• Return Man 6 Wideout

The best coaches have two characteristics that make them great: motivational skills and a Rolodex of drills. That's right, a coach who runs the same drills over and over again, risks his players losing some of their extra edge due to that monotony. It's important to shake things up in practice, and today, we've. The Complete Guide to Outside Linebacker Drills. In a 4-3, though, both weakside and strongside backers are usually a little smaller and play more zone and man coverage in pass defense. A 5 man front may require a mix of skills. In any defense, run stopping and solid, fundamental tackling are very important. Thankfully, there are tons of drills that can improve your defensive line play through strength and conditioning sessions. The following drills are. The defender must shoot his hands from the ground as quick as possible and quickly lock out the pad and return his hands to the ground directly after.

By the design of the American football defense, linebackers are the leaders of that 11-man squad. The rest of a team’s defense looks to the linebackers in a number of ways:

• Linebackers are the defensive quarterbacks and coaches on the field, beginning every play by giving the defensive call. Frister rossmann manual cub 4 help.

• They set the standard for every defense by being able to get to the ball before anyone else.

• They’re usually emotional leaders who excel in leading by example. If they play hard, their winning attitude carries over to the rest of the defense.

Although a linebacker’s main intention is to tackle the offensive player with the ball, the term linebacker has become one of the most complicated terms in football. Linebackers have become football hybrids due to their wide variety of responsibilities and enormous talent.

The job description of all linebackers is pretty lengthy:

• Defend the run and also pressure the quarterback. (Vacating their assigned areas to go after the quarterback is called blitzing.)

• Execute stunts and defend against the pass in a zone or in what are paradoxically known as short-deep areas on their side of the line of scrimmage.

• The middle linebacker generally makes the defensive calls (he informs his teammates of what coverages and alignments they should be in) when the offense breaks its huddle.

• Often responsible on pass defense to watch and stay with the tight end and backs.

• May be responsible for staying with a speedy wide receiver in what’s known as man-to-man coverage.

To fully understand linebacker play, you need to be aware that every linebacker wants to coordinate his responsibilities with those of the defensive line. A linebacker is responsible for at least one of the gaps — the open spaces or areas between the offensive linemen — in addition to being asked to ultimately make the tackle.

To keep your sanity when watching a game, just try to remember which players are the linebackers and that the bulk of their job is to do what Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers (shown in this figure) does: make tackles from sideline to sideline and constantly pursue the ball carrier.

Photo credit: @@cw Michael Zagaris/Getty Images

Linebackers must take full advantage of what they can see, feel, and do. Every drill they do in practice, which carries over to the game, is based on these things:

Return Man 6 Wideout

• Eyes: Linebackers must train their eyes to see as much as possible. They must always focus on their target prior to the snap of the ball and then mentally visualize what may occur after the snap.

• Feet: Everything linebackers do involves their ability to move their feet. Making initial reads of what the offense is going to do, attempting to block offensive linemen and defeat them, and tackling the ball carrier are all directly related to proper foot movement.

• Hands: A linebacker’s hands are his most valuable weapons. They also protect him by enabling him to ward off blockers and control the offensive linemen. A linebacker uses his hands to make tackles, recover fumbles, and knock down and intercept passes.

Start a vigorous exercise routine. Linebackers are expected to rush the quarterback, offer pass coverage, and stop runs. Linebackers must be fast enough to catch receivers yet strong enough to tackle a running back at full speed. A lean, powerful physicality is the core upon which a great linebacker's game is built. If you don't already have an exercise routine, begin one today. The faster you can run and the harder you can hit, the more effective you'll be as a linebacker.

• Because the linebacker needs to rapidly move from one defensive role to the next, a solid cardio routine is a must. Jog to build your endurance, but also make sure to run sprints to build the speed you'll need to take down the fastest running backs and receivers.
• Strength training is also essential. Linebackers need to be able to go toe-to-toe with immense linemen while rushing the quarterback. Powerful leg, back, and core muscles are highly prized - these muscle groups are the foundation for strong rushing and tackling ability. In addition, a linebacker needs quick, strong arms to fight past linemen and pull ball carriers down. Ray Lewis recommends a robust mix of bench presses, shrugs, squats, and bicep curls.^[2]