To Become a Great Linebacker You Must Become A Thief
It's the only way
I wish I had watched more film as a player.
I mean, of course I watched film.
Probably more than the average Linebacker.
But I could have watched MORE.
Now, as a coach, I’m able to invest a lot of time into film study.
Hours and hours and hours.
And when I stand behind an Inside Run period these days, I can just SEE everything develop.
But I’m old now.
My body can’t make it to the point of attack.
If I would have been able to see the game this well when I was still playing, I would have had a much better career.
Here’s what to do (before it’s too late).
Not Enough Time On The Clock
There’s NO WAY a Linebacker can get enough physical reps to develop into a great player.
It’s impossible.
You can run a few drills during the week.
Do some Skelly, some Inside Run, some Scrimmages.
It’s just not enough.
There’s not enough practice time.
And even if you had all day, getting the necessary amount of reps would run any Linebacker’s body into the ground by game day.
So how can a player develop?
Be A Thief
The only way to get in enough work is to STEAL the reps.
And I don’t mean jumping to the front of the line during drills.
I mean taking MENTAL REPS whenever you get the chance.
You can steal reps in practice by staying dialed in while you’re waiting for your turn.
Ask yourself these questions:
When you’re on the sidelines during a scrimmage, do you always get the play call?
When you’re waiting your turn during an Inside Run period, are you reading your keys?
When you’re waiting in line during an Indy drill, are you paying attention to the rep?
These are all opportunities to steal reps and speed up your development.
Don’t waste them.
Quick Note: If you’re looking for some new drills, check out the brand new Linebacker Drills 2.0.
Get Some Screen Time
The best way to steal reps is through film study.
This means:
Watching film from practice to make corrections.
Watching film of your next opponent to sharpen your reads.
Watching any type of film you can get your hands on to make yourself a smarter football player.
And when you’re watching film, focus on your KEYS.
It’s different than watching an NFL game on a Sunday afternoon.
It’s not casual.
This is work.
Get your eyes in the right place and FOCUS on what you’re seeing.
That’s the only way it will pay off.
Final Thoughts
It’s too late for me.
My playing days are over.
All I can do now is try to convince future generations to learn from my mistakes.
(I think they call that coaching.)
If you’re still playing, steal the reps anywhere you can.
It will pay dividends on game day.
All the best,
Jon Svec
Defensive Coordinator
St. Francis Xavier University
X-Men Football
Email: jsvec@stfx.ca
Twitter: @jonsvecx
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