Not sure how to play linebacker, but this is a failed attempt!
- Thread starter opieT
- Start date
Pretty big boy running full speed through that hole blocking.40lbs bigger than the fullbacks he's been playingagainstin practice.
The goal is to NOT get blocked. It is not like he didnt have time or space to avoid the blocker, he just thought he would square him up and take him on....bad decision.
The goal of a defense has a couple of options:
1) your DL is a bunch of space occupiers. Which allows your LBs to roam and make all the tackles on the field. This is what we did last year. We did not count on our DLs to make many plays, they were there to tie up a couple of OLs each and keep the LBs clean
2) Your DL is expected to make plays so you count on your LBs to fill gaps left by the DL.
#2 was the way that I thought we would go this year. I thought we have a good enough DL and DBs to allow our LBs to just fill gaps and cover the in between stuff. However, we are actually playing a very BAD hybrid of the two. Our DL is attempting to make plays but our LBs are not filling any gaps. They are just in space and easily blocked by OLs. Also, as a LB, you have to make an OL WORK for a block. Be Shifty, avoid a direct one on one matchup. This play is exactly the opposite. We have both of our LBs attempt to take on blocks one on one and just get decimated by them. I very rarely see any NFL LBs take on an OL. If you have no other way to do it, you submarine them and, at the very least, make a pile in the hole
1) your DL is a bunch of space occupiers. Which allows your LBs to roam and make all the tackles on the field. This is what we did last year. We did not count on our DLs to make many plays, they were there to tie up a couple of OLs each and keep the LBs clean
2) Your DL is expected to make plays so you count on your LBs to fill gaps left by the DL.
#2 was the way that I thought we would go this year. I thought we have a good enough DL and DBs to allow our LBs to just fill gaps and cover the in between stuff. However, we are actually playing a very BAD hybrid of the two. Our DL is attempting to make plays but our LBs are not filling any gaps. They are just in space and easily blocked by OLs. Also, as a LB, you have to make an OL WORK for a block. Be Shifty, avoid a direct one on one matchup. This play is exactly the opposite. We have both of our LBs attempt to take on blocks one on one and just get decimated by them. I very rarely see any NFL LBs take on an OL. If you have no other way to do it, you submarine them and, at the very least, make a pile in the hole
As a former OL, I loved nothing more than when a LB tried to take me on one on one. DBs (and most LBs) usually had the sense to submarine me and try to make a pile in the hole
His job is to fill the hole. Shedding the block is the other half. Otherwise we should expect our MLB to have 0 tackles and all tackles made by our safeties (which is happening now). It is ok if he blows the blocker up at the line of scrimmage so that the running back has no path, but to get blown up 3 yards deep is not his job. If it is, then our DC needs his *** kicked in for expecting our safeties to have 20 tackles a game in the run game.