LB 101 (Part 7): Blitzing
Attacking the play
Elite Linebackers are great blitzers.
Here are a few thoughts.
Concepts
The best blitzers don’t blindly attack the line of scrimmage.
It’s important for a blitzing Linebacker to understand the scheme.
What's the concept?
Where are you trying to funnel the football?
This is important because blitzes can get messy.
Gaps move.
Things break down.
But if you understand the CONCEPT, you can still make the play.
This is a key first step.
Run vs. Pass
Are you blitzing to stop the run?
Or blitzing to sack Quarterback?
Huge question.
It will impact your technique.
In simple terms, it looks like this:
When you’re blitzing to stop the run, stay SQUARE.
When you’re blitzing to sack the Quarterback, get SKINNY.
This is a good starting point.
Timing
How should a Linebacker time their blitz?
The answer lies in the SITUATION.
On a short yardage play, for example, the Linebacker probably wants to hit the line of scrimmage at the snap.
On the other hand, if you’re blitzing the Quarterback, you might want to blitz from depth.
This forces the blocking scheme to declare itself before you attack.
Know the situation, then time it up appropriately.
Great timing is the key to any successful blitz.
Final Thoughts
This concludes the LB 101 series.
(To jump back into any of the articles, click here.)
This series has provided you with some starting points.
But to truly develop the foundations of Linebacker play, you’ll need to dig deeper.
That’s what THE LB LAB is all about.
It’s a complete video course on Linebacker play.
85 short, powerful lessons.
All about the fundamentals.
If you’re new to the position, this course will provide everything you need to get started.
And if you’re a veteran player or coach, you will definitely find some coaching points you can steal inside THE LB LAB.
All the best,
Jon Svec
Defensive Coordinator
St. Francis Xavier University
X-Men Football
Email: jsvec@stfx.ca
Twitter: @jonsvecx