BYU X’s and O’s: Outside Linebacker

Linebackers and O-linemen get to know one another quite well throughout the course of a football game.  As Jake mentioned in his X’s and O’s, the OL is always taking into account the position and possible responsibilities of the LBs.

Likewise, LBs are constantly reading the keys that the OL may give so that they can put themselves in the proper position to make a play and fulfill their assignment.

OLB Reads: In a 3-4 the OLB reads the TE (if there is one on his side), the T, and G.

Determining Run/Pass

• An OLB, whether on the ball (on the LOS) or off is reading the last man on the LOS (TE/T) to the Near Back.  This means that at the snap of the ball he will see what the first step of the end man on the line is.  If it is a Pass play the T will step back and stand tall.  This tells the OLB to get to his drop ASAP.  If the first step is up the field then he knows it is a run and moves on to his next key.

• Is the Run TO me or AWAY:

• Once he knows it is run he looks at what type of block the tackle is performing (really this is blended into the first step read).

If the tackle steps down/inside to block the DE (cut him off) the OLB will know that the run is going away from him.

If the tackle steps toward the OLB he knows the play is coming at him.

Another read is if the tackle steps outside and goes upfield onto an ILB.  This tells the OLB to look for a pulling OL and that the play is coming at him.

Finally, if he sees that the T is blocking the DE directly in front of him, he knows it is an inside run play.

Where is the ball supposed to be run, and what is my job

• In (i) the OLB would know that the ball is designed to be run on the far half of the line, probably between the G/T or on a stretch to the outside.  The fact that the T is trying to cut off the DE tells the OLB he is unblocked, and his job becomes the “Heel Line”/”Cutback” Player.  When he is the heel line player, his job is to run flat down the line on the heels of the OL.  This is where you see Dave and Kehl make 80 percent of their plays, because they are so fast down the line.  The offensive coaches are telling the RB, beat him with your speed.  The heel line defender will only make the play if we get a stalemate at the LOS from our DL.  The cutback aspect of it is that if the RB decides to cutback, the OLB is responsible for turning him back inside/keeping contain.

• If the T is trying to “Kick Out” the OLB, the play is designed to be run inside the OLB or inside that block.  ANYTIME there is a pulling OL the play is designed to be run INSIDE that puller's block.  On these plays the OLB's job is to engage the OL and push his body back into the hole while keeping the RB contained.  It is then the job of the ILB to make the tackle.

• If the T is trying to “seal” the OLB or get to his outside shoulder, then the play is designed to be run outside.  The job now becomes “stringing” the play out to the sideline.  The OLB cannot let his shoulders get turned.  He has to contain the play while buying time for the troops to rally.  All of his buddies are inside, so that is where he has to force the play.

Notice that I have not mentioned the RB as a read yet.  This is because the OL will tell you everything you need to know about where the RB will end up.

The RB can be tricky.  Offenses love to run counter plays.  On these plays the RB will start going to one side and then cut back.  This is not a read by the RB—it is a designed play.  A lot of teams, like CSU, will pull a G on these plays.  If the LB is reading the OL, he will not be fooled by the RB and will see the G, meet him at the LOS, and stop the play for no gain.

When players get fooled on the plays like the counter, coaches usually will tell them, “Get your eyes out of the backfield.”  The OL gives the LBs all the information they need in order to put themselves in the right place at the right time.

By Markell Staffieri