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The Drills Report - Teaching Linebackers Proper Technique

by: Joe Tumpkin
Linebackers Coach, SMU
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Our base defense at SMU is the 4-3-4 alignment which allows our defensive package to include multiple fronts and coverages. With the variety and versatility of offenses today and the adjustments made defensively, it is important to be consistent in teaching techniques to your players. In this article I will focus on my strategy and teaching progression in developing linebackers.

Strategy

Coaches should have the ability to communicate with students, athletes, coaches and colleagues. Success in coaching relates to a willingness to prepare for success, regardless of barriers or obstacles. The development of an athlete has six elements:

1.Talent: Utilize it! Play to your strengths and manage your weaknesses.
2. Knowledge: Players need to have a sound understanding of what you are teaching. 3. Time: It takes effort to be successful.
4. Dedication: Set achievable goals. Commitment is part of a routine. It is a choice, not a right.
5. Perseverance: Expect and be ready to face obstacles.
6. Enthusiasm: Be enthusiastic... coach with excitement and passion.

The person who accepts failure will achieve failure. The solution is to help the athlete visualize success.This is accomplished in three steps:

1. Teach: Make sure athletes understand their assignments and techniques.
2. Motivate: Inspire players to be productive.
3. Demand: Players always improve their level of consistency.

Techniques

A great defensive football play begins with a good stance and finishes with a tackle. This is achieved through fundamentals and technique. One of our principles at SMU is to play fast and eliminate wasted movements. We accomplish this through our teaching progression and fundamental drills. The proper stance should include the following:

1. Feet parallel, armpit width.
2. Weight on the inside balls of feet.
3. Heels slightly off the ground.
4. Knees bent, level and flexed (power angles).
5. Hips low.
6. Shoulders square and in front of body.
7. Chest over knees (pad level).
8. Hands in front of body, cocked and ready to deliver a blow (Piano position).
9. Head and eyes up, concentrating on keys.

Stance and Mirror Drill

Align players across the field, five yards deep. Give the players a ready command; let them hold the football position (stance). This gives the coach an opportunity to walk around and correct each player while the athletes get comfortable with the proper stance (See Diagram 1).

Mirror Drill - the purpose of this drill is to teach the players to use their hands, eyes and feet.

1. Start with the stance drill with the coach in front so the players can mirror his movements.

2. Player will take a six-inch, 45 degree angle step downhill, mirroring the direction of the coach, and dragging the second step so the linebacker comes to the proper balance. (Quick Step/Drag Step).

3. Reset and repeat both directions as needed.

Diagram 1: Stance and Mirror Drill

4-Point/6-Point Drill - The purpose of this drill is to teach hand placement, blow delivery and hip rotation. Coach can use a bag or sled for this drill.

1. Begin with the LB on his knees, feet dug into turf (4-point) with hands in a cocked and ready position and the face mask one inch away from the bag (See Diagram 2).

2. On command, the player should shoot his hands above eyes with thumbs up striking the sled with the heel of the hand and locking out elbows.

3. Explode through with hips at the same time you strike the sled, finishing on your stomach.

4. Recoil as quickly as possible (2-3 reps, then rotate).

*6-Point drill is the same as above but player starts with hands on the ground.

Diagram 2: 4-Point/6-Point Drill

One-Step Progression/Three-Step Drill - the purpose of this drill is to combine stance, mirror step (footwork), hand placement and blow delivery as the linebacker approaches and defeats the blocker.

1. From the LB stance, have a shaded alignment to the sled or the bag.
2. On coach’s command, the player takes a ‘Quick Step/Drag Step’ so he is squared to the sled.
3. Shoot the hands (thumbs up), striking the sled with the heel of the hand.
4. Explode through the hips, striking the sled simultaneously, finishing with elbows locked.
5. Execute an escape move and come to balance on the cone or form tackle on the ball carrier. (See Diagram 3).
You can be creative with this drill by adding a ball carrier and another blocker. In the Three-Step Drill, back the LB two more steps to emphasize his downhill progression (See Diagram 4).

Diagram 3: One-Step Progression/Three-Step Drill

Diagram 4: 3-Step Drill

Tackling:
The single most important function of a defender is tackling. It is probably the hardest to simulate in drills. I like to emphasize body position and leverage angles in the completion of drills with a tackle.

Tackling objectives:
1. Get the ball carrier on the ground.
2. Do not let him fall forward; knock him backwards.
3. Use leverage and power to create fumbles.
4. Tackle with enough power to instill fear into the ball carrier.

Tackling consists of five elements:

1. Gather: Bend the ankles, knees and hips to create a good ‘Hitting Position.’ This is done while the ball carrier has the ball.
2. Fit: Upon impact, the tackler’s body is in position to explode into the chest or leg area of the ball carrier.
3. Strike: From the ‘Hitting Position’ the body strikes the ball carrier extending completely, creating great force. Effective ‘striking angles’ are redeveloped from being in a lower and more compact position. This position is created from ‘gathering.’
4. Wrap: While striking, the tackler should wrap his arms around the ball carrier, squeezing the air out of him and grabbing cloth. This should insure that the ball carrier cannot escape the tackler’s grasp, causing a fumble if clubbed with the arms hard enough.
5. Drive: Following the Strike and Wrap, a tackler should maintain leg drive and work his hips through the ball carrier, driving him backwards. If the tackler stops driving his legs, the ball carrier’s momentum will carry the runner forward for extra yards. Drive adds extra impact as the ball carrier hits the ground, making the ball carrier land on his back.

In individual drill work, it is important to be able to teach in a progression and simulate game situations for the athlete. This philosophy provides consistency in teaching fundamentals and techniques to our players.


Linebackers Coach Joe Tumpkin begins his third season at SMU this fall. He also coached at Sam Houston State, Lakeland College, Southern Illinois, Western Michigan and Defiance College. Tumpkin was a four-year letterman and team captain at Michigan Tech.





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