Description

Sam Bennett, Co-DC/LB Coach, Incarnate Word

Full video on Glazier Drive: LB Fundamentals: From Indy to the Game

LINEBACKER AGILITY DRILL BREAKDOWN

This coaching video demonstrates fundamental linebacker footwork drills using agility boards, emphasizing how each drill directly translates to game situations. The coach breaks down three core progressions that develop lateral movement, burst speed, and tackling technique.

ONE FOOT IN DRILL

The first drill focuses on explosive movement through the boards with one foot placement per hole. Key coaching points include pushing with proper pad level, throwing the elbow, tucking the chin, and keeping arms loose rather than balled up. The emphasis is on staying tight to the boards rather than going wide, maintaining square shoulders throughout the movement, and keeping elbows close to the body.

Players must burst to a specific target (dot, cone, or coach) rather than just making quick, short movements. Game film examples show linebackers sliding laterally, throwing elbows, and generating velocity to become factors in tackles, even when not making the primary tackle.

ONE FOOT OUT (RIP AND RUN)

This progression adds cutback action while maintaining tight positioning to the boards. Players push laterally while staying incredibly tight to the obstacles—so close that "you couldn't fit a needle through." When contact is appropriate, the drill incorporates tackling technique: pointing the inside toe, leaning back inside, getting the hat across, overemphasizing the wrap, and running feet through contact (minimum three steps).

For injured players or non-contact days, the drill focuses on coming to balance and working through the hips. The coach stresses avoiding being too wide, which creates creases and prevents defending cutbacks effectively. Game clips demonstrate this same tight lateral movement naturally occurring during plays.

PEDAL BURST DRILL

The final progression combines bursting movement with breaking down and driving to contact. The fundamental principle remains: shoulders over knees over toes while staying tight off the boards. Players work on planting the brake foot and driving the opposite foot while coming to balance. When pads are on, someone should work the tackle.

Critical coaching points include squaring up, closing the cushion aggressively rather than waiting, keeping the upper body loose, bringing hands and hips through, and maintaining proper pad level. The coach emphasizes not giving ball carriers a "two-way go" by breaking down too far away.

LATERAL MOVEMENT WORK

The final segment shows pure lateral movement through the boards with hot feet, focusing on gaining ground with each step while staying tight to avoid creating creases. The movement mimics working counter steps and emphasizes maintaining position rather than getting wide outside the boards.

Throughout all drills, the coach stresses showing players how these "begin the day drills" directly correlate to game situations, which increases buy-in and proper execution during practice.

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