1. CACTUS FOOTBALL IN THE LAST 10 YEARS…….
Region Champs: 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010
Section Champs: 2011
State Championship Appearances: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2011
State Championships: 2005, 2009

2. Reads—Lineman/Backs/Out of the Box
Linebacker Play & Drills Cactus High School Brian Belles—Defensive Coordinator
Basics
Agility Drills
Reads—Lineman/Backs/Out of the Box
Pass Drops & Drills

3. Basics What do we look for in LB’s?
Passion for the Game
Toughness/Attitude
Intelligence
Strength
Leaders
What is overrated in High School football?
Size……Height & Weight

4. Ricks Video 2005

5. Basics Stance 1. Feet should be a little wider than shoulder width.
2. They will get a bend in their ankles, knees, hips and keep their back flat.
3. There nose should be over their toes. Their heels should not have any weight on them.
All weight should be on the balls of their feet.
4. Their arms should be bent at the elbows and their hands should be relaxed. They should not be resting their hands on their knees.

6. Basics
Eyes:
There eyes need to be on their primary key. Once the ball is snapped and they get their primary key, their eyes should go to their secondary key.
Feet:
Mirror Step. We use a mirror step. We will take a small 6 inch step downhill with our foot in the direction our key takes us.

7. Mirror Drill Video

8. Agility Drills
The purpose behind these drills is to re-create movements that the LB will use when playing.
Box Drill
Diamond Drill
Shuffle and Glide
Sprint/Shuffle/Drop Drill
Drop & Read

9. Agility Video

10. Analyze what you do! Create a Checklist Great for young coaches.
LB Skills
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Stance
1st Step
Agilites
Rip Technique
Punch Technique
Pass Drop
Pass Rush
Reroutes
Man Technique
Tackling

11. Reads-Linemen
Depending on the type of block we get and the size and strength of our LB, that will determine how he takes on the offensive lineman.
On base blocks, we will take an angle downhill and rip with our backside shoulder & arm so we cannot get cut off.
Versus a zone blocking team, if we are strong enough, we will attack the gap we are assigned and use a “punch” technique the lineman who is there.
To do this we will strike below the peck with elbows in and thumbs up.
On contact we want to lock our elbows and create separation between ourselves & the lineman (Punch Technique).
Then we need to find the ball and maintain our gap responsibility.

12. Reads--Lineman
Base Block: an O-Lineman comes at the LB trying to attack a shoulder.
LB Response: We want to use a RIP technique to defeat the block.
Downblock: an O-Lineman blocks the DL adjacent to him.
LB Response: We want to fill hard off the ass of the OL who down blocked understanding there will be pressure coming from the side that we are filling to.
Pull: The O-Lineman leaves to kickout another defensive player.
LB Response: We want to take our mirror step and follow the puller laterally while working downhill.

13. Reads-Linemen Scoop: The OL takes a Zone step in either direction.
LB Response: The LB wants to run down hill & fill to the gap he is responsible for as quickly as possible and use a PUNCH technique to defeat the block.
Super Scoop: The OL turns his hips & tries to overtake the adjacent DL next to him.
LB Response: This is the same as a pull to us. We want to take our mirror step and follow the puller laterally while working downhill.
High Hat (Pass): The OL pops his head up and sits up in his stance to pass protect.
LB Response: The LB will take their read step and the 2nd foot should plant in the ground and they should 45 degree open to their zone and get into a pass drop.

14. OL Reads Video Practice & Games

15. Reads—Back Reads
If we are reading backs, we typically key the near back and mirror his steps. The rules are simple.
Near Back attacks the LB, the LB will attack the Near Back (Iso).
The Near Back goes away from the LB, the LB will take a shuffle step away & play BCR. If it is a run away, then we can pursue. If there is action coming back to us like a pulling OL or the Tailback coming back (GT), then we will fill to our gap.
The Near back goes wide (Toss), the LB will attack down hill taking an angle to attack the near back and turn the play back inside.
If the Back steps and stops (Pass Pro), the LB will get into his drop.

16. Near Back Reads Video Practice & Games

17. Reads-Out of the Box
Depending on our gameplan, there will be situations where our OLB’s will be forced to leave the box.
When this occurs, the general rule that we tell them is to split the inside receiver and the end man on the LOS (usually the tackle).
We use the term “PYTHAGOR” from the Pythagorean Theorem. Our key is the end man on the LOS (Tackle).

18. Reads-Out of the Box
First Steps: On the Snap, we will take 2-3 Shuffle steps downhill at a 45 degree angle while we are reading our key. The following are typical blocks we will see:
Reach Block: The OL tries to reach the outside shoulder of the DE.
LB Response: The LB will fill keeping outside leverage.
Down block: The OL blocks the DL who is inside of him.
Turn Out Block: The OL will try & turn the DE out to run underneath.

19. Reads-Out of the Box
Pull Away: The Tackle Pulls towards the others side of the formation.
LB Response: The LB eyes need to go to back field and check for either GT going away in which case pursue or for Naked Boot coming back in which the LB needs to get into his drop.
High Hat (Pass): The OL pops his head up and sits up in his stance to pass protect.
LB Response: Get into Pass Drop & be prepared to Reroute the WR

20. Out of the Box Reads Video

21. Passing Drills Reroute Drill---Progression
Fit position & shoot hands. Outside hand should go right into the center of WR’s chest at the base of the sternum. The outside hand is tricky. Typically I don’t like when they throw this hand because they will end up lunging, the WR will stem and cut inside. So when we start this drill we don’t use this arm.
As they get better, we eventually want the inside arm to hit the inside shoulder pad of the WR. We want on contact the eyes to go to the QB and then out to the WR outside of the LB.

22. Passing Drills Reroute Drill Continued 10 yard vertical jog by WR.
The LB will take his shuffle steps down hill, then open and get to his drop and shoot his hands on the vertical threat.
LB must take an angle to intersect the WR.
Introduce in & out cuts by WR.
The LB will now take his shuffle steps downhill on the snap, get into his drop and look up the WR.
If the WR cuts in or out the LB will yell “In” or “Out” and eyes should then go to the outside WR.
If the WR goes vertical, we want to reroute.

23. Passing Drills Curl/Flat Drill
Have 2 stationary WR set up in the curl and flat area. QB will drop to pass, the LB will get into his drop and get underneath the curl route first.
When the QB’s eyes go off of the curl to the flats, the LB should react by sprinting to the flats.

24. Curl/Flat Video

25. Passing Drills
2 on 1
The OLB will be outside of the box. Once he gets his read, we will work 2 man route combinations. This can include slant and out, hitch & smash, vertical & out, etc.

26. 2 on 1 Video

27. Contact Information