re: look out for this mistake

It happens all the time.

It looks like this:

The Linebacker reads run…
They start moving towards the play…
And then they turn their shoulders too early.

Classic mistake.

For two reasons:

1. When you turn your shoulders, you’re moving without power. It’s easy for an Offensive Lineman to knock you off your path.

2. When you turn your shoulders, it’s difficult to change directions.

Instead, Linebackers should stay square for as long as possible.

The Shuffle is the best type of movement for this.

But if the Linebacker needs more speed, they can transition to a Scrape.

Square movements win.

But there’s a catch:

At some point, a Linebacker will need to turn their shoulders.

An example is an outside run where a Linebacker needs an incredible amount of speed just to keep up.

So…

Finding that balance is key.

But I like to use this coaching point:

Stay as square as possible for as long as possible.

It helps Linebackers avoid this common mistake.

All the best,

PS — If you’re looking for more tips that simplify the Linebacker position, check out THE LB LIBRARY. You can find it by clicking here.

Jon Svec
Defensive Coordinator
St. Francis Xavier University
X-Men Football
Email: jsvec@stfx.ca
Twitter: @jonsvecx