This article was originally posted on the Glazier Coaching Blog.
Brandon Butcher, DC/LB Coach, Tennessee – Martin, provides six key off-season agility drills designed to enhance linebacker play, focusing on footwork, positioning, and reaction skills.
His drills focus on fundamental footwork and movement efficiency and emphasize small details like first-step accuracy, body control, and communication. Adjustments based on opponents’ blocking schemes ensure that the drills translate to in-game success.
View his entire online clinic presentation from Glazier Drive: LB Development & Drills.
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Key Takeaways for Coaches:
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Stance & Key Steps
- Players should maintain a balanced stance with proper weight distribution.
- Emphasize mirroring offensive movements without reacting to cadence.
- Initial movements (first 1-2 steps) are critical for maintaining leverage and gap control.
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Reaction to Offensive Keys
- Linebackers key off the guard’s pad movement: move laterally, forward, or backward based on reads.
- Proper foot placement ensures efficient direction changes and prevents wasted movement.
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Maintaining Balance & Center of Gravity
- Introduces the “Madden Circle” concept—keeping body weight inside a stable zone to allow quick changes in direction.
- Avoid overstepping or leaning outside the base, which slows reaction time.
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Drill Progressions & Game-Specific Adjustments
- Drills include lateral movement, shuffling, and reacting to offensive linemen movements (e.g., pulling guards).
- Coaches can modify drills based on weekly game plans, simulating real blocking schemes.
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Bag Drills & Agility Focus
- Uses bags to emphasize weight transfer and proper foot placement.
- Encourages linebackers to keep feet under control, minimize vertical movement, and maintain balance.
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Shuffle & Tackle Finishing
- Combines shuffle steps with closing space toward the line of scrimmage.
- Reinforces “push to move” technique to stay under control while engaging blockers or finishing tackles.
