Make the DL right
Key coaching point.
A secret hack for great Linebacker play?
Have a great Defensive Line.
They’re the ones who keep the Linebackers clean and help them make plays.
But it’s a two-way street.
Linebackers and Defensive Linemen must work together to shut down their opponents.
And sometimes…
A Defensive Lineman will end up in a different GAP.
It can play out a few ways:
Sometimes, it’s by play call.
(A gap exchange or a stunt.)
But other times…
It’s just by mistake.
We hate to admit it, but it happens.
I mean, those Defensive Linemen have the toughest PHYSICAL job on the football field.
They won’t always execute their assignment perfectly.
So what should a Linebacker do if a Defensive Lineman ends up in the wrong spot?
They should make them right.
In other words:
If a Defensive Lineman ends up in your gap, then you should take their gap.
After all…
As a Linebacker…
You have the advantage of depth and vision.
You can see what’s going on in front of you.
So when things break down, simply adjust and make the play.
Those Defensive Linemen will thank you for it on the next snap.
All the best,
PS — If you’re looking to sharpen your INDY periods this season, check out THE LB LIBRARY. It contains the largest and most comprehensive Linebacker drill bank on the internet. Find it by clicking here.
Jon Svec
Defensive Coordinator
St. Francis Xavier University
X-Men Football
Email: jsvec@stfx.ca
Twitter: @jonsvecx