Linebacker Run Blocking Awareness

 The number one mistake that Linebackers make in high school and sometimes college is the way they take on a drive block.  Young Backers get into the habit of hitting with their shoulder pads and forgetting about their hands.  The problem with this is that after contact is made, they have no control over their body or the blockers body.  They have no chance of beating a good blocker, because the good ones will use their hands.  The proper way to enter into contact with a blocker is with your pads and the palms of your hands.  You must shock the blocker to stop his forward movement, forcefully punch out with the palms of your hands, then get full extension with your arms and shed the blocker away from your path to the ball carrier. 

 The next block that you need to beat is the cut block.  The mistake that is made here is that the defender is so focused on the ball carrier that he takes his eyes off of the blocker.  You have to handle the blocker before you do anything else or you’ll be on the ground watching the runner jump over you.  On a cut block, the blocker aims anywhere from the backers knees to his ankles.  The defender must focus on the blocker and use the palms of his hands to punch the top of the blockers shoulder pads to shock and force the blockers momentum down into the ground.  The defender must also make sure that he kicks his feet back far enough not to trip over the blocker on the ground, because the good ones will roll at you.