LINEBACKERS

GAPS & DEFENSIVE

ALIGNMENTS
GAPS

D C B A A B C D

ALIGNMENTS

7 6 6i 5 4 4i 3 2 2i 2i 2 3 4i 4 5 6i 6 7

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
 BASIC FUNDAMENTALS
1. PREPARATION
WE MUST STUDY THE DEFENSIVE GAME PLAN THAT IS
GIVEN WEEKLY.

WE MUST BE GREAT AT STUDYING FILM; THIS IS VITAL IN

KNOWING OUR OPPOSITIONS TENDENCIES, STRENGTHS,
AND WEAKNESSES.

THIS SEPERATES GREAT PLAYERS FROM GOOD PLAYERS

2. ALIGNMENT/ASSIGNMENT
o SINCE WE ARE A GAP CONTROL DEFENSE WE MUST BE PRECISE
WITH OUR ALIGNMENTS
o WE WILL CHEAT OUR ALIGNMENTS ACCORDING TO BACKFIELD SETS
AND FORMATIONS
o WE WILL RECOGNIZE WHO THE POTENTIAL FREE RELEASE BLOCKERS
ARE.
o WE MUST KNOW WHERE OUR SAFETIES RUN FITS ARE

3.STANCE OTP/FBI
EACH INDIVIDUAL LINEBACKER HAS A UNIQUE STANCE
o IF THE INDIVIDUAL CAN MOVE EFFICIENTLY DONT CHANGE
THEIR STANCE
 BASIC FUNDAMENTALS
4. EYE PROGRESSION OTP/FBI

ORGANIZED THOUGHT PROCESS

o PERSONNEL
o BACKFIELD FORMATION
o FORMATION ADJUSTMENT (OL STANCE) (WR ALIGNMENT)
o DOWN AND DISTANCE
FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE
o GAME PLAN SCOUTING REPORT
o FILM STUDY
o PRACTICE REPS
o COACHES FEEDBACK
o POST-SNAP: WE MUST BE ABLE TO TRANSFER OUR
EYES FROM KEY TO KEY (O-LINEMAN TO BACKS TO
PASS RESPONSIBILITY)

5. START/FOOTWORK
o EVERYTHING STARTS WITH OUR FOOTWORK; WE MUST
GET OUR MOMENTUM AND BASE GOING WITH OUR KEY
AND BACKFIELD FLOW
o WE WILL MIRROR OUR KEY WITH A SIX INCH SHUFFLE
REPLACE STEP
o OUR SECOND STEP DEPENDS ON OUR KEY AND
BACKFIELD FLOW (SHUFFLE-SHUFFLE-SHUFFLE-GAIN
GROUND OR SHUFFLE-RUN)

6. READ AND REACT

o WE MUST KNOW ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF
BLOCKS THAT WE WILL SEE AND WHAT OUR REACTION
WILL BE TO THOSE SPECIFIC BLOCKS
o BASE, REACH, DOWN, PULL, PASS
 BASIC
FUNDAMENTALS
7. ESCAPE
o ESCAPES ARE A BYPRODUCT OF STAYING
ACTIVE WITH FEET AND HANDS
o PUNCH (STRIKE) AND SEPARATION IS THE KEY
ELEMENT TO ESCAPE BLOCKS
8. EFFORT/PURSUIT
WE MUST PLAY EACH PLAY AS IF IT WILL BE THE
DIFFERENCE IN THE GAME! ABILITY HAS NOTHING
TO DO WITH EFFORT.
o RUN TO: WE WILL STAY IN OUR GAP AND
FORCE OR POINT THE FOOTBALL
o RUN AWAY: WE WILL TAKE PURSUIT ANGLES TO
THE BALL WHICH WILL PUT YOU IN GOOD
POSITION FOR THE CUTBACK, IDENTIFY 1-2-3.
9. TACKLING
o WE MUST BE FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND IN OUR
ANGLE AND STRAIGHT ON TACKLE
OPPORTUNITIES
o WE WILL INCORPORATE TACKLE
OPPORTUNITIES IN A MAJORITY OF OUR
INDIVIDUAL PERIODS.
10. FINISH SWARM!
BASIC FUNDAMENTALS
EVERY GREAT DEFENSE FINISHES! WE
MUST FINISH TO THE BALL AND HAVE
WANT TO GET TO THE BALL
ATTITUDE EVERY SNAP!
 KEYS & READS
READ THE HEAD AND SHOULDERS OF THE
OFFENSIVE GUARD
PRIMARY KEY AND INITIAL REACTION ILB
THERE ARE 5 DIFFERENT BLOCKS A GUARD CAN GIVE YOU

1. BASE BLOCK WITH A BASE BLOCK THE GUARD WILL KEEP HIS
SHOULDERS SQUARE AND UP-FIELD; HIS EYES (HEAD) WILL BE ON HIS
TARGET AND POSSIBLY ON THE SECOND LEVEL (SCOOP/COMBO)
LB REACTION: KEEPING HEAD AND SHOULDERS SQUARE,
SHUFFLE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE BASE BLOCK WHILE GAINING
GROUND (NO MORE THAN 6 INCHES)

2. REACH BLOCK WITH A REACH BLOCK THE GUARD WILL KEEP HIS
SHOULDERS SQUARE AND UP-FIELD; HIS EYES (HEAD) WILL BE ON HIS
TARGET AND POSSIBLY ON THE SECOND LEVEL (SCOOP/COMBO)
LB REACTION: KEEPING HEAD AND SHOULDERS SQUARE,
SHUFFLE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE REACH WHILE GAINING
GROUND (NO MORE THAN 6 INCHES)

3. DOWN BLOCK WHEN A GUARD DOWN BLOCKS HIS 2ND STEP WILL
BE WITH HIS OUTSIDE FOOT AND TURN HIS SHOULDERS AWAY FROM
THE BALL.
LB REACTION: KEEPING HEAD AND SHOULDERS SQUARE,
SHUFFLE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE DOWN BLOCK; STICK THE
INSIDE FOOT IN THE GROUND AND DRIVE FORWARD TO
YOUR GAP RESPONSIBILITY
 KEYS & READS
PRIMARY KEY AND INITIAL REACTION ILB

4. A-PULL AWAY FROM CENTER WITH A PULL THE GUARD WILL DROP
STEP OR OPEN HIS HIPS ALONG WITH GETTING HIS SHOULDERS PARALLEL
TO THE SIDELINE IN THE DIRECTION HE IS PULLING
LB REACTION: KEEPING HEAD AND SHOULDERS SQUARE, SHUFFLE IN
THE DIRECTION OF THE PULL WHILE GAINING GROUND (NO MORE
THAN 6 INCHES); PULL CALL AND POINT.

B.PULL TO CENTER
LB REACTION: PROGRESSION IS TRAP, COUNTER, SWEEP, TO PLAY
ACTION (FIRE)

5. PASS (HIGH HAT) WITH A PASS SET THE GUARD WILL POP UP
OUT OF HIS STANCE; HIS SHOULDERS WILL STAY SQUARE AND HE
WILL EITHER QUICK SET OR KICK STEP FOR DEPTH; HIS EYES WILL BE
ON HIS TARGET
LB REACTION: DROP STEP AND OPEN TO PASS RESPONSIBILITY
WHILE TAKING A PEAK BACK TOWARDS BOX FOR DRAW (NO FALSE
STEPS FORWARD)
 KEYS & READS
PRIMARY KEY AND INITIAL REACTION ILB

REACH/CUT-OFF REACH/CUT-OFF

Reach Cut-Off Cut-Off Reach

DL DL DL DL

B A B A

DOWN PULL

Down Down

DL N DL DL DL

B A B
Pull Call
A
Trap Call

PASS

DL DL

B A
 KEYS & READS
PRIMARY KEY AND INITIAL REACTION ILB

REACH/CUT-OFF REACH/CUT-OFF

Reach Cut-Off Cut-Off Reach

DL DL DL DL

B A B A

DOWN PULL

Down Down

DL DL DL DL

B A B
Pull Call
A
Trap Call

PASS

DL DL
B A
 PRIMARY KEY AND INITIAL
REACTION OLB

REACH REACH

Reach Reach

S W S W

CUT-OFF CUT-OFF

Cut-Off Cut-Off

S W
S W
DOWN DOWN

Down Down

S W
S W
PASS PASS

Pass Pass

W
S
S W
 FLOW KEYS & READS
FLOW RULES
THE FLOW IS BASED ON THE ANGLE OF DEPARTURE FROM
THE BACK(S). THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF FLOW; SLOW,
FAST, AND SPRINT. OUR INITIAL KEY TAKES US TO THE
DIRECTION THE BALL IS GOING AND OUR SECOND KEY
(FLOW), DICTATES THE FOOTWORK OR REACTION WE
MUST TAKE TO MATCH THE PLAY TYPE.

o VERTICAL/SLOW FLOW
o INCLUDES: INSIDE ZONE, LEAD/ISO, POWER, TRAP

o LB RESPONSE: SHUFFLE WHILE GAINING GROUND

STAY SQUARE

o SLOW FLOW
o INCLUDES: STRETCH (OUTSIDE ZONE), SWEEP
o LB RESPONSE: RUN SHUFFLE AND RUN (SHOOT
GAPS)

o FAST FLOW
o INCLUDES: FLY SWEEP, TOSS, AND HITCH SCREEN
o LB RESPONSE: RUN OPEN HIPS AND RUN (SHOOT
GAPS)
 FLOW-KEYS & READS
SECONDARY KEY AND INITIAL REACTION
2 BACK SLOW FLOW 1 BACK SLOW FLOW

2 BACK FAST FLOW 1 BACK FAST FLOW

VERTICAL /SLOW FLOW FAST FLOW

Reach
Reach

R E N T R E N T
Shuffle Run

B
Shuffle Run
Shuffle
Shuffle
A Shuffle
B Shuffle A
 RECEIVER NUMBERING SYSTEM
*** IN OUR WR NUMBERING SYSTEM WE SPLIT THE COUNT DOWN THE MIDDLE
OF THE FORMATION AND BEGIN OUR COUNT FROM THE OUTSIDE AND WORK
OUR WAY IN. THIS ALLOWS US TO RECOGNIZE WHO WE ARE DROPPING OFF IN
CERTAIN COVERAGES.

3/4 2/3
1 2 1

1 2
2 1

4 2

1 2
3 1

2 4
3 2
1 1

2 3 2
1 1
 LINEBACKERS

DEFEATING/ESCAPING
BLOCKS
 DEFEATING BLOCKS
WE ALWAYS WANT TO KEEP GAP CONTROL LEVERAGE ON THE MAN
TRYING TO BLOCK USSTAY IN OUR GAP; WE NEVER WANT TO TAKE A
MAN ON HEAD UP 1 FOR 1. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS WE MUST
POSITION OUR BODY IN A GOOD LEVERAGE POSITION BY MOVING
OUR FEET AND CLEARING OUR HIPS .

THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT WAYS WE TAKE ON BLOCKS:

PRESS - RIP
THE PRESS RIP TECHNIQUE SHOULD BE USED FOR SLOW FLOW

KEYS AND COACHING POINTS

PRESS THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE
SHUFFLE STAYING SQUARE AND KEEPING GAP CONTROL
LEVERAGE
INSIDE FOOT SHOULD BE DOWN THE MIDDLE OR ON THE
OUTER HALF OF THE MAN TRYING TO BLOCK YOU-SAME
FOOT/SAME SHOULDER/HAND

TECHNIQUE
THE OUTSIDE HAND SHOULD STRIKE THE OUTSIDE PAD;
THIS ARM SHOULD BE LOCKED OUT (POWER HAND)
THE INSIDE HAND SHOULD BE ON THE INSIDE BREAST PLATE
OR TO THE THROAT; THIS ARM SHOULD BE SLIGHTLY BENT
(CONTROL HAND)
ONCE YOU ARE IN CONTROL YOU SHOULD CLEAR THE HIPS
AND ESCAPEFoot
AS Placement
QUICK AS POSSIBLE
Hand Placement
Outside
Hand
Inside
Hand

Outside
Foot Inside
Foot
 DEFEATING BLOCKS
RUN - RIP
THE RUN RIP TECHNIQUE SHOULD BE USED FOR FAST FLOW

KEYS AND COACHING POINTS

PRESS THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE
RUN AT A DOWNHILL ANGLE, MAINTAINING LEVERAGE ON
THE BALL CARRIER
WE ARE RUNNING BACKS ON DEFENSE AND MUST FILL AIR
AND ATTACK GAPS

TECHNIQUE
THE INSIDE FOOT SHOULD CROSS THE OUTSIDE FOOT OF
THE MAN TRYING TO BLOCK YOU
BEFORE CONTACT YOU SHOULD DIP THE INSIDE SHOULDER
AND THROW THE INSIDE LEG AND ARM AT THE SAME TIME
ONCE THE INSIDE FOOT AND ARM CLEARS THE MAN YOU
SHOULD WORK TO GET YOUR BODY/HIP BEHIND HIS
(BASKETBALL:REBOUND)
ONCE THE ENTIRE BODY CLEARS YOU SHOULD BEGIN TO
FLATTEN OUT TOWARDS THE BALL

Foot Placement Foot Placement

Outside
Foot
Inside
Outside Inside Foot
Foot Foot
 DEFEATING BLOCKS
ATTACK
THE ATTACK TECHNIQUE SHOULD BE USED FOR SLOW
FLOW WITH OL/FB LEAD OR KICK OUT BLOCKS

KEYS AND COACHING POINTS

PRESS THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE AND MEET THE KICK OR
LEAD IN THE OFFENSIVE BACKFIELD

TECHNIQUE

INSIDE FOOT SHOULD BE DOWN THE MIDDLE OR ON THE

OUTER HALF OF THE MAN TRYING TO BLOCK YOU
PAD LEVEL SHOULD BE LOWER THAN THE MAN TRYING TO
BLOCK YOU
KEEP OUTSIDE ARM AND LEG FREE
ONCE CONTACT IS MADE SQUEEZE AND CONSTRICT THE
INSIDE GAP. ANYTHING IN THE A GAP SHOULD BE BOUNCED
OUTSIDE

Foot Placement Body Position

Inside
Foot

Outside
Foot
 ESCAPING BLOCKS
AFTER WE TAKE ON BLOCKS WE MUST BE ABLE TO
ESCAPE OR GET OFF BLOCKS EFFECTIVELY. THE MAIN
WAY WE GET OFF BLOCKS IS CONTINUOUSLY BEING
ACTIVE WITH OUR FEET AND OUR HANDS
TECHNIQUES

RIP
- DIP SHOULDER AND THROW INSIDE ARM AND LEG VIOLENTLY
THROUGH THE OUTER HALF OF THE MAN TRYING TO BLOCK YOU

PUSH/PULL
- ONCE YOU HAVE CONTROL OF THE OUTSIDE SHOULDER AND
INSIDE BREAST PLATE (LONG ARM/SHORT ARM); PULL THE OUTSIDE
SHOULDER TOWARDS THE GROUND AND AWAY FROM THE
DIRECTION YOU GOING

SWIM
- THROW INSIDE ARM AND LEG VIOLENTLY THROUGH THE OUTER
HALF OF THE MAN TRYING TO BLOCK YOU; THE SWIM ARM SHOULD
GO RIGHT OVER THE TOP OF THE SHOULDER PAD LIKE A PUNCH

SKINNY HIPS
- ONCE YOU HAVE CONTROL OF THE OUTSIDE SHOULDER AND
INSIDE BREAST PLATE (LONG ARM/SHORT ARM); DROP STEP WITH
THE INSIDE LEG AND CLEAR YOUR HIPS AND BODY

BOB & WEAVE

- BEFORE CONTACT IS MADE GIVE A HEAD AND SHOULDER FAKE TO
GET THE OFFENSIVE LINE TO STOP HIS FEET OR GET HIM MOVING IN
THE OTHER DIRECTION
LINEBACKERS

DRILLS
 BAG DRILLS
RUN THROUGH SHUFFLE

SHUFFLE
STICK OUTSIDE FOOT
AND DRIVE

FLIP QUICK & BALANCE

LATERAL SHUFFLE
FLIP HIPS
SHUF
SHUFFLE
STICK OUTSIDE FOOT
FLE

AND DRIVE

BACKPEDAL - DRIVE CUT DRILL

DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE

SHUFFLE

BACKPEDAL BACKPEDAL BACKPEDAL

COMBO DRILL DOWNHILL DRILL

FINISH WITH SHUFFLE
TACKLE

COACH PRESS
CUT BALL
SHUFFLE
SHIELD

C
SHUFFLE SHUFFLE
FLIP HIPS
COME TO BALANCE RIP
PLAY CUT

POP-UP
 ILB GUARD READS
REACH CUT OFF
LB LB
LB LB
LB LB
LB
C C

DOWN LB TRAP LB
LB LB
LB LB

C C

PULL LB PASS LB
LB LB
LB LB

C C

ONSIDE PULL LB SCRAPE TIGHT TO WIDEST DOWN

BLOCK, PULL ACROSS-LB SHUFFLE AND ATTACK FIRST
DAYLIGHT HE SEES ON PLAYSIDE
 OLB TIGHT END
REACH READS
CUT OFF

LB LB
LB LB
LB LB

C C

DOWN PASS SET

LB LB
LB LB
LB LB
C C

PASS RELEASE
LB
LB
LB
C
 1 MAN SLED
STRIKE LEVERAGE DRILL
COME TO BALANCE COME TO BALANCE
RIP

RIP
STRIKE STRIKE
LOCK OUT LOCK OUT
EXPLODE HIPS EXPLODE HIPS
LB LB
LB LB
LB LB

1 SHUFFLE/PRESS/RIP 2 SHUFFLE/PRESS/RIP
(SLOW FLOW) (SLOW FLOW)
COME TO BALANCE COME TO BALANCE
RIP

RIP

PRESS PRESS
1 SHUFFLE
LB 2 SHUFFLES LB

LB LB
LB LB
1 SHUFFLE/RUN/RIP (FAST FLOW)
RIP

RUN

1 SHUFFLE LB
LB
LB
 5 MAN SLED
STRIKE DRILL

LB LB LB
SHUFFLE STRIKE LOCKOUT - SHUFFLE

STRIKE LEVERAGE DRILL

LB LB LB
SHUFFLE STRIKE LOCKOUT LIFT (LEVERAGE) - SHUFFLE

SCREEN/DRAW DRILL

LB LB LB
RIP
RUN &
PAS

ATTACK

ATTACK
PA
SD

PA
SS

S
RO

SD
DR

RO
P

O
P

COME TO COME TO COME TO

BALANCE BALANCE BALANCE
 SHIELD DRILL
SLOW FLOW

RIP RIP RIP

PRESS PRESS PRESS

SHUFFLE SHUFFLE SHUFFLE

LB
SHUFFLE
LB
SHUFFLE
LB
SHUFFLE

FAST FLOW

RIP RIP RIP

RUN RUN RUN

LB
SHUFFLE SHUFFLE
LB LB
SHUFFLE
 COVERAGE DRILLS
TRASH CAN DRILL (CURL/FLAT)
RB/TE C

LB LB LB
SETTLE
& BREAK

WR

VERTICAL DRILL
WR WR

LB LB LB LB
COLLISION
COLLISION
UNDERCUT WHEEL WHEEL UNDERCUT
& RUN & RUN

CARRY CARRY
VERT VERT

BOOT/WAGGLE DRILL

LB LB LB
PUSH FOR WIDTH
PUSH FOR WIDTH
AND DEPTH PUSH FOR
DEPTH

PLAY ACTION DRILL

LB LB LB

PUSH FOR PUSH FOR PUSH FOR

DEPTH DEPTH DEPTH
 RB SCREEN DRILL
OVER THE TOP (T SLIP SCREEN)
RB

OVER THE TOP

LB LB LB
OP
DR

SQUARE UP

SPLIT (T SLIP SCREEN)

RB

SPLIT

LB LB LB
OP
DR

SQUARE UP
 WR SCREEN DRILL
OVER THE TOP (BUBBLE SCREEN)

O
VE DR LB
R IV
TH E
OP

E
TO
DR

OVER THE TOP (INSIDE TEAR/JAILBREAK SCREEN)

OV DR
ER IVE LB
TH &
OP

ET
OP
DR

SPLIT (INSIDE TEAR/JAILBREAK SCREEN)

DR
SP IVE LB
LI T &
OP
DR
 PASS RUSH DRILLS
GAUNTLET (POP-UPS)

SAME SIDE: RIP OR SWIM

FINISH WITH STRIP OR TACKLE

LB

WEAVE: RIP/SWIM (ALTERNATE)

FINISH WITH STRIP OR TACKLE
RIP RIP RIP

LB
SWIM SWIM

4 SQUARE: RIP/SWIM/CLUB-RIP
FINISH WITH STRIP OR TACKLE

LB LB LB
 PASS RUSH DRILLS
EDGE PRESSURE DRILL
FINISH FINISH
STRIP POP-UP POP-UP STRIP

BURST BURST

RIP/SWIM RIP/SWIM
POP-UP POP-UP

BALL MOVEMENT BALL MOVEMENT

LB LB
LB LB
LB COMBO PASS RUSH DRILL LB
FINISH FINISH
STRIP POP-UP POP-UP STRIP

BURST BURST

CLUB-RIP
POP-UP POP-UP DIP-RIP
CLUB-RIP
DIP-RIP
COACH W/ COACH W/
ARM SHIELDS ARM SHIELDS
C C
RUN HOOP RUN HOOP
HANDS/HIPS HANDS/HIPS
CHOP-RIP/CHOP-SWIM CHOP-RIP/CHOP-SWIM

LB LB
LB LB
LB LB
LB EVERYDAYS