Line Backer Drills LB Stance Fundamentals Stance Build

Line Backer Drills

LB Stance & Fundamentals Stance - Build your stance like a pyramid. Wide & Low at the base. - Balls of your feet with slight forward lean. - Knees inside your ankles. - Peck on quad with pads just over knees. Vision - Sight Line on designated key. Shuffle - Don’t cross over or click - Be quick but do not hurry

Line Backer Drill Library LB Drills 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Angle Run Drill Back Peddle, Shuffle & Plant Drill BP, Shuffle, Plant & Chase Drill Bag & Cut Work Drill Seat Roll Drill Forward Roll Drill Keying Guards Drill 4 Corner Drill Hand Shiver & Shuffle Drill LB Hot Stove Drill Line Progresson Drill LB Maze Drill Read, Shuffle & Fit Drill Scrape Tech Drill Part 2 Sprint & Back Peddle Drill Back the Line Drill Lone Ranger Drill Step Over & Back Drill Strike Drill Chutes Progresson Drill Gopher LB Drill 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 Block Distinction Drill Press, Cut & Tackle Drill Harvard LB Drill Ladder LB Drills, 2 & 3 3 Man LB but Drill Square & Goal Line Tackle Drill Sideline & Form Tackle Drill LB Chase Drill Reaction & 2 Man Tackle Drill Bag Shuffle & Recovery Drill Back the Line Drill Fall Back Tackle e Drill Butt & Latch Drill Power Contain & Power Spill Drill Swing/Bubble Breakdown Drill LB Shuffle & Break LB Buzz & Strike Drill OLB Read TE/T Drill LB Hang vs. Option w/Buckets Drill LB Shuffle Drill Hook/Curl drop Tackle Drill Sled stun Tackle Drill

Angle Run Drill #1

BP, Shuffle & Plant Drill #2

BP, Shuffle Plant & Chance #3

Bag & Cut Work Drill #4

Seat Roll Drill #5

Forward Roll & Run Drill #6

Keying Guards Drill (4) #7

4 Corner LB Drill #8

Hand Shiver & Shuffle Drill #9

LB Hot Stove Drill #10

Line Progression Drill #11

LB Maze Drill #12

Read, Shuffle and Fit Drill “Can use agile bags at heals of LB’s to prevent false steps w/run keys” #13

Scrape Technique Drill #14

#15

Sprint/BP Drill #16

Stance & Starts w/Freeze Step Drill #17

B A G Explanation: The purpose of the drill is to teach the LB to beat the block. LB beats block and scrapes over the top and make the play on the BC. Note: The LB assumes the fundamental position. 1. The LB shuffles keeping shoulders square to the LOS. 2. The LB sheds the block, slides, squares-up and executes the tackle. 3. Head up and on the outside! Coach: The coach should single who he wants to block the LB and what direction the BC should move. Technique: Head up, eyes open and use good fundamental football tackling. End: LB line, LB, BC, LOL, ROL and back to start. B A G Lone Ranger Drill Co ach #18

Step-Over & Back Drill #19

Strike Drill #20

Chutes Progression Drill Explanation: Shuffle with a low pad level and correct technique. Block shredding and making a tackle with good strong fundamentals. Note: Shuffle, Block Shred & Tackle 1. Shuffle: Coach directs LB to shuffle side to side. 2. Block Shred: Same start with the shuffle just add a block shred on the release. Coach has the bag and the LB must shock & shred blocker. 3. Shred & Tackle: Now lets put it all together. Shuffle, Shred and then make a tackle on the ball carrier. Coach: Do not let player cross over or allow your heels to click on shuffle. Keep up on directions. Technique: Take a series of 6 -8 inch steps. On shuffle. Don’t let the LB cross his feet over. End: Line, to Chute to HB and the out. B A G Coach #21

Gopher LB Drill Explanation: Playing off the cut block & using quick good feet. Note: “Feet off the bag’s” 1. “Play off simulated cut w/ball” Coach: Force ply ball at LB. Technique: Stay square w/shuffle. 1. Make tackle on wobble w/head across. 2. Could exchange “Wobble” for loose ball and create fumble drill. End: Conclude bags w/Tackle B A G Plyo Ball B A G Wobble Coach #22

Block Distinction Drill “Move bag in & out to simulate cut” 1. Stay square w/shuffle. 2. Make tackle on wobble w/head across. Player B A G S Wobble 1. Play cuts off bag pushed out by player. 2. Stay square, head up and protect your out side leg. #23

Press, Cut & Tackle Drill 1. Stay square w/shuffle. 2. Make tackle on wobble w/head across. Coach Shield “Press” Plyo Ball Wobble “Shuffle” “Tackle” “Play off cut” “Shuffle” 1. Press off bag held by coach. 2. Play off cut from plyo ball. #24

Harvard LB Drill Explanation: Playing off contact and cut block. Continuing to come forward. Note: Alternate lines. Coach: Move wobble into oncoming LB. Technique: 1. Play off of simulated cut from the wobble. Hands hot and fast! 2. Get low and rip w/inside hand. 3. Line alternate from one side to the other. End: 1 st line then next. Alternate lines. #1 #2 Wobble Coach #25

Ladder Drill #1 #26

Ladder Drill #2 #26

Ladder Drill #3 #26

LB 3 Man But Drill Explanation: Have 3 players line up about 2 -3 yards apart facing the drills participant. On coaches common one of three players lunge forward. Drill: One of the 3 players (Simulating Offense) lunges forward on the coaches command. LB Presses and shrugs off player. End: Players Rotate 1 st to 3 rd to defense. #1 #2 #3 “#3” Coach #27

Square & Goal Line Tackle Drill #28

Sideline & Form Tackle Drill #29

LB Chase Drill Alternate Lines LB Chase Drill Explanation: Pursuit, changing direction and avoidance. Note: Make sure you avoid the LB on the 2 nd cone. Coach: Alternate lines as needed. End: Defense, Chased back to back of alternating LB line. LB LB Coa ch “Sprint” “Ovoid with moves” “Start on coaches whistle” #30

Reaction & Two Man Tackle Drill #31

Bag Shuffle & Recovery Start Line B A G S Coach B A G S Note: Can be fetal, Punch, Strip or Scoop and score recovery. 1. Shuffle with hips square facing forward. 2. Defeat blocker. 3. Fetal recover football Drill: Rotate from LB to Blocker to out. B A G S 2 x 2 Blocker #32

Back the Line Drill Explanation: The purpose of the drill is to teach shuffling & tacking on blockers in or near the offensive hole. Shedding, stuffing the blocker and making the tackle or clogging the hole. Drill: Backfield can be any number of designed sets. 1. The LB must move up into the hole, shed or stuff the blocker, and execute the tackle. 2. If the ball is away, the LB must shuffle, take on the blocker and aid in the tackle. Point of emphases: Head up, eyes open and use good fundamental football tackling. Use and emphasize proper shoulder position at all times. End: Have a group go 2 -3 times. Have LB work together who play together. B A G Co ac h B A G B A G #33

do ak re Coac h “B Explanation: Drill: Fall Back Tackle Drill Point of Emphases: Make your steps with the back. DO NOT cheat! 1. Back will go and set LB to go on movement. 2. LB should match step for step the back. This is a fall back drill but the LB is not to cheat. 3. Defender runs through and shoots the guns on the bag and makes the tackle! End: Defense, Bag line & out wn ” Fall Back Tackle Drill “Breakdown &Cut” #34

Butt & Latch Drill Explanation: Tackling fundamentals. Drill: Whistle starts LB on path. Fit up on 1 st pad, ret set and fit up on 2 nd. Cones and offensive players are 5 x 5 yards apart. 1. Break down, under control and run feet. Fit up on tackle with proper form. 2. Maintain leverage with good shoulder and head position. End: Start, 1 st pad, 2 nd pad and out. h c oa C Breakdown, fit up and tackle then release! #35

Power Contain Drill Power Spill Drill Explanation: OT and Power plays where the FB kicks out. Drill: OLB, FB & TE. Could also ad MLB. FB hold a bag so as to collision OLB. Technique: Down = down. LB working as a contain player comes down hill and set the edge. a) OLB must stay square with outside arm free. b) Near foot to near # of the FB’s kick out. Right foot in this case. c) Eyes are on the EMOLS the TE. Note: It’s a spill technique by the OLB when there is a dead TE. The CB would now fill and make the tackle. End: OLB, FB, TE and Out. 2 x 2 B A G C h c oa #36

Swing Breakdown Drill Explanation: Defending the Swing/Bubble with good defensive leverage. Drill: Swing/Bubble Break Down Drill Technique: Break down at point of attack. 1. Stay square with football. 2. Breakdown with RB. 3. After two breakdowns fit up on ball carrier. Note: Work bubble or swing depending on what opponent for that week does. End: Defense to Offense to out. B A G C h c oa #37

LB Shuffle & Break Explanation: Shuffle position, athleticism and breaking down hill. Drill: Shuffle Break Technique: Wide Stance heals never clicking. 1. 6 -8 inch steps with peck on quad 2. Eyes up! Shuffle over bags… 3. Plant off outside foot. 4. Lead play side foot. End: Stay down on opposite side and come back once all players are done. B A G ch a Co B A G #38

1/9/16 LB Buzz & Strike Drill Explanation: Striking the blocker and shrugging the blocker and reacting to the play. Drill: LB Buzz & Strike 1. LB runs the bag and press/shrugs the blocker and reacts to the play. Technique: Press & shrug the blocker 1. Wide power base running over the bag 2. Lower with peck on quad 3. Thumbs up and elbows in tight on strike End: Defense, Hold bag & Out B A G C Hand Shield h c oa Hand Shield #39

OLB Read TE/T Drill Explanation: Working the OLB reads vs. both a TE and an OT. Drill: OLB reads Technique: Key coaching points 1. OLB read & react to the TE/T’s release 2. If down block LB will squeeze gap! 3. Stay square, shuffle feet, keep wide base & good power angle. 4. If base block, OLB will attack up field through outside shoulder or TE/T. 5. Keep outside shoulder free. Note: TE or OT should give one of three reads. Down block or up field block. The TE or OT can also give a pass look. OT will set and TE will release. End: Defense, Offense & Out. 2 x 2 3 x 3 C h c oa #40

LB Hang vs. Option w/Buckets Drill LB Hang Opt. Drill Explanation: Defending the option. Note: Work both sides! Coach: Rapid fire! Technique: 1. DE will shuffle outside on QB. De has QB 2. OLB has pitch. 3. Inside 4 take dive End: Once and done. M W Coach S DE P Shuffle with outside shoulder leverage. $ DE QB P D LB LB LB #41

LB Shuffle Drill Coach LB Shuffle Drill Explanation: Running Feet with wide base at different angles as a LB. Note: Can use sticks but you do not need to at 1 st. 1. Run when straight and shuffle when at 90. Coach: Alternate lines as needed. Technique: Peck on quad! End: Alternate lines. Alternate Lines LB LB “Shuffle” Can add sticks or shuffle bands “Sprint” “End” #42

Hook/Curl Drop Tackle Explanation: Breaking to hook/curl zone and making tackle Drill: Hook/Curl drop Tackle Drill Point of Emphases: Get to landmarks 1. Run to cone (Land mark) and run feet. Peck on quad! 2. This simulates the hook/curl drop of a LB. 3. Offense runs out on command of the coach and runs the side outside the path of the defender. 4. Defender runs through and shoots the guns on the bag and makes the tackle! End: Defense, Bag line & out “Breakdown” Coac h #43

Sled Stun to Tackle Explanation: Shocking the 2 nd level blocker and making the tackle. Drill: Sled Stun to Tackle Drill “Shock-N-shed” Point of Emphases: 1 st defeat the blocker before pursuing the offensive player. 1. Shuffle down hill and execute the shock and shed stun on the blocking sled. 2. Elbows in tight with thumbs up. 3. Read which way the back cuts. 4. Defender runs through and shoots the guns on the bag and makes the tackle! Drive defender back! End: Defense, Bag line & out Coac h #44