Sharks In The Water

Coaching Linebackers to Attack in the 3-3 Defense
by: Ron Roberts
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We base out of our 3-3 Stack Defense. In Diagram 1 you will see that we have a Nose in a zero technique. Our Ends are in a tight 5 technique. The Mike linebacker is stacked behind the Nose and is responsible for running the track of the FB. The L and R are in 50 techniques and are responsible for B gaps. The Nitro and Diamond are 3 by 5 off the TE or a ghost TE. This is our pressure package and we want the offense to have to account for blocking all 5 mobile defenders on every snap. We are usually in some form of 3 deep zone, man free or Robber coverage. The possible blitzes are only limited by what you can execute and your imagination. This Defense fits our recruiting pool and allows us to put more speed on the field. (See Diagram 1)

Diagram 1.

We are looking for linebackers that are smart football players. They must have an understanding of the entire defensive scheme. They must also understand the opponents’ offense and what they are trying to do. They should be aware of formations, down and distance, field position, and tendencies. Here are some of the characteristics we are looking for in our linebackers:


1. Great Character
2. High Self Esteem
3. Loves to Compete
4. Mentally and Physically Tough
5. Play with Emotion and Enthusiasm
6. Enjoys Contact
7. Pursuit is Relentless
8. Loves his Teammates and School
9. Believes in Himself, Family, Program
10. Committed to Excellence

There are several qualities that go into making a great linebacker. When a linebacker has all the intangibles that are necessary, there are certain characteristics that will separate the good ones from the great linebackers. These traits need to be digested and practiced:

1. Know the strength/weakness of every defense and where you fit
2. Know your Key - who is going to take you to the ball
3. Great Fundamentals
4. Attack the L.O.S.
5. Know who is going to block you
6. Stay on your feet
7. Play with your hands
8. Low shoulder pad level
9. Inside leverage on the ball
10. Locate the “Ball”
11. Be a great tackler
12. Make plays!

STANCE

We want to make sure that we always start with the basics. A good stance is one that will allow the linebacker to move the fastest toward the ball or allow him to have the leverage to take on possible blockers. When the linebacker is off the L.O.S. and covered by a DL our feet are parallel and under our armpits. The toes are turned in with the heels out. He should have a slight bend in the knees. We then want him to put his hands on his knees to determine the amount of bend in the waist and then relax the arms. We would like for them to keep a slight arch in the back to keep a flat back. When the Linebacker is uncovered and is over an immediate threat by a blocker his feet should be wider, he should hide his numbers by getting his pads over, and his hands should be in front of his numbers.

CONCEPTS

In order to develop an aggressive, disciplined unit there are several concepts that we want them to master that apply to playing linebacker.

1. Windows - When a window opens and you have a direct line to the ball carrier, you must get in it. If they are going to make plays as a unit they must become aware of their own abilities and what plays they can and can not make and know when to take chances. We do not want them to scrape laterally and create vertical seams in the defense.

2. Leverage Inside Out - When you are scraping never leave an unoccupied gap to your inside arm. If he is ripping across the face of an OL he must hug him tight with his neck and get square. We cannot leave a cut back inside of us.

3. Staying Square - At all times, they must keep their shoulders square to the L.O.S. They need to make plays in both directions; when they turn their shoulders they become a one-dimensional ball player.

4. Block Protection - Linebackers must be able to take on blocks and get off them. Remember that the low shoulder pad should always be in. Hit-Shed-then pursuit. They must also know what type of block protection to use and when to avoid.

Block Protection

A key part of being a good linebacker is defeating blocks and the ability to know when to use each technique. We will use 3 techniques to help us get to the football – Fit & Hands, Rip and Avoid.

1. Fit & Hands - Use this protection when the ball carrier is behind the blocker and has a two-way go.

A. Low shoulder pad/hide your numbers.
B. Don’t punch until you can smell his breath or step on his toes.
C. Punch the blocker on the breasts plates with your thumbs up, elbows in to your midline.
D. Do not look for the ball until you locked the blocker out and have separation.
E. Reduce the back shoulder and rip across in the direction of the ball.

2. Rip - When you know the direction of the ball carrier and you need to scrape over the top of the OL.

A. Reduce the back shoulder.
B. Throw an uppercut through the outside armpit of the blocker.
C. Hug the blocker with your neck (do not leave an unoccupied gap to your inside arm)
D. Square your shoulders back up.

3. Avoid - When you see the ball carrier and can make the play (Don’t be a flesh magnet)

A. Head fake
B. Swim
C. Beat the blocker to the ball.

Eye of the Linebacker

Diagram 2.

Pre-snap there are several things that linebackers should be looking at to help them get a feel for what play is coming. We want them to be checking OL for any changes in vertical or horizontal alignment. In Diagram 2 the OG/OT are off the L.O.S; this may indicate counter. Diagram 3 with the OG
tight split may indicate Scoop or Double team. We want them to then check for a light or heavy hand on the ground by the OL. A light hand with the heels on the ground may indicate a pass or a pull. A heavy hand with the heels 2 inches off the ground confirms a
run block. Thirdly, we want the Linebackers to recognize
the formation and the plays that come off that
formation. If your linebackers can translate this information they will be able to play more
aggressively and get a jump on the play. (See Diagrams 2 and 3)

Diagram 3.

Keyes

We will key through uncovered OL to the near RB. From here we teach our linebackers plays and where they fit on each play. Diagram 4 is an Iso at the Left Linebacker. The L will fill the B gap and hit the FB with his inside shoulder and turn it to the Mike. The Mike is running the track of the FB, and should expect a chip by the OG. He will throw a rip thru the OG. The R should see Iso away and if a window opens he is going to run through it. If the BG comes on him he will fit & hands and
press the backside A/B gap. (See Diagram 4.)

Diagram 4. Iso

The sweep play is shown in Diagram 5. The L should attack the outside shoulder of the TE with a Rip. The Mike runs the track of the FB and if he sees a window he will run through it. The R will scrape over the top of any blocks and play front side. (See Diagram 5.)

Diagram 5. Sweep

The counter play in Diagram 6 may have several pre-snap indicators with changes in vertical alignment by the OG/OT, a pull read or tighter horizontal splits by the front side OG/OT. As the play starts away the L should take his eyes to the TB and as he recognizes counter he should expect the block by the OT. He then needs to get his pads down and rip across the face of the OT. The Mike begins to run the track of the FB and his eyes should pick up the PG who is now pulling across his face. He needs to rock back and expect a down block and work over the top
of it. If the Mike sees a window underneath
the down block he is encouraged to take it.
The R should see the pull by the OG/OT. If
he sees it soon enough he should hit the
backside window; if not, then scrape over the
top of the chip by OG. (See Diagram 6.)

Diagram 6. Counter

The Midline option and the trap play are very similar. In Diagram 7 you will see the midline, the Mike runs the track of the FB, both the L and R will squeeze the B gaps. In Diagram 8 the Mike will again attack the FB and try to beat the block of the OT. This play will begin by looking very similar to the L. We may play it differently if we were playing a trap option team, but in this case he will squeeze the B gap and look for the FB to bounce the ball outside. The R sees the OG pull and works down hill much like the Counter looking to hit the backside window. (See Diagrams 7 and 8)

Diagram 7. Midline

Diagram 8. Trap

Blitzes
Blitzes or stunts can be determined by strength, field and boundary or right and left. In Diagram 9 our left OLB is blitzing the C gap reading the triangle of the OT and near RB. The Left End is in a 4 technique slanting into the B gap reading the next adjacent OL. The Nose slants or tilts into the A gap depending on the call made. The Right End is in a 5 technique. The Mike runs the track of the FB and the R is responsible for the B gap. The outside rusher can be the OLB or it can be a DB. (See Diagram 9)

Diagram 9. OLB Blitz

When blitzing an inside gap the LB must
first dominate his gap against the run by keeping his pads low, and be prepared to redirect in either direction down the heels of the OL. Always be prepared for the run first unless we have confirmation that it is a pass by the OL stances/splits, formation and down and distance.

Stopping the Run

It is important for players to understand vertical and horizontal leverage to stop the
run game. One of the most important consistencies in the game of football has been that
the lowest shoulder pad will always win. If we can win the leverage battle up front and our linebackers know where to fit we can eliminate vertical seams and stop the run game. We must also be able to leverage the football horizontally by understanding gap control and force in the secondary.

We will do whatever it takes to make a team throw the football. Whether it is putting eight of nine in the box, moving the front, creating mismatches, or any form of alignment that disrupt blocking assignments to create a negative play from the offense.

The most important factor to stopping the run is getting your linebackers to play aggressively and attack the L.O.S..

Whether you are in a 4-3 or 50 defense many of the concepts will apply to linebacker play in any defensive scheme. We are sold on the flexibility of the 3-3 defense. It gives us the weapons to attack an offense’s tendencies and allows us to get the most speed on the field possible. We have reduced the amount of mental errors and it has allowed our linebackers to play like Sharks in the Water.

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About the author

Ron Roberts

Ron Roberts was recently named Defensive Coordinator at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi. He previously coached at both Tusculum College and Texas State. Roberts also served as an assitant coach at Greensboro College and was head coach at Burroughs High School in California for three years (1994-96). He graduated from UT-Martin with a degree in Sociology and earned his masters at the University of Memphis. You can reach him at rroberts@deltastate.edu.