DRILLS FOR THE LINEBACKERS
The following drills are used to teach individual and team techniques to our linebackers:
All Secondary Drills:
Since our linebackers are a part of our defensive secondary, every drill relating to pass defense mentioned and illustrated previously, are also used for our linebackers.
Eye-Opener Drill (8-12 men):
[Figure 143] illustrates four large dummies, a line of ball carriers (O) and a line of tacklers (X). The ball carrier either fakes at one hole and goes through the next one, or goes through the first hole trying to beat the tackler. The linebacker tries to keep leverage on the ball carrier, trying to meet him in the hole. The tackler must be careful he does not over-run the ball carrier.
Figure 143
Eye-Closer Drill (12-15 men):
[Figure 144] illustrates our Eye-Closer Drill with the offense running its middle attack and the linebackers in particular reacting to every situation they are likely to encounter in a game.
Figure 144
The linebackers also take part in the following drills which I have discussed and illustrated previously:
1. Defensive Bucker Drill.
2. Gauntlet Drill.
3. Middle Drill.
4. Pursuit Drill.
5. Wave Drill.
6. Peel-Off Drill.