Linebacker Reads!!!

Coach Campbell,

Let me run some ideas by you. We are going to a 4-4 this coming season. Our head coach is wanting me to tell him what i want my linebackers to key. I've told him that i want to read near back or if uncovered the guards. He doesn't like it, but has no suggestions either. His main concern, as is mine, is that we want our lb's attacking and thus making it look like we are stunting all the time. This, I think, is almost impossible. If we attack, where do we attack. We've looked at several different ideas, but there is always a play or two that 'if this or this happens' we're screwed. I think that his main concern is the wing-t teams we play run a type of veer option at us. Then he's concerened about the counter option out of this. We run the midline and he's worried that teams will start copying us and how we will defend it.

My idea is that on veer option out of I, we are reading FB, if FB comes to us we attack and let DE play QB and Our outside linebacker, we call him Rover or Sam, take pitch with F/S coming QB to pitch. If FB goes away, we scrape and get our eyes on TB. If he is countering, we find a hole and try to get to him. If he is going down the line, we scrape checking all open holes. Does this sound right?

I'm looking for any and all help I can get with this, and Linebacker stuff in general. Anything you can contribute will be appreciated.

Coach B

Coach B, last week I had the opportunity to listen to Coach Pasqualoni talk about defending the Wing T and he had some very sound reads that he taught to his LBers. To be honest with you, I didn't take very good notes on the subject so I won't try to repeat what he said because I will only screw it up, but if you contact his secretary at Cuse (Patty), she can send you the notes and package . Ask her to send you the package on defending the Wing T and LBer reads. Hope this helps.

Coach I am sorry I do not have the number, but if you e-mail me your mailing address, I will make you a copy and send it out to you right away. MRAMSTEL@systec.com

Coach B,

We run a multiple 40--mostly 44. We teach our ILB's to read FB through guard-whether covered or uncovered.

Then we focus more specifically depending on the attack we're facing. For instance we play a couple of wing teams and I'd never try to read backs against the wing. I know some do it, but I would not. So our kids know that this week, the guards will take you where you need to go.

If we're playing a veer team that never pulls, we'll have our kids read FB (or near back if split backs) exclusively.

But our base read is FB through your OG.

"StoneCold" makes a good point too. If you have a kid that that has great instincts, teach him your reads, but if he just makes plays, don't inhibit him by giving him too much to think about.