The linebacker and safety positions are crucially important to the defensive success of a football team, but they play different roles within the defensive scheme. A linebacker's main duties on the field can range from blitzing to making hard tackles on running backs. Linebackers might also have to shift into pass coverage at times. Safeties line up deep behind the line of scrimmage and are mainly responsible for pass coverage up the middle or near the sidelines. Developing drills that target position-specific skills can dramatically improve your performance on the field.
Box Reaction for Linebackers
During a reaction drill, you stand with another linebacker in a 10-yard-square box demarcated by traffic cones. While standing about 1 yard from the other linebacker, you take visual cues from your coach and respond accordingly. For example, when your coach points at a cone, you turn your hips in that direction and perform a crossover run to that cone. If he points straight back, you must back pedal to the baseline of the square. The drill ends when the coach points at himself, at which point you change direction and sprint straight past him. Keep your feet under you at all times and maintain your stance throughout the drill.
Downhill Shuffle for Linebackers
During the downhill shuffle drill, four bags are spaced evenly over 10 yards at a slight angle, similar to the angle a linebacker would encounter when trying to go around the offensive line to make a tackle on a running back. Have a blocker stand between each bag, and have a fourth blocker waiting at the end of the bags. Ten yards beyond the fourth blocker, a ball carrier stands waiting to run. When the drill starts, you shuffle across the front of the bags in good hitting position. As you step in front of each bag, the corresponding blocker takes a step forward with his chest high and you must shuffle your hands across his chest to keep moving. The final blocker attempts a low block on you. Once you shake the low block, you must tackle the ball carrier to complete the drill.
Bombs Away for Safeties
Bombs away is a simple drill that helps a safety learn to read a quarterback's eyes and body languages for easier pass coverage. As a safety, you start the drill back 15 yards from the line of scrimmage in the middle of the field. At the line of scrimmage, the quarterback stands directly in front of you with a wide receiver on each side. At the starting whistle, each of the wide receivers runs up the sideline and you must correctly read the quarterbacks body language just before the pass to intercept the ball or make the tackle.
Switching Receivers for Safeties
This drill begins similar to bombs away except the safety runs coverage on one of the receivers when the drill starts. The receiver that you are covering runs a pattern about 15 yards out from the line of scrimmage. Meanwhile, the second receiver runs a short pattern of about 7 yards. When the second receiver reaches his position, the quarterback throws the ball to him. As soon as the quarterback throws the ball, you must change directions and move to position for an open-field tackle on the second receiver. This drill teaches you how to break coverage to make a necessary tackle and prevent yardage loss.
