Sharks In The Water
Coaching Linebackers to Attack in the 3-3 Defense
by: Ron Roberts©
More from this issue
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.
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.