44 backers

In our 4-4 reads we do not teach the ILB's gap control, clear/cloudy, fits etc. We stem and stunt our front so much it would be impossible for them to know their initial gap assignment. I agree with Coach Easton find the ball and attack inside-out, hence the name inside linebacker. If they make their read and find the ball the fits will take care of themselves.


From Our Playbook - Backer Read Progression
"Read Guards to Backs, Check Your Guard 1st, Then look to the Backs, If Guard is Pass Setting Your thoght process
is Draw/Screen/Contain/Pass, If your Guard Pulls, Attack the Pulling Guard on an Inside-Out angle as if to Tackle
Guard, as you attack pulling guard look to the Backs, If he Drive Blocks, Down Blocks or Double Teams you
have a Run Read, Inside Backers always attack Ball Carriers on an Inside-Out Angle, Do not Attack Past the Ball "
"Vs. Run Read - Attack Guard Pull, Inside Guard Pull is a Trap or Counter, Outside Guard Pull is a Sweep or Waggle,
If Guard Blocks Down Inside, Fill Hard Straight Ahead-Ball is Coming Right at You, If Guard Drive Blocks or
Double Team Blocks check Backs, If Guard and Entire Line Reach/Stretch Blocks play Outside Run"
"After getting initial read Check Backs and Find Ball, If Back is Coming Right at You, Attack Him, Take Him on at
the LOS, keep your outside arm free, If Back is Going Wide to Your side, scrape at an angle up to the LOS just outside
of the TE, Outside Backer must turn in Wide Play, Stay Inside-Out and Behind Ball Carrier, If Backs are going away,
Buzz Feet, Play Counter Action back first, once you see ball handed off, attack at an Angle, As an Inside Backer you
almost always attack at angle, and you always stay inside-out to the ball, If you read play as a Wide/Stretch/Sweep
away from you then you want to Lateral Run from your alignment, but once again staying behind the ball carrier"
"Vs. Pass Read - You Read a Pass Set from your guard and the backfield then the thought process is
Draw/Screen/Contain/Pass, Once you make Pass Read, Do not Move and check for Draw 1st,
Attack Ball carrier on Draw Immediately, Secondly, once Draw Threat is Gone, stay in same postion and check for
Screen, Read linemen and backs leaking to the Flat, Once you read Screen, Attack Screen Back Immediately, the Key is to beat the Linemen to the Spot, You can do this with a Quick Read, Once Draw Threat is gone and Screen Threat is
gone your next responsibility is Late Contain on the QB, Do not Start Pass Drop unitl QB sets his feet and you are
sure he is not sprinting or scrambling out of the pocket, at this point you can make a Pass Drop, You have already been checking QB, QB will have already determined which side he is throwing to, If QB is looking to your side get hips open and Sprint Back/Lateral Run at 45 as fast as you can, keep eyes on QB, Break on Ball, If QB is looking to opposite side,
then flip hips to that side but drop straight back, Sprint Back/Lateral Run Straight Back as fast as you can,
keep eyes on QB and Break on the Ball, As you get into your drop, at any time if QB breaks contain(moves outside of
the Tackle), Plant and Re-direct and take good angle to intersect QB for a short gain, He might gain 3 or 4 yards
but you must be there for late contain and give up a short gain at worst.