LINEBACKER DRILLS

I chose to do my review on coaching the aspects of linebackers. The video taught the basic aspects of playing the linebacker position, without covering blitzes and coverage’s. The video covered the technical aspects of the linebacker position, focusing mainly on footwork drills, read and react drills, tackling drills, and blocking drills.
The first segment covered the basic stance for the linebacker. The teacher went over how to distribute the weight on the balls of the feet, bending at the knees and keeping a low center of gravity. From my experience in football, this is the universal stance for the middle linebacker and outside linebacker position, depending on where they line up in the formation. They also covered positioning the hands so a linebacker can be ready to make a play on the ball, whether tackling or defending the pass. This segment of the video covered everything very well for the basic stance for playing linebacker.
The next few segments covered footwork, as well as read and react drills. The coaches had the player laterally move through a group of hurdles, making sure the player doesn’t cross his feet over one another. A reaction drill was also added to this drill. The coaches had the linebacker move laterally through the hurdles and react to a fumble in the backfield. Overall, this drill was taught very well. The coaches should’ve covered reacting to a pass or dropping in coverage, as well as reacting to a running back moving down the line of scrimmage.
The tackling drill in this video was very basic. The segment went over the basics of the tackling stance and wrapping the arms and driving with the lower body. This portion wasn’t covered too well because the player was too high, basically placing his head on the other players shoulders. Throughout my high school football career, I was taught the basic tackling stance and wrapping the arms, but I was taught to tackle head up and place my facemask in the middle chest area of the ball carrier and drive with my lower body.
Finally, the blocking segment, or keeping the blocker attached to you so they can’t chip and go block another defensemen. This segment was brief and covered the overall techniques to keep a blocker from hitting the linebacker and moving on to the next available body. I feel that shedding and scraping the blocker should’ve been covered in this segment. Shedding and scraping is skill every linebacker needs to learn because pretty much every run and screen, a lineman is running up field looking to take out a linebacker.
Overall, this video was coached well, but a few additional topics should’ve been covered. I liked this video because it was kept very basic and to the point. This video covered the technique of playing linebacker and left out the tactical parts, such as positions on certain plays and formations. I would refer this video to new coaches and players who are learning the position for the first time because it covers most of the techniques used by coaches and experienced linebackers.

This segment was provided by Anthony Beard. Anthony is in the USAF, stationed at Cannon AFB.