The Coach's Eye: Linebackers

When I evaluate a linebacker, I am not interested only in the highlight plays. Anybody can look good when everything goes right. I want to know what happens when an offensive lineman gets in his way, when a play develops faster than expected, or when he has to make a decision in a split second. That is when you find out what kind of football player you are watching.

I have always considered linebacker one of the most important positions on the field. He has to defend the run, drop into coverage, recognize what the offense is trying to do, and help get the defense lined up correctly. The position demands athleticism, instincts, physicality, and a little something upstairs. Here is what I look for when I evaluate one.

Athleticism Has to Show Up on the Field

The first thing I look for is athleticism. Today’s linebackers have to run, move laterally, change direction, and cover ground from sideline to sideline without sacrificing the physical part of the job. Offenses use formations and motion to create difficult matchups, so a linebacker might have to fill a run gap on one snap and cover a back or receiver on the next.

But a fast 40-yard dash does not automatically make a good linebacker. Can he recognize the play? Does he take the right angle without wasting steps? Can he get himself into position, and when he arrives, can he finish? That is how I judge whether the athletic ability translates to football.

Defending the Run

Against the run, I want to see a linebacker read his keys and understand where the play is developing. Offensive linemen are not standing around waiting for him. They work together to reach the second level and take linebackers out of the play. A good linebacker recognizes the blocking scheme, sees what is happening in front of him, and gets to the proper spot instead of simply chasing the ball.

Then he has to get physical. He must shed blocks, keep his feet working, and find the ball carrier. I pay close attention to tackling angles and whether he finishes under control. Aggression is important, but aggression without sound technique turns a tackle into a missed opportunity. And missed tackles can change football games.

Pass Coverage Is About More Than Speed

I also want to know how well a linebacker understands the passing game. He does not have to be a defensive back, but he must recognize formations, understand routes developing around him, and pay attention to the quarterback’s eyes and body language. What is the quarterback looking at? What are the receivers doing? Where is the ball likely to go?

Pre-snap motion is another test. If a receiver moves across the formation, something has changed, and the linebacker needs to recognize it and know his responsibility. I am not asking him to guess right on every pass. I want an observant player who processes information quickly enough to put himself in position before the ball arrives.

The Quarterback of the Defense

I have always viewed the linebacker as the quarterback of the defense. Knowing his own assignment is only part of the job. He also needs to communicate and help make sure the other ten players are lined up correctly. A defense works only when all eleven responsibilities fit together.

Take a gap-control defense. The defensive linemen and linebackers each have areas they must defend. If a lineman lines up incorrectly or a linebacker does not know his gap, the offense can find an opening. Uncovered gaps in a gap-control defense lead to the fight song playing for the other team.

Offenses shift and motion players precisely to force adjustments. I want a linebacker who recognizes those changes, communicates them, and gets everyone ready before the snap. If the defense is still trying to figure out where everybody belongs when the ball is snapped, it is already in trouble. That takes knowledge, leadership, and attention to detail.

Instincts, Effort, and Coachability

Some players have a natural feel for the game. They seem to see a play developing before everybody else and react without hesitation. I call that instinct. You can teach assignments and technique, but players do not all process what they see at the same speed. Repetition helps, and good coaching can make a tremendous difference.

That is why I do not automatically consider every mistake a red flag. Poor tackling angles, trouble shedding blocks, and alignment errors can be corrected. Those fundamentals should be taught beginning in junior high and reinforced as a player develops. What I want to know is whether he listens, takes coaching, and works to correct the mistake the next time.

Effort is more than running hard on Saturday or Sunday. It is studying assignments, practicing technique, and preparing to do the job when nobody is watching. Give me a player who wants to become a better linebacker, not one who only looks good when the coaches are watching.

Leadership, Aggressiveness, Athleticism, and Vision

If I had to narrow my evaluation to four qualities, those would be the ones: leadership, aggressiveness, athleticism, and vision. Leadership means communicating and accepting responsibility. Aggressiveness means playing with purpose and physicality. Athleticism lets him handle different assignments, while vision helps him recognize the play and get to the right spot.

Consistency matters just as much. A linebacker cannot make one big hit and disappear. Sometimes his best work does not show up on the stat sheet. He might get the defense lined up, force a running back to change direction, or recognize a play early enough to prevent a big gain. A good evaluator notices those plays, too.

A Modern Example: Oklahoma’s Kip Lewis

As an Oklahoma fan, I will admit I might be a little biased when I talk about Kip Lewis. But I like the way he plays linebacker. He brings passion, aggressiveness, and energy to the position. He can run and cover ground, plays physically, and shows the football awareness I want to see.

A linebacker needs to be able to run, but he also needs to understand what he is seeing. He needs aggression, but he also needs control and sound technique. That combination is what catches my attention when I watch Lewis. No prospect is perfect, and every player has something to improve, but those traits give a young linebacker a foundation to build on.

The Final Evaluation

When I evaluate a linebacker, I want an athlete who can run, a defender who can tackle, and a football player who understands what is happening around him. I want vision, instincts, physicality, leadership, and the willingness to learn. Most of all, I want somebody who understands that playing linebacker involves a lot more than collecting tackles.

Raw talent might get your attention, but doing your job, helping the players around you, and making the right decision when the ball is snapped are what make a linebacker worth watching. That is what I look for beyond the highlights.

That’s the Coach’s Eye.