND CONTINUES DEEP, THE LB TURNS HIM OVER TO ONE OF THE DEEP PASS DEFENDERS. LB THEN LOOKS TO THE INSIDE FOR THE CROSSING OR DELAYED RECEIVER AND COVERS HIM.
6. ON OPTION PLAY TO YOUR SIDE, YOU ARE FIRST RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIVE BACK. IF QB TAKES THE BALL TO THE OUTSIDE, YOU COME OFF THE DIVE BACK AND SUPPORT THROUGH THE QB TO THE PITCH BACK.
7. KEEP YOUR OUTSIDE ARM AND LEG FREE AT ALL TIMES.
PASS BASICS FOR INSIDE LB'ERS
1. THE BASIS OF ALL ZONE DEFENSES LIES IN THE ABILITIES OF ITS PLAYERS TO COVER ANY AND ALL RECEIVERS ENTERING THEIR ZONES.
2. FOR INSIDE BACKERS THE PRIMARY ZONES ARE THE HOOK AND CURL.
3. YOUR ABILITY TO READ RECEIVERS ROUTES AND COMBINATION PATTERNS WILL HELP POSITION YOU IN YOUR ZONE.
4. GET A DEPTH OF 8 TO 10 YARDS ASAP.
5. KNOW THE ALIGNMENT WIDTH OF THE RECEIVERS TO YOUR SIDE. THIS WILL GIVE YOU AN AIMING POINT FOR YOUR DROP PRIOR TO THE SNAP OF THE BALL.
6. YOUR ABILITY TO READ THE QB'S EYES AND SHOULDERS WILL GIVE YOU A JUMP ON HIS RELEASE OF THE BALL. USE YOUR PERIPHERAL VISION TO SEE THE FIELD.
7. BE ALERT FOR RECEIVERS COMING INTO YOUR VISION RUNNING SHORT CROSSING OR CHECK DELAY ROUTES. SQUARE YOUR SHOULDERS AND BE READY TO REACT UP ON SHORT RECEIVERS, OR ON "UNDER" OR "DELAY" CALLS FROM THE SECONDARY.
8. HAMMER ANY RECEIVER MOVING THROUGH YOUR ZONE TO INTERRUPT THE TIMING OF THEIR PATTERNS.
9. YOU MUST BREAK FOR THE BALL AS IT IS THROWN, AND COVER GROUND WHILE THE BALL IS IN THE AIR.
10. INTERCEPT THE BALL AT ITS HIGHEST POINT. "BINGO" IS THE CALL TO INDICATE INTERCEPTION. THE INTERCEPTOR SHOULD WORK TOWARD THE NEAR SIDELINE.
MAN COVERAGE FOR LB'ERS
1. DO NOT GET BEAT DEEP. KEEP THE RECEIVER IN FRONT OF YOU.
2. EYES ON RECEIVER'S WAIST. NOTICE BODY LEAN.
3. KEEP A TIGHT INSIDE-OUT CUSHION.
4. DO NOT LET THE RECEIVER GET TO A HEAD-UP POSITION, MAINTAIN LEVERAGE.
5. NEVER BREAK IN FRONT OF THE RECEIVER UNLESS YOU CAN GET BOTH HANDS ON THE BALL.
6. IF YOU HAVE NO CHANCE TO INTERCEPT, PLAY THE BALL WITH NEAR ARM AND HOOK THE RECEIVER'S WAIST WITH FAR ARM FOR TACKLE IF NEEDED.
7. IF BEATEN DEEP, KEEP EYES ON RECEIVER UNTIL YOU CATCH HIM. HE WILL RUN SLOWER WITH HIS HEAD TURNED LOOKING FOR THE BALL. WHEN HIS HANDS GO UP FOR THE BALL, YOUR HANDS SHOULD GO UP. LISTEN FOR A "BALL" CALL.
8. TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR ABILITY TO COVER ONE ON ONE.
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