Having linebackers who are skilled blitzers completely changes a defense’s attack plans. Sending a linebacker toward the line of scrimmage is great for pressure, but if we can teach our linebackers how to blitz with purpose, it enhances our chances of making a tackle for loss.
In this article, we’ll show you how to develop your linebackers to be elite blitzers.
How To Blitz
We’re going to show you things you need to practice with your linebackers for them to be successful blitzers
Blitz Timing
First, to effectively blitz, it’s important for your linebackers and defensive linemen to learn the cadence. When scouting your opponent, see if there are any indicators that the quarterback is going to receive the ball. Key indicators include:
- Raising their hands right before they receive a shotgun snap
- Time the color/number system. For example: Red 98, Red 98 Set Hit. You’ll want to press the line of scrimmage on the second color
- Looking left, right, and center. Quarterbacks who are under center will often look to the left, look to the right, and then center their head when the ball is ready to be snapped.
Timing the snap count and cadence allows you to get an extra step ahead of the offensive lineman as you move toward the line of scrimmage.
This extra step gives the blitzer leverage to the point of attack and will cause more tackles for loss.
Rush Move
Sometimes you may call a blitz where it’s not timed up properly, and the linebacker needs to make a move on the offensive linemen. This could be from a run game standpoint or a pass rush standpoint.
Regardless, every linebacker should have a signature move ready to fire as they approach the line of scrimmage.
The most common ones are the head fake and the arm-over. The head fake will get the offensive lineman to lean one way, then you can club and arm-over them to the opposite direction.
Regardless of what the move is, it’s important to have one more preloaded, with your gap assignment, so you’re not caught off guard when blitzing.
The worst thing that can happen is your linebacker blitzes through the gap with their arms by their side. They will almost certainly get stonewalled and knocked to the ground.
Stack The Offensive Line
There’s nothing worse than timing up the blitz properly, making a great move, but forgetting to stack and you lose leverage.
Stacking occurs when the blitzer moves directly behind the linemen trying to block him. This means that after you clear their hip, you step directly behind them so the offensive linemen can’t recover. If they try to push you, you will get pushed directly in the back, and it will act as a turbo boost toward the ball carrier or quarterback.
Inside our membership vIQtory Pro, you’ll find exact instructions and tutorials on how to turn average linebackers into run-stopping and pass-rushing forces that disrupt offense.
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