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AFM Magazine


The Linebacker Shuffle

Getting those big boys to move well is key to winning games
by: Mark Harriman
Head coach, Bates College
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We, as coaches, spend countless hours trying to develop the ideal offensive or defensive scheme. As impotant as these schemes are they cannot be practiced at the expense of developing fundamentals. As we all have witnessed, in crunch time it is the execution of fundamentals that often determines the outcome of a game.

This is exemplified at the linebacker position in many ways but none more than stance and movement. A coach can drill key reaction and devise schemes to get a linebacker to the ball all day long, but if the player cannot put himself in position to get his body on the ball carrier the scheme work is fruitless. Like all positions in football, proper stance and movement out of this stance, are the foundation for great linebacker play.

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The stance

A linebacker's stance must allow him to move in any direction as quickly as possible. Since linebackers come in all sizes you cannot expect everyone's stance to be the same. Therefore, we use some basic checkpoints that help our players develop a functional stance.

1. Width of feet. The feet should be armpit length apart. This allows for movement without becoming over extended. Over-extension rarely occurs on the first step. By maintaining narrow feet this problem is eliminated on the second and subsequent steps as well.

2. Knee bend. Start with it and keep it until the play is over. We have our linebackers sink their butts, bend their knees and place their hands on their knees. This gives them power angles through their knees and hips while aligning the shoulders over the knees.

3. Balls of feet. As run defenders linebackers must have forward body lean. In order to get proper lean we finish our stance checkpoints by having players roll up on the balls of their feet and drop their hands to the outside of their knees with their arms relaxed. This ensures that the linebacker is ready to deliver on any blocking threats.

The Progression

Early in camp we will set up a stance drill similar to an offensive line "bird-dog drill." We line up the LBs on a stripe 5 yards apart. The yard line serves two purposes. First, it assures their feet are parallel. Second, it gives a starting point for the movement drills that are to follow.Once the players are aligned the coach can go through and make individual corrections.

After this is done we go into a two-step drill (Diagram 1) that allows the players to tweak their stances as we progress from forward to lateral movement. The first step is called out by the coach. The second step is a recover step that will square them back up while maintaining narrow feet and bent knees. The players always return to their starting point on the line. Each step is performed twice. The pattern goes like this:

1. Right foot forward (recover with left)

2. Left foot forward (recover with left)

3. Right foot to right side (flat shuffle)

4. Left. foot to left side (flat shuffle)

5. Right foot back (back pedal)

6. Left foot back (back pedal)

This drill allows the coach as well as the players to adjust their stance within the checkpoints. Some common errors are: feet that are too wide, too much bend at the waist (not enough knee bend) and rigid arms.

The Movement

Once a functional stance is developed we progress to movement out of that stance. As we begin these drills we talk in terms of constant "pad level" and "get off." Two of the most common errors players make are rising up and/or drop stepping when they begin to move.

We want to maintain a low pad level with the knees bent. This allows the player to change direction with their hips under them as well as to be in position to roll the hips into a blocker or the ball carrier. A linebacker's "get off" is obviously different than a defensive lineman's but no less important. We emphasize a positive first step as opposed to a false step to initiate movement. This becomes particularly apparent when blitzing. In all of the following drills the emphasis is on "pad level"and "get off."

We utilize two types of movement to get our linebackers to the ball. The first is a shuffle (Diagram 2). Whenever the ball is from tackle to tackle (cut-back threat) we shuffle. We want our LBs to shuffle toward the ball (downhill) keeping the pads square and not crossing the feet. Since we are moving forward as well as laterally the action is step off with the front foot and recover with the back foot with the shoulders over the knees and toes and parallel to the LOS.

If the ball is outside the tackles, we run a lateral (Diagram 3). Body position is the same except that we will cross over with the back leg for speed. The coaching point with the lateral run is not allowing the shoulders to turn in the direction you are moving. To introduce these two movements we go back to the lines and begin by moving upfield for 5 yards.

Next, we progress to change of direction drills (Diagram 4). The drills are done while players are still moving downhill and the coach simulating cuts of the ball carrier by hand movements. The drill is done with both shuffle and lateral run techniques.

Agility Drills

We attempt to work some type of agility drill into our defensive unit's practices every day. We try to make them as position specific as possible. The following drills are beneficial for overall agility as well as being specific to the linebacker position.

1. Agile bags

We use six steps over bags and two cones. The cones are placed on each end of the row of bags at a 45-degree angle and 5 yards from the bag. The drill ends with a 5 yard burst to the ball (cone).

The Stride (Diagram 5) - One foot in each hole

The High Step (Diagram 6) - Two feet in each hole

The Shuffle (Diagram 7) - Over bags

The Lateral Run (Diagram 8)

The Weave (Diagram 9)

In and Out (Diagram 10)

The M Drill (Diagram 11)

We use the sideline and yard lines to perform this drill. The numbers are used as reference points. Once a player reaches the end, he repeats the drill in the other direction.

Square Drill (Diagram 12)

The emphasis in this drill is to focus on a full speed burst then gathering your hips under you at each cone before you burst to the next cone. The cones are 10 yards apart.

45-inch cuts (Diagram 13)

Turn shoulders to cone and run

In conclusion, it is imperative that linebackers spend a great deal of time on key reaction, block destruction, pass coverage and tackling.A functional stance alone with the ability to move out of the stance with certainty enhance all the techniques and fundamentals that are needed for great linebacker play.






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