Description

Brian Nix, Alcoa HS, TN, Head Coach

Full video on Glazier Drive: Base Pressures (Part 1)

OVERVIEW

This video covers a defensive play call called "Brewers" - an inside linebacker blitz package that's part of the T-Bo family from Dave Randa's defensive system. The play allows defensive coordinators to send an inside linebacker to different gaps while maintaining defensive line integrity.

KEY COMPONENTS OF BREWERS

The beauty of Brewers is its flexibility - coaches can direct the blitz anywhere by adding modifiers to the call (Brewers H, Brewers right, Brewers strong, etc.). The defensive line knows that when Brewers is called, one lineman plays base technique in "vice," while the nose gets an "R" call to step to the right shoulder of the center rather than playing head-up. The defensive end receives an "O" call (Oscar, Olly, etc.) telling him to step outside to the tackle's outside pad.

LINEBACKER TECHNIQUE

The blitzing linebacker must change his stance completely - he's no longer reading and reacting but attacking like a defensive tackle. Coaches should teach a sprinter's stance: Z in the knees, knees over toes, on the balls of the feet, timing the snap and rolling off the line. The linebacker reads the guard: if the guard goes down, chase his outside hip; if he goes out, chase his inside hip; if he comes at you, work inside the block. This creates a more aggressive, downhill attack compared to the traditional stack-and-shed approach.

ADVANTAGES OF THE CALL

Brewers speeds up the fit and changes the pace for offensive linemen who are accustomed to linebackers playing more controlled. It puts doubt in the offensive tackle's mind - after getting down-blocked several plays in a row, suddenly the defensive end steps outside, forcing adjustments. The blitzing linebacker attacks so fast that he plays behind the line of scrimmage and can backdoor pulling guards. The coaching staff drills this daily for five minutes with inside linebackers, emphasizing that they should never allow the first player to read out on pullers.

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE OPPOSITE LINEBACKER

If flow goes away from the Brewers call, the backside linebacker plays base technique in vice/clamp - getting tight to the nearest defensive lineman and preparing for pullers. If flow comes toward the Brewers side, he can fast flow over the top since the blitzing linebacker is occupying blockers.

IDEAL SITUATIONS TO CALL BREWERS

This is an excellent call against gap scheme when you can diagnose pre-snap (heavy guard stance, tucked H-back indicating power). You can either call it to the gap scheme to disrupt it or bring it away from the gap scheme to chase it down from behind. It's particularly effective on first-and-10 or second-and-five against RPO and play-action teams because offenses aren't expecting the linebacker to shoot the gap - they expect him to read and flow. The game film shows it creating sacks and disrupting zone schemes by having the linebacker chase the guard's hip and cut off plays before they develop.

---

Reviews

---

Comments