1. Inside LB'ers Thought Process - prior to the snap
1. How many backs in the backfield? Do we need one back declaration ’s?
Have we game planned calls based upon sets or motion ?
must I make a  (front or call)
Does the front involve an opposite Declaration? Hide
Make the correct declaration!
2. What is my technique?
(alignment and pass rush / coverage assignment)
RUSH assignment:
Does the pressure stunt affect my technique or pass rush assignment?
Does the pressure stunt require me to make a  based upon the offensive set?
COVERAGE assignment:
What is the coverage call?
What is the secondary support call ? Backer - Corner - Safety - Read
Did the secondary make a coverage 
what is my pass coverage technique now?

2. Linebacker Reads
I. ASSIGNMENTS:
A. BoA: on frontside plays - B gap (outside shoulder of OG)
on backside plays - Off A gap (inside shoulder of opposite OG)
B. CAt: on frontside plays - C gap (outside shoulder of OT)
on backside plays - A gap to you (inside shoulder of OG)
C. As you press your gap assignment replace any defender who crosses your face.
D. Counter call: from opposite linebacker informs you of a pull your way; frontside
play, press LOS at a 45o degree angle, react to blocking scheme.
III. INITIAL MOVEMENT:
A. Take a 6" read step to the outside.
B. This provides time in determining RUN or PASS along with identifying the play as
FRONTSIDE or BACKSIDE.
C. No false steps: it is essential to be concise in your path to the ball.
III. KEYS:
A. Focus through the head of the OG to the nearback, NB. The NB is defined as the 1st
back behind QB, if no one is in that position then key the halfback position.
B. The OG will indicate:
1. if the play is a RUN or a PASS
2. the direction of the play
C. The path of the NB will reveal the actual play.

3. Gap Cancellation B T B B T B B T B

4. OG’S BLOCK NB’S PATH Pt of ATTACK 1. Reach Outside / Off-tackle
Frontside
2. Drive
Inside
3. Cutoff
Away
Backside
4. Down
5. Down
6. Down
7. Fan
Irrelevant  OT
Frontside / Backside
8. Scoop
Irrelevant
9. Pull outside
10. Pull outside
11. Pull outside
Inside (WAGGLE)
play action pass
12. Pull inside
13. Pull inside
14. Pull inside
15. Pass set off LOS
pass
16. Pass set on LOS
 OT to NB
screen / draw
17. Area block
 OT - NB Irrelevant
Guard’s Block
Path of NB
pass set Off LOS
pull outside
pull inside
Outside
Off Tackle
scoop
scoop
Away
fan
down
Immediate threat
Inside

5. ILB Reactions Guard’s Block T N LB Path of NB LB Immediate threat
OG’S BLOCK
NB’S PATH
Pt of ATTACK
1. Reach
Outside / Off-t
Frontside
2. Drive
Inside
3. Cutoff
Away
Backside
4. Down
5. Down
6. Down
7. Fan
Irrelevant  OT
Frontside / Backside
8. Scoop
Irrelevant
9. Pull outside
10. Pull outside
11. Pull outside
Inside (WAGGLE)
play action pass
12. Pull inside
13. Pull inside
14. Pull inside
15. Pass off LOS
pass
16. Pass on LOS
 OT to NB
screen / draw
17. Area block
 OT - NB Irrelevant T N
Immediate threat LB
Path of NB
Outside
Off Tackle
Away
Inside LB

6. ILB Reactions Guard’s Block T N LB Path of NB LB down Outside
OG’S BLOCK
NB’S PATH
Pt of ATTACK
1. Reach
Outside / Off-t
Frontside
2. Drive
Inside
3. Cutoff
Away
Backside
4. Down
5. Down
6. Down
7. Fan
Irrelevant  OT
Frontside / Backside
8. Scoop
Irrelevant
9. Pull outside
10. Pull outside
11. Pull outside
Inside (WAGGLE)
play action pass
12. Pull inside
13. Pull inside
14. Pull inside
15. Pass soff LOS
pass
16. Pass on LOS
 OT to NB
screen / draw
17. Area block
 OT - NB Irrelevant T N
down LB
Path of NB
Outside
Off Tackle
Away
Inside LB

7. ILB Reactions Guard’s Block T N LB Path of NB LB fan Outside
OG’S BLOCK
NB’S PATH
Pt of ATTACK
1. Reach
Outside / Off-t
Frontside
2. Drive
Inside
3. Cutoff
Away
Backside
4. Down
5. Down
6. Down
7. Fan
Irrelevant  OT
Frontside / Backside
8. Scoop
Irrelevant
9. Pull outside
10. Pull outside
11. Pull outside
Inside (WAGGLE)
play action pass
12. Pull inside
13. Pull inside
14. Pull inside
15. Pass off LOS
pass
16. Pass on LOS
 OT to NB
screen / draw
17. Area block
 OT - NB Irrelevant T N
fan LB
Path of NB
Outside
Off Tackle
Away
Inside LB

8. ILB Reactions Guard’s Block T N LB Path of NB LB scoop scoop Outside
OG’S BLOCK
NB’S PATH
Pt of ATTACK
1. Reach
Outside / Off-t
Frontside
2. Drive
Inside
3. Cutoff
Away
Backside
4. Down
5. Down
6. Down
7. Fan
Irrelevant  OT
Frontside / Backside
8. Scoop
Irrelevant
9. Pull outside
10. Pull outside
11. Pull outside
Inside (WAGGLE)
play action pass
12. Pull inside
13. Pull inside
14. Pull inside
15. Pass off LOS
pass
16. Pass on LOS
 OT to NB
screen / draw
17. Area block
 OT - NB Irrelevant T N
scoop
scoop LB
Path of NB
Outside
Off Tackle
Away
Inside LB

9. ILB Reactions Guard’s Block T N LB Path of NB LB pull outside Outside
OG’S BLOCK
NB’S PATH
Pt of ATTACK
1. Reach
Outside / Off-t
Frontside
2. Drive
Inside
3. Cutoff
Away
Backside
4. Down
5. Down
6. Down
7. Fan
Irrelevant  OT
Frontside / Backside
8. Scoop
Irrelevant
9. Pull outside
10. Pull outside
11. Pull outside
Inside (WAGGLE)
play action pass
12. Pull inside
13. Pull inside
14. Pull inside
15. Pass off LOS
pass
16. Pass on LOS
 OT to NB
screen / draw
17. Area block
 OT - NB Irrelevant
pull outside T N LB
Path of NB
Outside
Off Tackle
Away
Inside LB

10. ILB Reactions Guard’s Block T N LB Path of NB LB pull inside Outside
OG’S BLOCK
NB’S PATH
Pt of ATTACK
1. Reach
Outside / Off-t
Frontside
2. Drive
Inside
3. Cutoff
Away
Backside
4. Down
5. Down
6. Down
7. Fan
Irrelevant  OT
Frontside / Backside
8. Scoop
Irrelevant
9. Pull outside
10. Pull outside
11. Pull outside
Inside (WAGGLE)
play action pass
12. Pull inside
13. Pull inside
14. Pull inside
15. Pass off LOS
pass
16. Pass on LOS
 OT to NB
screen / draw
17. Area block
 OT - NB Irrelevant T N LB
Path of NB
Outside
Off Tackle
Away
Inside LB

11. ILB Reactions Guard’s Block T N LB Path of NB LB pass set Off LOS
OG’S BLOCK
NB’S PATH
Pt of ATTACK
1. Reach
Outside / Off-t
Frontside
2. Drive
Inside
3. Cutoff
Away
Backside
4. Down
5. Down
6. Down
7. Fan
Irrelevant  OT
Frontside / Backside
8. Scoop
Irrelevant
9. Pull outside
10. Pull outside
11. Pull outside
Inside (WAGGLE)
play action pass
12. Pull inside
13. Pull inside
14. Pull inside
15. Pass off LOS
pass
16. Pass on LOS
 OT to NB
screen / draw
17. Area block
 OT - NB Irrelevant T N LB
Path of NB
Outside
Off Tackle
Away
Inside LB

12. O O X O B F

13. O O X O F B

14. O O X O F B

15. O O O X O O F B

16. Shotgun Reads SHOTGUN technique: BoA Linebackers
I. KEY: QB to the offensive line
II. RESPONSIBILITIES:
A. QB extends ball to your side:
1. OT releases inside: continue to the outside - you have QB on read play and
the DT will squeeze inside on the zone away
2. OT does NOT release inside: play block of OG – inside support on play away.
B. QB extends ball away from you:  OG Play block of your OG frontside or backside.
III. Cat ILB’ers – Normal OG to Nearback reads

17. O O QB O O X O O T T F B

18. O QB O O X O O T T F B

19. QB X T T F B

20. QB X T T F B

21. O O QB O O X O O T T F B

22. OLB Reactions A. Immediate threat (block from 1st key): 1. Drive block
2. Reach block
3. Cutoff block
4. Pass set
B. Delayed threat (not blocked by 1st key):
1. Down block by immediate threat:
a. 2nd key: NB kickout
b. 2nd key: Outside Veer
c. 2nd key: NB load
d. 2nd key: NB Flat: lead option or OT log
2. Inside release by immediate threat:
2nd key: NB pass sets or releases
3. Arc release by immediate threat:
a. 2nd key: NB pass set or pattern release
b. 2nd key: NB kickout
c. 2nd key: NB dive - dive option
4. Slam release by immediate threat:
a. kickout from 2nd or 3rd key
b. log from 2nd or 3rd key
5. DOWN or ARC by immediate threat: with NB AWAY
a. 3rd key: kickout b. 3rd key: log
C. Waggle
1. toward OLB away from OLB
OLB
Reactions

23. Inside Linebacker Pass Reads

24. Common Pass Pattern - 2 back set - LB’er Review Sheet
#3 Flat
#2 Flat
#1 Post
#2 Hook
#1 Curl
LOS
5 yds
10 yds
15 yds B B B B
Common Pass Pattern - 2 back set - LB’er Review Sheet
#2 Away
#3 Block
#1 Post
#2 Across
#1 In
LOS
5 yds
10 yds
15 yds B B B B

25. Common Pass Pattern - 2 back set - LB’er Review Sheet
#3 Flat
#2 Away
#1 Post
#2 In
#1 Corner
LOS
5 yds
10 yds
15 yds B
Common Pass Pattern - 2 back set - LB’er Review Sheet
#2 Away
#3 Flat
#1 Out
#2 Out
#1 Across
LOS
5 yds
10 yds
15 yds B

26. Common Pass Pattern - 2 back set - LB’er Review Sheet
#3 Flare
#2 Up
#2 In
#1 Under
#1 Vertical
LOS
5 yds
10 yds
15 yds B B B B
Common Pass Pattern - Trips set - LB’er Review Sheet
#2 Block
#1 Post
#2 Across
#3 Across
#1 Corner / Out
LOS
5 yds
10 yds
15 yds B B B B

27. Common Pass Pattern - Trips set - LB’er Review Sheet
#2 Away
#2 Out
#3 Flat
#1 Across
#1 Streak
LOS
5 yds
10 yds
15 yds B B B B
Common Pass Pattern - Trips set - LB’er Review Sheet
#2 Away
#2 Across
#3 Out
#1 Middle Hook
#1 Post
LOS
5 yds
10 yds
15 yds B B B B

28. Common Pass Pattern - Trips set - LB’er Review Sheet
#2 Away
#1 Streak
#2 Flat
#3 Seam
#1 Post
LOS
5 yds
10 yds
15 yds B
Common Pass Pattern - Deuce set - LB’er Review Sheet
#3 Vertical
#2 Flag
#1 Curl
#1 Hitch
#2 Up
LOS
5 yds
10 yds
15 yds B B B B