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The Drills Report: Washington Linebacker Drills

by: Chris Tormey
Linebackers Coach, University of Washington
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We spend more time on block protection and tackling than any other skill sets we teach. Tackling is still best learned in team situations in practice. Getting in a proper tackling position in practice is the best way to simulate the live situations that come up in the game. The coaching points we emphasize in tackling are:

1. Eyes up and in front.
2. Bend the ankles, knees, and hips.
3. Time up the hit and explode on contact – hit through the runner.
4. Club with the arms and grab cloth.
5. Accelerate the feet on contact.

I’ve included four tackling drills that we practice on a regular basis: the Form Tackle, Open Field Tackle, Eye Opener, and Score Tackle.

1: The Form Tackle
Purpose: To develop the proper fundamentals of tackling with good form, learning speed, conducive to safety, and the teaching of proper techniques. It will help develop confidence in tackling with the eyes open and the neck bulled. We also want to discourage leading with the head.

Drill: Tacklers are aligned on a line, five yards from and facing the ball carrier. They then take one step back from the line. They are in a two-point hitting position. On the command ‘GO’ the ball carrier jogs directly at the tackler at about half speed. He neither dodges nor attempts to run over the tackler. As the ball carrier approaches, the tackler steps up to the line, stays square and makes contact with the ball carrier. The knees are bent, the hips roll through on contact, and the arms and hands are clashed around the buttocks. Drive up and through the ball carrier, carry him five yards and let him down. This is strictly a form tackling drill. Emphasis should be placed on the tackler bulling his neck and keeping his head up so contact is not made with the head.

Diagram 1: The Form Tackle

2: The Open Field Tackle
Purpose: To develop the ability to break down, come under, control, and make the sure open field tackle. We teach taking the proper angle to the ball carrier so that contact is made with the chest and the head is in front of the ball carrier.

Drill: The defender is lined up fifteen yards from the ball carrier. Both are standing and facing each other. On the command ‘GO’ the ball carrier runs toward the tackler and attempts to dodge or run by him. The tackler, on command, sprints towards the ball carrier. He must try to get five yards up field. At this point, he gathers and comes under control. As the ball carrier makes his move, the tackler moves laterally at an angle to intercept him. He keeps his shoulder square, is under control, and keeps his eye on the ball carrier. The tackler should contact the ball carrier with a high, chest tackle locking his arms around his back. The head is up. The feet keep moving on contact and it should be stressed to the tackler to take the ball carrier a few steps back up field before he is released.

The Open Field Tackle

3: Eye Opener
Purpose:
A. Develop proper footwork and body position.
B. Develop the proper pursuit angle with inside out leverage on the ball.
C. Develop moving up and exploding into the ball carrier with proper tackling form.

Drill: Five cones are lined up in a straight line two yards apart forming four holes. The holes are numbered one through four. The ball carrier stands two yards behind and to the side of the first cone. The defensive player is opposite him, one yard on his side of the first cone. The coach stands behind the defender and signals with his fingers to the hole the ball carrier is to run into (one through four). On the command ‘GO’ the ball carrier moves laterally down the line, carrying the ball in his outside arm and runs up into the hole as designated by the coach. The defender moves down the line staying on the back hip of the ball carrier, shoulders square, and in good football position. As the ball carrier moves up into the designated hole, the defender explodes into the ball carrier using proper technique and tackling form, putting face on the ball. He locks his arms and takes the ball carrier back a few steps and then releases. Incorporate cutback and front and back spins by the runner just prior to being tackled.

The Eye Opener

4: Score Tackle
Purpose: To develop the ability to tackle, with emphasis on staying square, tackling hard and high on the goal line, preventing a score.

Drill: This drill is performed in an area five yards square. The tackler assumes a two-point hitting positioning the middle of the box, two yards in front of the goal line. The ball carrier aligns facing him three yards away on a line representing the five-yard line. On the command ‘SET’ both players start chopping their feet. On ‘GO’ the ball carrier starts moving back and forth laterally on his line. The tackler, keeping his shoulders square, shufflers on a parallel line, keeping the ball on his inside hip. On the command ‘SCORE’ the ball carrier charges for the goal line and the tackler closes in and makes a full speed tackle.

Score Tackle


Chris Tormey is in his fifth season as Linebackers Coach at the University of Washington. He was formerly Head Coach at the University of Idaho (1995-1999) and at Nevada (2000-2003). Tormey previously coached at Washington for 11 seasons, 1984-1994. An All-Conference linebacker and three-year letter winner at Idaho, Tormey was recently inducted into the Vandals Hall of Fame.





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