LBers Taking on block with hands or shoulders

It takes one heck of a LB to be able to just use hands on an O-linemen. We go with something similar to Hang 50. Our 3 point is to get same foot planted in the ground as the shoulder you are going to hit with. The foot should be in the ground at or just before contact as you don't want to get caught with it in the air. We have the LB drive his shoulder pads just below the blockers shoulder pads keeping his shoulders square. His forward foot should be pointed straight ahead and splitting the crouch of the blocker. For us the hands now come into play. We have them place hands into the breastplate - inside hands win - and use them to control the blocker. (Push/pull technique, whatever you may want to do) For us we found that the biggest key is to keep the feet moving. Most of the time when contact is made the LB goes hard to make contact, then stops his feet. We really emphasize feet movement as it allows the backer to drive the blocker back or get off of him.

Again, I'm coming from the opinion that my LBs are not usually very big so I have to have them hit hard with the shoulder and drive their feet first and then use their hands to control the blocker second. Hands begins in the 2nd step.

I agree with Coach Easton. You will need hands to defeat the blocker, however, you have to be able to stand up the blocker also and that takes hips, shoulders, etc.

Coach,

Thanks for your input. You are currently talking to our O-coordinator on another thread about drops and breaking points for receivers. We are the guys who have slow kids. We will actually have a couple of kids quicker than 4.8 next year!

I think we are on the same wave-length in terms of getting arms extended. I teach my LBs to get extension as quickly as possible. We follow the Lou Tepper theory of making contact and extending arms. He preaches to have a good base (same arm, same foot), stay square, etc. He also has his LBs use the shoulder pads to contact stop the blockers initial progress. When two kids come together quickly they will end up mashing pads. We don't want our LBs to stay in tight as the blocker will win that battle every time. We work hard to gain separation by extending arms. Are we saying the same thing here or do you lead with the arms?

Todd

I'd love to hear some new ideas, but what I've found effective with my backers is how to properly deliver the forearm shiver, which evolves into the hand extension.

This may sound weird, but the kids pick up on it quick. Here are my simple points of taking on blockers. (when we're getting around blockers, we preach the "Big Rip" through the half-man).

1."Kick in the Nuts" - we teach that the INSIDE foot must split the crotch of the blocker and PLANTED displacing all power the blocker was generating and establishing a solid base for the backer to deliver a blow.
2. "Pad Level" - pad level, of course, HAS to be lower than the blocker (naturally) - to 'coil' the hips for the explosion.
3. "Strike" - making contact up and under with the forearm across the body (nice and tight elbows), it's important for the kids NOT to extend the forearm before the blow like some wicked clothesline or punch....the HIP ROLL is what is going to lift the blocker.
4. "Hip Roll" - once the base is set, explode the hips through into the blocker keeping the feet moving. The INSIDE forearm naturally lifts as the hips roll and can be pressed for further separation. Kids shy away from this, but with any kid in HS, they're all motivated by the girls --- I just tell them practicing the "hip roll" will make them a better 'boyfriend'....lol
5. "Seal" - this is the final stage of sealing the gap after the backer crushes a blocker in the hole, simply jumping into the void ready to make the tackle on the ball carrier.

Brophy
That is pretty much what I have been teaching also and I find it makes the kids more aggressive at filliing holes than leading with the hands. I found leading with the hands tended t make the kids stands up more and try to read as opposed to being aggressive and hitting the hole. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of using the hands, My experience is as an oline coach and I understand how valuable getting your hands on someone can be, I just feel that it has actually made my kids less aggressive.
I have used hands more with the dlineman and find that to be more aggressive.

GREAT point, there, galdrapann! Yes, I believe there is a perception issue there....In playing hands, I feel you're wanting to get a better read of a play and not really concerned on giving up ground. IMO, the hands is a great technique for DBs (what our DB coach teaches)....I've found that when our BACKERs use hands they are too tenative and we would get ate up on Isos and Powers if they attempted to use hands. We try to limit their responses (thinking) so they are just going to perform a series of tasks to eliminate a play....kind of like "dance steps" (less thinking) - (example; if double team on nose, look for lead back on Iso and cream him with the technique listed above....) we want our guys either Filling or tackling by their third step.

For our inside guys, it's "action to me, fill hard make the tackle"....action playside...."shuffle, shuffle, STING IT"....action away, fill backside gap