Defensive Positioning

I

am very honored to have this chance to speak tonight before my peers in the coaching profession. May I take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the AFCA for making this possible. It is a special privilege to represent the Air Force Academy, the coaching staff, and the young men I am so blessed to work with. In discussing any of the defensive positions, I feel there are four reasons you win: 1. Ready to play. 2. Aligned properly. 3. Know your assignment. 4. Ability You immediately notice that three of the four take place prior to the snap of the ball. Ability is a variable but by taking care of the first three, you definitely give your ability a chance to be successful. Our philosophy for linebackers is: 1. Linebackers must make the difference. 2. Set the standard for the defense. 3. Want to coach technique; don’t want to coach effort. 4. Can’t afford to have bad play or bad day. 5. Do it right — Every play — Every day. 6. Grade on pursuit (Best pursuit team in America). The mentality I want the linebackers to possess is: 1. Attack — Don’t catch. 2. Run thru blockers — Not around. 3. PST • Press the line of scrimmage. • Shock & Shed • Stay on your feet. • Swarm • Tackle Everything begins with a good stance — the emphasis we stress: 1. Two point stance. 2. Feet parallel. 3. Feet: Armpit to shoulder width apart. 4. Weight on inside balls of feet. 5. Comfortable bend in knees. 6. Shoulders in front of hips. 7. Shoulders over knees: Knees over toes. 8. Arms inside framework of body. It is very important that he play at the height of his stance. In this way, the linebacker is always low so he can immediately be pad under pad whether taking on a block or making a tackle. (He should never have to reset himself prior to contact.) The depth we ask our linebackers to play and the reasons why are: 1. Toes at four yards depth. 2. Don’t cheat yourself on depth. 3. Deeper you can play and still handle

plays straight at you, the more field you will be able to cover. 4. Initial step more upfield; not as flat when at 4-5 yards depth. 5. Nothing can happen to you at 4-5 yards depth except initial attack step. We like this depth because they meet force with force, attack at aggressive angles, key better, get outside quicker, and are able to run through blocks better with their ability and agility. We put a lot of emphasis on pre-snap reads. Our goal is to eliminate as many surprises as we can prior to the snap of the ball. The points of emphasis are as follows: 1. Eliminate surprises. 2. You’re as good as that guy across from you; but not one bit better, so the play will be won with great concentration, great technique, and great heart. 3. Play hard but also play smart. 4. Play with your eyes. 5. Key width and depth of backs. 6. Key on line splits — On-off line of scrimmage. 7. Call out heavy/light stance (Key on back-linemen). 8. Run stance: • Weight forward: Heavy on fingers w/heels up, lot of pressure on fingers. • Head level low. • Heels off ground (Heels up or down). • Amount of distance between their feet. 9. Pass stance: • Weight back on heels (Heels low). • Head level higher. • Little weight on front hand. Our linebackers play every block as a base block always anticipating the cut block. The areas we stress in defeating that block and getting to the ball carrier are: 1. Must defeat blocker by: • Bending your knees. • Keeping our feet hot. • Good hand placement. • Our eyes lower than blocker’s eyes (leverage the blocker). 2. Break the momentum of block with shoulders and upper body (Shock him). (Attack with hat and hands — Go thru not to — Punch thru with hands). 3. Shoot hands for throat or top of numbers will be good fit up on breast plate (grab cloth). (Remember: Tightest hands and quickest hands to the breastplate wins). 4. Shoot hands up, not out. 5. Hands must be inside and tight with elbows tight to body and thumbs up.

Defensive Positioning

Richard Bell Linebackers Coach United States Air Force Academy Colorado Springs, Colo.

• Proceedings • 77th AFCA Convention • 2000 •

6. Hands need to operate above the chin (otherwise not good leverage) — Elbows tucked. 7. Both feet on ground on contact — Work feet upfield, not out. 8. Blocker is most vulnerable at the moment of contact. 9. Important: Don’t let your feet die on contact. (Keep feet tight — don’t allow feet to separate). 10. Quickest feet after contact wins. 11. Attack — Shock him — Grab cloth — Bench — Separate & Shed — Run to the ball. 12. Clear blocker by locking out (Lock out or Push-Pull technique) then using (Push with your play side hand — pull with your backside hand): • Yank & Rip. • Yank & Punch Thru. 13. Trying to clear your should and hips — Remember: The Flatter You Are The Tighter You Are

The Quicker You Are The Better You Are To be able to communicate with the linebackers in a quick, meaningful way, we talk in terms of: 1. Attack 2. Shock Them 3. Grab Cloth 4. Bench 5. Separate & Shed 6. Swarm Our keys and teaching progression on the snap of the ball are as follows: 1. Key backs — Visualize linemen. 2. Back will give us our first indication for: • Attack point • Angles • Gap responsibilities 3. Flow of back tells us three things immediately: • Front side of backside linebacker. • Whether ball is tight or wide. • Whether play is fast or slow. 4. First step must be quick and tight.

5. Want first step quickness — Reading and reacting without any false steps. 6. Give offense credit — Have someone assigned to block you every play. 7. Attack at proper angle with your shoulders and hips square to the line of scrimmage (Ready to hit and shed on that first or second step). 8. Everything depends on you being able to adjust your attack point to the angle of the back and ball. 9. Be able to expand or reduce your attack point to the angle of the back and ball as you press the line of scrimmage on the run. 10. Play to daylight with your shoulders and hips square to line of scrimmage — Checking and filling All holes in direction of flow (Play to open window). Again, it has been great having the chance to talk with you about linebacker play and if I can be of assistance to you in the future, feel free to call upon me. Thank you.

Keep The Head Out Of Football Excerpted from an article by Dick Schindler for the National Federation News

Coaches’ Checklist 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

13.

Keep the head up. Discuss risk of injury. Keep the head out of contact. Explain how serious injuries can occur. Involve parents in early season meeting. Have a set plan for coaching safety. Clearly explain and demonstrate safe techniques. Provide best medical care possible. Monitor blocking and tackling techniques every day. Repeat drills which stress proper and safe techniques. Admonish and/or discipline users of unsafe techniques. Receive clearance by doctor for athlete to play following head trauma. Stress safety every day.

14. Don’t glorify head hunters. 15. Support officials who penalize for illegal helmet contact. 16. Don’t praise or condone illegal helmet contact. 17. Provide conditioning to strengthen neck muscles. 18. Entire staff must be “tuned in” to safety program. 19. Check helmet condition regularly. 20. Improper technique causes spinal cord injuries. 21. Helmet must fit properly. 22. Be prepared for a catastrophic injury. 23. The game doesn’t need abusive contact. 24. Player safety is your responsibility. 25. It’s a game — not a job — for the players.

• Proceedings • 77th AFCA Convention • 2000 •