Middle Linebackers

Skills: Speed, size, lateral movement, killer instinct and smarts. Linebackers are field generals with a knack for finding the football and avoiding blockers. These players find seams or lanes and run through them with reckless abandon. Some athletic aspects can be made up with guts and smarts. Stance: Two point stand up. Knees bent in a crouch position. Hands are kept out in a ready to strike position. First step is always up field play side for a run stop. Reads: Guard; fullback/nearside back: tailback; QB in that order. If Guard blocks down: Shoot the hole: close distance and reduce running lanes. Always hit with the inside shoulder and try to make the play go inside if you can't stop it. This way the backside people can make a play. Guard pulls down line of scrimmage: Follow him trying to shoot the gap he runs to. Linebackers must first check assigned hole and fullback before cutting loose. It is important to look for a play side blocker hunting your head. Look for tackles ends and play them quickly and gain separation. I've found it is easier to play these blocks underneath and push the line of scrimmage rather than play of and down field. To many seems open up to cover and you give up your chest. Stay low and keep pad leverage and keep your eyes on the ball. Guard pulls up for pass protection: Zone defense linebackers take a drop step after the initial play side step forward. Drop step with outside foot and turn to run keeping your head on a swivel looking at the QB's eyes and for a receiver in the curl-zone or flats. If the QB drops his hands and hands off its a draw. Close ground and seams. Back will pick a hole. Man to Man; run to the back of responsibility.

Primary Responsibility: Play side gap and run stop defense. Linebackers should have two gap responsibilities. If the play comes to him; step up and fill assigned hole then run to football. If the play goes away from you, check the backside hole and run to the football. Always use the inside shoulder on plays to you and outside on plays away. Support is always on those sides so close the seam with fewer players to back you up. Linebackers are crazy field generals who sacrifice anything and know every position, and the responsibilities of those positions. Alignment: Normally about 4-5 yards off the line of scrimmage and over the offensive guards. In goal line or short yardage defense a linebacker plays about 2-3 yards and reads the fullback. If a linebacker plays off the line of scrimmage it is harder for a lineman to cover the ground and make the block.

Outside Linebackers and Ends

Skills: Strong players with speed on the weak (right) end especially. Ends must be patient and quick on pursuit while able to hold ground on a tackle trap or fullback kick-out block. Stance: Two point stand up. Stagger outside foot heal to toe of inside foot or maybe a little more. Keep center of gravity low. When playing outside eye of a tight end or tackle you might use a three point stance but at least get way low and use your hands to shed the blocker. If you play outside eye of the tight end and there is no tight end your side. Then stand way up and intimidate the QB. Rush with speed and power under control looking inside for a pulling guard. you don't want to run by the play. Reads: Tight end and fullback. Tight end blocks down: Close the gap by moving down the line of scrimmage. Remember if you get up field a seam will open up for the runner. Look quickly for a pulling guard and a power fullback. Try to get something on the end as he may be faking a block then turn up field for a pop pass. Tight End releases outside: Jam him and try to keep your outside arm free. Watch for a hook block as this could be a fake to hook you. Defensive end is very complicated and reads are unusual. Watch for a inside pulling guard or a filling for the end fullback. Sometimes a smart coordinator knows how to assign fake reads and this could be one. Ball goes away: Follow in the back field deep as the deepest back after holding on the line of scrimmage for a second or two. A defensive end needs to move along the line of scrimmage unless you can see your attacker or the play is a pass. Ball goes away but a back falls out to your side: Cover him and watch for a screen or dump off pass.

Moves: Same rushing moves as a lineman. Use your hands to shed blockers. Bull Rush/ strength over technique. Just blast through the man like there is no tomorrow. Use this move to intimidate the player then use one of the other moves and catch him off guard. Primary Responsibility: Jam the tight end. Protect the line of scrimmage seams, cover reverses, and contain. Alignment: Normally on the line of scrimmage and over the offensive tackle or tight end.

Defensive Linemen
Skills: Big players with strength. Tackles need a quick aggressive first step and the ability to hold ground against double teams and traps. Stance: 3 point with one foot staggered heal to toe with opposite foot. Place very light pressure on the down hand. Keeps shoulders and tail level. Keep off hand up where it can be used quickly to shed a blocker. Reads: The man in front of you. Blocks down/ follow the blocker down the line of scrimmage without getting up field. Look for a pulling lineman coming to kick you out and squeeze the whole tight to the line of scrimmage. Pulls/ Try to follow the man down the line of scrimmage while screaming for the other linemen to watch for the play coming their way. Blocks straight on/ Blast him and make him hurt. Shed the block quickly and get your hands and head up looking for a ball carrier. Double team/ If you are strong enough play through the double team using your strength. If you are out manned use a crab technique and drop to the ground. This is effective in holding ground and clogging the hole. Cut/ Jam him with all your might and slam his head in the ground. Then jump him and pursue the ball. Stands up in pass pro/ Use one of three rush techniques to blow through or around the blocker. I've found it useful to assume one of these moves from the get-go and adjust accordingly.

Moves: Bull Rush/ strength over technique. Just blast through the man like there is no tomorrow. Use this move to intimidate the player then use one of the other moves and catch him off guard. Primary Responsibility: Jam Linemen are always assigned a gap in defensive schemes. Alignment: Normally on the line of scrimmage and over an offensive lineman.

Cornerbacks
Skills: Speed, Speed and Speed. Corners must be fastest players on the field so they can pick up backs out of the backfield and run with the fastest of the fast (Wide-Outs). Stance: Two point Stand up Reads: The wide receiver in front of you. Man to Man/ receiver in front of you. In man to man defense a corner back will want to play the inside seam and keep the receiver funneled out. At the snap of the ball the corner will read inside looking at the QB's eyes and try to keep his hands on the receiver, If you feel you can run with the receiver. If the receiver has greater speed play off him far enough to do one up down get up and still run with him. Give up the short passes and keep the man in front of you. In Zone read the tight end through to the QB's eyes

Primary Responsibility: Funnel receiver outside in man to man and inside in 1, 2 and 3 deep zones. Always turn runners onside to pursuit. Alignment: 5 9 yards off the line of scrimmage, depending on the down and yardage situation and defense called in the huddle. Lined up on the outside shoulder of the wide receiver on their side.

Free Safety Strong Safety

Skills: Speed, size and don't get beat mentality. Free safety is the leader of the defensive backfield Skills: Speed, toughness. Strong safeties fill running sure and act as a is the linebacker. the calling out strong calls, down and distance, and makinglanes the coveragesecondright one for They play mostly Must be a smart player. offensive set.underneath zones and backs out of the backfield. Must be a play maker and smash mouth intimidator. Size is not as important as shear all out guts and determination. Stance: Two Point stand up. The free safety is the last man on the field to make a play. You get beat Stance: Two xix. First step always two back. and give them point Stand up Reads: Man to Man , Assigned receiver. Reads: Man to Man. Assigned receiver, Tight End and QB. If he blocks play run defense looking though the players can't make Must make sure play Free Safety has time to make decisions that othertight end to the QB. and therefore cannot is not play-action pass. Zone take two steps back and read through the tight end looking for afford to just lock up and quit /on one player; even in Man to Man. Must make controlled the pass first. Tight end blocks, come up and fill Deep ball first decisions based on ALL the evidence covering theopen seams. and foremost. Primary Responsibility: The pass. Play pass first and run second. A Strong Safety is used more Zone: Tight end QB. Tight end blocks down expect run and play run looking off deep zone and more these days as a extra linebacker with speed. Strong Safety's first two steps are always coverage. Usually a safety backs up zones. If another man gets beat deep, Free Safeties cover back unless he is on a called blitz. their butts. Free safeties intimidate receivers who dare to cross the middle of their field. Make them PAY 10 yards off the line of scrimmage, depending on the down and yardage situation Alignment: 6 -dearly with bodily harm. and defense called in the huddle. on the outside shoulder of the wide receiver on their side. Primary Responsibility: The pass and deep middle zone. Play maker who intimidates people with stinging hits. Alignment: Zone 3 deep defense, about 15 yards deep middle. 2 deep zone, cheat to weak side in most defenses. Man to Man usually a Free Safety will play a single deep zone or may lock up on a man. In single deep zone play 15 yards deep middle.