Outside linebacker drills

ditto....mjbrophy@netexpress.net - I can send you the drills and progressions we implement in our 4-2 scheme...

We have a lot of different looks to have to implement out of the 4-2 so repping them can be tough, but it's all pretty simple stuff....

we base out of the 4-2 also.
are either of you interested in swapping OLB drills?
if so, my email is: sunshine2k1@mailcity.com
good luck to you.

Did these diagrams shift on you quite a bit? How do you play your CB's(rolled up hard, backed off?)

J.C.Easton

Hey Brophy,

In your cover #2 scheme, if you move your SOLB to a 9, does he drop or rush? If he rushes how do you stop the quick slant with the CB playing outside leverage? What front does this scheme compliment? I'm taking for granted that your SS is back on the hash on the strong side, correct or no?

J.C.Easton

Good morning, Coach

Thanks for your time. One more question; if your OLB (9 tech) plays curl and I send my TE on a 2 yd. speed out (flat) to the sideline and my WR runs a 7 yd. curl or hitch how do you cover that void? I run a play called simply
Y out- Z curl for this exact type of defense. I have the QB read the ss or olb, which ever the case(usually the ss)
and tell him that if the SS jumps the TE hit the curl right now. If the SS waggles back to take the curl away or squats to read, just hit the TE immediately. In our 1994 AFL Super Bowl win, we hit our first TD with this play by pumping the speedout, pumping the curl, and going back up top to the TE who hit the sideline on his original speed out and hooked it up without ever stopping. By the time the FS saw what was developing and started on the dead run at the correct pursuit angle it was too late! We took it 64 yds. which put it on their 4 yd. line and the very next play we swept it in.

J.C.Easton

Hey Brophy,

Thanks for your reply.

Coach Easton

We are struggling with defeating the kickout block by a FB (Power) or guard (G scheme or counter). We run a 5-2. It seems like the kids are so worried about giving up the outside that they aren't very aggressive and create a big hole. Our backs do a good job of bouncing it to the outside if possible. Is it asking too much for them to take on the block and squeeze the block down down while still taking away the corner. Any suggestions would be appreciated. We will be in trouble if this is not fixed. Sorry to change topics. I am having trouble making a new topic so I'm just replying to this one.

Coach CUI, this is an ongoing debate, and some coaches love the wrong arm technique, and it works great for them, so if you choose that route, you should be fine. Personally, I've always coached the DE's to take on the lead blocker low with the inside shoulder and forearm because by keeping the outside arm and leg free, the DE can then release outside and make/help on the tackle if the TB bounces after the DE blows up the lead block. I assume either a SS or CB has force, so by the time the TB decides to bounce it after the collision between the DE and lead blocker shuts down the C-gap, the force player should be close to the ball carrier with outside leverage and the DE can shuffle toward the ballcarrier with inside leverage, along with the ILB, and make the tackle. This is just what I'm personally more comfortable with.

One other thing, we've changed our technique if we get a FB lead block. We used to automatically squeeze laterally down the LOS to close the C-Gap if we got a down block from the TE, regardless of whether the kick out block was coming from the FB or a G. Now, we first check if the kick out is coming from the FB, and if it is, we attack the FB at a diagonal angle (basically the same angle he's using to kick us out), and take him on in the backfield with our inside shoulder and forearm. This has put a little more pressure on the runner and has forced him to decide to cut back or bounce deeper in the backfield, without opening up a running lane in the C-gap (which is what always used to scare us about allowing the DE to move past the LOS into the backfield). In turn, this has helped our LB's and force players to read the play and work to the point of attack a little earlier. If we get a down block from the TE and the FB goes away, we still use our old technique of staying on the LOS and squeezing the C-gap by taking on the pulling G with our inside shoulder and forearm, and we do not step into the backfield because even one step forward creates a running lane where the kick out block is coming horizontally rather than diagonally.

Just another perspective.

Hey Coach,
It is all semantics, but we need to be on the same page terminology wise. What your calling OSLB's, we call DB's. We call them "Tiger Backs" and they are the best athletes on the Defense, where in a conventional D your CB's are generally alluded to as the best athletes. Our everyday drills for our Tiger Backs are run pursuit drills where we emphasise correct angles(keeping the RB on his inside shoulder and funneling him inside), read drills key QB and WR's in passing situations looking for escaping split ends and flankers who are able to get off the jam of the CB's and taking away slants and curls, etc. reading flow on runs and being ever alert for inside runs being spilled to the outside perimeters, etc. We drill them incessently on the three areas of responsibility they have on every play (contain on the sweep, pitch on the option, flats on the pass) and stress never lose sight of the football! Losing sight of the ball causes premature bailing to the flats on such plays as sprint draws, etc. or any play action passing really if they fail to read and diagnose correctly. Stemming is the act of the defense to show one look in the PSL and then on or just prior to snap, move to another. Lots of teams stem at a certain point in the opponents QB cadence, when it is to late to audible out. You will see lines stemming by reducing on the frontside and eagling on the backside, secondarys showing cover one and then reverting SS's to cover two, or disguising
one coverage by giving a certain look in the PSL and then stemming on the snap, etc. Our inside backers read guards and then flow. My theory has always been that the guards are the windows to their soul. If they come straight ahead, here comes the dive back. If they pull, the ball is headed for the perimeters. In this day of false keys, it isn't 100% but it it is still a pretty darn good rule of thumb. Your guys who man these spots have to have both oars in the water at all times. Those moments of going brain dead cannot be afforded by your OLBs! It becomes readily apparent why they have to be the best athletes on the D!!! Sincerely hopes this helps some, coach. Let me know how it is working out for you here on the board, or you can contact me at : jerryeaston1@aol.com or coacheaston@hotmail.com

J.C.Easton