Need Help withLB Individual Period

Send me your e-mail and Ill forward you a google video of Jerry Sandusky of Penn State doing a clinic on LB play with the PSU linebackers..

I will email you some GOOD (but relatively safe) TACKLING DRILLS I got years ago from the great Ara Parseghian (ND).

This is good also:

Linebacker Drills*
From Football Skills & Drills by Thomas Bass


It is a good idea to practice getting off the ball and hitting with the shoulder pads and hands against a big bag or sled before taking on offensive blockers. Of course, a bag or sled does not attack the way an offensive lineman will.

Starting Forward to the Blocker

Purpose: To improve quickness getting off with the snap.

Procedure:


1. The coach sets up at the center’s position on one knee with a ball on the ground. Linebackers line up in their normal alignment on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage.
2. When the coach moves the ball, the linebacker moves.
3. This drill is good for fine-tuning starts from many different positions.



Variations: This drill is also good for practicing starting on a blitz. The coach should clearly define the start they are working on. To use the drill to practice starting in pursuit moving laterally to the ball carrier, the setup is the same except that the coach calls out the direction of the pursuit after moving the ball. To practice starting when dropping into zone coverage, the setup is the same except that the coach raises the ball into the air to alert the linebacker to drop. To practice starting when dropping into man-to-man coverage, the setup is the same except the coach calls out man coverage before moving the ball.

Coaching Points: Players should go one at a time. They should line up in their normal stance before the movement of the ball. The focus is on the first two or three steps of each movement.



Beating the Drive Block

Purpose: To reinforce proper technique when defeating the drive block and shedding the blocker.

Procedure:


1. The coach stands to the side of the linebacker. Another linebacker serves as the blocker.
2. To start the drill, the coach calls out the snap count and the backer's gap responsibility.
3. On the snap, the linebacker moves to defeat the drive block. Run the drill at half speed at first. Increase the tempo as the defensive man masters the proper technique.



Coaching Points: The linebacker needs to move forward to meet the blocker. His head should always end up on the side of his gap responsibility.



Defeating the Hook Block

Purpose: To reinforce proper technique when defeating a hook block and separating from the blocker.

Procedure:


1. The coach stands to the side of the outside linebacker. The outside linebacker lines up in front of a player in the tight end position. Another outside linebacker can serve as the tight end.
2. The coach calls out the snap count to start the drill.
3. On the snap, the linebacker moves to defeat the hook block.



Coaching Points: Begin the drill at half speed, then work up to full speed. The line-backer needs to get both hands on the blocker while he is still moving laterally.



Defeating the Angle Block

Purpose: To reinforce proper technique for defeating the angle block.

Procedure:


1. The coach lines up to the side of the linebacker. The linebacker and two offensive linemen get into position at the line of scrimmage.
2. The coach calls the snap count to start the play.
3. The linebacker should look at the offensive lineman in front of him and react to the angle block.



Coaching Points: The backer must step at the angle blocker and lean into his block. The hand opposite the block needs to be driven into the shoulder pad of the blocker to knock him off balance. Initially the drill should be run at half speed.



Defeating the Trap Block

Purpose: To reinforce proper technique for defeating the trap block and escaping the blocker.

Procedure:


1. The coach lines up in the offensive backfield with a tight end or offensive line-man and a trap blocker on the other side of the formation. Always have an offensive blocker directly in front of the linebacker. The trap blocker comes from the opposite side of the formation.
2. Each linebacker lines up in his position.
3. The coach calls the snap count to start the play.
4. Each linebacker reads the man in front of him blocking to the inside and then reacts to the trap block.



Variations: Inside linebackers can also use this drill to practice reading blocks and looking for the blocker. To use this drill to practice defeating the lead blocker, the setup is the same except another blocker is added to the backfield. This second blocker lead blocks the linebacker.

Coaching Points: The linebacker should turn to face the trap or lead blocker. Make sure that he attacks the blocker and does not sit and wait. Run the drill at half speed until the linebacker has the proper technique.


Pass Pattern Recognition Drills

James Farrior (I coached him in High School)
Photo by Grant Halverson
Getty Images

Drill: Pass Pattern Recognition I (Back to Either Side Running Wide Pattern)

This drill is run without throwing the ball. It teaches the linebackers to watch where the running backs are going in order to know what patterns the wide receivers are running and to adjust their drops accordingly.

If the back to the linebacker's side runs a "wide" pattern, the wide receiver will be running a hook pattern to the inside. The linebacker with the outside zone knows that he must stay as wide as the back. The next linebacker to his inside then must widen his drop, anticipating the wide receiver coming to the inside.

Drill: Pass Pattern Recognition II (Backs to Either Side Running "Stop" Pattern)

When the back to a linebacker's side runs a "stop" pattern, both linebackers on that side should be alerted that the outside receiver is running an "out" pattern. The linebacker in the outside zone now understands that he must get wider in order to be in position to break up the pass.

Drill: Pass Pattern Recognition III (Back to Weakside Running "Angle" Pattern) (Back to Strongside Running Angle Pattern)

When the linebackers see an offensive back to their side run an "angle" pattern, they should realize that the wide receiver will be trying to run a deep "in" pattern.

The outside linebacker no longer needs to get width and should try to slide in with the wide receiver. The inside linebacker must realize that he must get as much depth as possible it he is to stop the pass.

Drill: Pass Pattern Recognition IV (Both Backs Away from Tight End, First Back "Wide")(Both Backs Away from Tight End, First Back "Stop)

Each of the linebackers must read the movement of both running backs when the side of the offensive formation with the three receivers changes. The outside linebacker away from this movement knows that there is only one receiver out wide, so he can stiop thinking about width and drop back on a straigher line. The inside linebacker on the same side now must come back more to the center, directly in front of the quarterback. The two linebackers on the side of the backs movement now must read the first backs pattern for a key to the wide receivers pattern. If the back goes wide, they should expect a hook pattern by the wide receiver.

Should the first back run a stop, they should look for an out pattern, and all the linebackers should adjust their drops for the anticipated pattern. The outside linebacker should widen his drop to be in position to stop the out pass.

Pass Pattern Recognition V (Both Backs Away From Tight End, First Back "Angle")(Both Backs Away from Tight End, First Back Deep)

When the first back runs an "angle," the linebackers automatically must think of an "in" route run by the receiver on the outside. The inside linebacker on the side of the two backs must keep his depth and not succumb to the natural temptation of following the crossing back.

If the first back runs deep up the field, this is an indication that the outside receiver also is running a deep route. The outside linebacker should be alerted to get more depth, expecting the back to try to get behind him near the sideline.

FricFrak

Reply to this e-mail address and I'll forward the video..

jsv14@verizon.net

Deac14,
I also work with LB's, could you please send me a copy?
georgiatwan@yahoo.com