Developing The Linebacking Position Catholic Grade School Conference Clinic Saturday, March 18, 2006

700 Ashland Avenue Chicago Heights, Illinois (708)

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The Coach As a teacher As a role model As the support person As the encourager As the disciplinarian As the innovator As a realist in drilling

The Positions Mac/Mike/BuzzardMiddle Will/Weak/FalconOff Backer Sam/StudY Backer Rover/Monster/RoadrunnerStrong Safety

The Attributes Size Speed Movement Courage Agility Knowledge of the game Knowledge of the scheme Leadership Knowledge of the abilities of the squad Reading ability Tackling Ability

The Attributes Hands and arms Running ability Competitiveness Contact Aggressive/passive style

Size Cannot be coached; Restricted by league rules; Restricted by diminishing pool of athletes; Normal position players may be need to shore up other team positions.

Speed

Conditioning Can be improved Change of direction speed The use of sprints in a positive mode Jingle/Jangle – “Pro Shuttle” 40 yard shuttle 20/30 yard dash time

Drill #1 Speed - Jingle Jangle Player Coach with Stop Watch 5 yards

Drill #2 Speed– 40 yard Shuttle Player Coach with Stop Watch 10 yards

Drill #3 Speed – 20/30 yard Time Player Coach with Stop Watch 20/30 yards

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Movement

Ability to move directionally with either foot Stunt versus read Proper schooling Proper drilling Shuffle Cross over Shuffle and cross over to run Drop step to zone concept

Drill #1 Movement - Direction B Right Leg Forward Left Leg Forward Right Foot Diagonal Left Foot Diagonal

Drill #2 Movement - Direction B Right Leg Shuffle Left Leg Shuffle Right Foot Diagonal Left Foot Diagonal

Drill #3 Movement - Direction B Right Leg Shuffle Left Leg Shuffle Right Foot Diagonal Left Foot Diagonal Shuffle – Scrape Underneath Play

Drill #4 Movement - Direction B Right Leg DropLeft Leg Drop Open Right Leg 45 Degrees Open Left Leg 45 Degrees

Drill #5 Movement - Direction Open hips at 45 degrees to get to middle of drop zone; Cross-over steps to get to middle of drop zone (head on a swivel); Depth of zone (MOF) – 13 yards wide / yards deep; CUSHION To Deepest Part of Drop Zone or until route is recognized.

Drill #5 Movement - Direction BB 1/4 1/3

Drill #6 Movement - Direction BB 1/4 1/3 R1 LB (with head on swivel) will drop to zone and recognize the R1 coming across and defend receiver.

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Agility

Drill Packet #01 - Agility Line Ladder Routine

Drill Packet #02 - Agility Line Rope Routine

Drill #03 - Agility B Linebacker will face coach and shuffle the length of the course by leading with left leg, and then will stop. There is a return process with the right leg as a lead. Coach

Drill #04 - Agility B Linebacker will face coach and shuffle the length of the course by leading with left leg, and then will stop. At the end of the course the linebacker will work underneath the play. There is a return process with the right leg as a lead. Coach

Drill #05 - Agility B Linebacker will face coach and shuffle the length of the course by leading with left leg, and then will stop. At the end of the course the linebacker will work underneath the play. BC1 will mirror the path and then become a ball carrier. There is a return process with the right leg as a lead. Coach BC1

Drill #06 - Agility B Linebacker will face coach and begin the shuffle, cross over and mirror BC1 until BC1 commits to a hole. Linebacker will work underneath the play and execute form tackle. Coach BC1

The Bowl Season How many Oklahoma freshman Football players does it take to change a light bulb? None. That's a sophomore course

Tackling

Drill #01 - Tackling LB BC1 Form Tackling Drill Line up one linebacker and one potential running back and review the basics of form tackling. Be sure to use the right shoulder and the left shoulder.

Breakdown Position teach good football position which is a position o leverage, mobility and power; feet should be shoulder width apart with the toes pointed straight ahead. player should dip his body to lower his hips into the power position with knees bent and weight of the body forward on the front of the feet like performing a three- quarter squat lift. chest should remain over the knees while the knees remain over the toes eyes are focused forward and on the target with the hands relaxed hanging outside the knees.

Focus – Aiming Point eyes of the tackler must be focused on the hip; hip the tackler focuses on will be determined by the angle and by where his help is.

Approach approach is very important when making a tackle and usually means the difference between making the tackle and missing it; approach is closing the distance between you and the ball carrier as quickly as possible while maintaining both good football position and focus mentioned above; important to keep your shoulders square to the aiming point and the feet moving as well as knowing where your help is.

Hands and Eyes to the Sky tackler must use legs, hips and lower back in the tackling process; maintaining the power position and focus, just before contact, bring the hands forward and up in a quick and powerful motion causing the hips to come forward with force if the hands do not start forward until after contact, then the tackler is only catching the ball carrier or running into him and will not be able to use his hip strength to stop the ball carrier’s momentum.

Hands and Eyes to the Sky the hands come forward, contact is made with the tackler’s shoulder pad to the ball carrier’s thigh pad head is up and focused on the aiming point of the hips and should slide to the side before contact. contact is made the tackler’s eyes should raise, keeping the head up and the hips in a power position “slide the head, eyes to the sky”

Contact Point contact point refers to the area of the tackler’s shoulder pads that makes contact to the aiming point of the ball carrier; ideal contact point is located on the ball carrier’s thigh pad; tackler must maintain the power position keep head up with his shoulders square to the aiming point.

Drill #02 - Tackling LB BC1 Scramble Tackling Drill Line up one linebacker and one potential running back. Have both players lie down on their backs – heads at the top of the bags and feet away. Faster pace and “courage” drill

Drill #03 - Tackling LB BC1 Sideline Tackling Drill Line up one linebacker and one potential running back. Have both players lie down on their backs – heads at the top of the bags and feet away. Use of the boundary as another player

Sideline Tackling Drill ball carrier and tackler 4 yards apart; ball carrier aims for sideline; mirror step – tackler inside out; near shoulder through far hip; shoot hands, eyes to the sky; get outside foot down on contact; change up by having ball carrier spin on contact; punch with hands and keep good base.

Drill #04 - Tackling LB BC1 Sideline Tackling Drill With Cutback Line up one linebacker and one potential running back. Have both players lie down on their backs – heads at the top of the bags and feet away. Use of the boundary as another player

The Bowl Season Why did Tennessee choose orange as their team color? You can wear it to the game on Saturday, hunting on Sunday, and picking up trash along the highway the rest of the week.