AJ Cooper, LB Coach, Arizona State
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A summary of the transcript is available below the video.
LINEBACKER FOOTWORK AND AGILITY TRAINING
This coaching video focuses on essential linebacker footwork drills and techniques, emphasizing that footwork is the most important skill for linebackers.
V DRILL (EDDD WARM-UP)
The V drill is designed to keep linebackers’ feet active and works at 45-degree angles forward and backward. Key coaching points include maintaining a wide base, avoiding heel clicking, and keeping feet active. The coach emphasizes that linebackers should move together like “dancing partners” in a 4-2-5 system.
SHOOTS AND CONES AGILITY DRILL
This daily drill mimics running back movements for various schemes (inside zone, mid zone, gap schemes). Critical elements include maintaining low hip level throughout the drill, keeping hands up to destroy blocks, and ensuring hip level remains consistent whether in or out of the shoots. Players work on shuffle steps for inside zone with wide feet that don’t come together, planting off the outside foot, and finishing with proper tackling fundamentals (same foot, same shoulder).
CLEAR CLOUDY DRILL
This is a major teaching tool used almost daily during spring and fall camp, and weekly during the season. The drill focuses on matching the running back’s path with proper footwork. Players learn to recognize different schemes (zone, mid zone, counter, insert, split zone) and adjust their steps accordingly. Key techniques include two-step crossovers for wide tracks, shuffle steps for inside zone/duo with square shoulders, and one-step crossovers for mid zone schemes.
COACHING PHILOSOPHY
The coach stresses that individual drill performance directly correlates to game performance—if players struggle with footwork in games, the issues will show up in individual drills. Every rep should be treated as a tackling rep with proper finishing technique.