Chalk Talk – Linebackers

The game of football has changed drastically over the years. Through those changes, there are only a handful of positions that have remained essentially unaltered. ‘Fullbacks’ in the early 1900s were what we know today as running backs. Quarterbacks used to ‘side-saddle’ the center, facing outward towards the sideline in a formation that closely resembled the ‘Wildcat’ of today’s game. There was a point in time when the ‘under-center’ snap was revolutionary. Yet, through all the changes… the linebacker retained his title and his spot on the field.

Linebackers are the quarterbacks of a defense – being the central player in the defense allows the middle linebacker to make the necessary audibles and adjustments to keep up with this fast paced game. These responsibilities, much like a quarterback’s, must be studied and learned in the film room (‘class work’).

With offenses attempting to be unpredictable, it’s necessary for defensive players to get a ‘pre-snap read’. This read allows the defense to pick up on the minor tendencies of an offense. These tendencies can be as general as the personnel in a formation or as specific as the stance of the right tackle.

Linebackers, much like corners, read the helmets or ‘hats’ of offensive linemen at the snap of the ball. A ‘high-hat’ indicates pass and when the ‘hat fires-off the ball” it’s a run. After the pre-snap read and the ‘hats’ read at the snap, linebackers must react and fulfill either their run game or pass coverage responsibilities. To keep it simple, “When you know… GO!”

Run Game:

There are many different kinds of run plays in the game of football… Counters, Dives, Isos, Traps, Sweeps, Inside Zone, Outside Zone, Zone Reads, etc. Each one of these runs has to be played differently and, of course, the schemes of a defense will change the responsibilities of a linebacker, which is why film study is so important. Normally an offense will run only a few different plays but from a variety of formations. During inside running plays (Isos, traps, dives) the object is to beat the fullback or lead blocker to the hole (fig.1).

Pass Game:

In the most general of terms, there are two kinds of pass coverages, zone and man. After the linebackers have identified that it is indeed a pass they will execute their roles in coverage. If the Defensive Coordinator has called a zone coverage it’s important for linebackers to never lose track of their position on the field. By using the hash marks, numbers, and sidelines on the field, linebackers know where they are and where they’re supposed to be (fig.3).