Coaching Inside Linebacker Key Reads is one of the most important triggers on the field. If you’re not applying the Triggers principle here, you will slow down your best defenders.

The Triggers principle is a reminder that every action on the field is a response. Which response is caused by the trigger he gets.

Triggers spark the explosion. If you want a true explosion, that trigger needs to be simple. With a clear task for the explosion.

Linebacker keys are where his eyes are looking at the start of the play. Most Inside Linebackers either have a primary key on the Offensive Line or in the backfield.

Inside JDFB Coaching Systems we teach both primary key reads depending on situation. Whichever key read is not the primary, will be the secondary key read.

For the 4-2-5 Defense System, the primary key read is the Offensive Guard. His action after the snap will trigger one of only three explosions for the backer. Once he masters those three trigger responses, you can add the fourth.

The primary key read on the Guard is real simple. Takes about a minute to teach…

Then it can take 6 weeks, a season, or more to drill into those defenders. To make it a habit. To make the Guard’s action trigger the explosion.

No hesitation. That is when your backers have achieved mastery over this trigger.

Here’s how we keep the primary key read trigger simple for a big explosion…

Key the near Guard. If he pulls, follow him. If he doesn’t, fill.

That’s it. That is the basic teaching.

Trigger #1: Guard does not pull. Come downhill now to fill the first open door (Linebackers fill open doors, not a specific gap). As you come downhill, your eyes need to pick up the secondary key – the backfield.

Trigger #2: Guard pulls inside. Attack the first open door past the center. No hesitation. They are adding an extra blocker to the other side of the formation and we need to match those numbers fast.

Trigger #3: Guard pulls outside. Pause and check the backfield. Teams started using reads and influence traps to get the Linebackers out of the middle. We hesitate now because he’s not immediately threatened by an outside run play. His job is to defend the interior gaps first.

Master those 3 linebacker key read triggers before you do anything else.

The first question coaches ask is “What about the pass?”

When you’re using the Coach Simple philosophy and studying triggers, you give a little to get a lot.

It is well established that the Inside Linebacker’s first job, no matter what defense you use, is to stop the run. If he can’t stop the run, he can’t play.

So if your guys cannot fill on a run at them or follow the puller to match numbers… he can’t play!

They will still defend the pass, but the pass drop happens off the secondary key read. After getting a ‘no pull’ read from a lineman, he takes his steps downhill. As the Linebacker picks up backfield action, he realizes pass and redirects to his drop.

Once your guys have mastered the first 3 triggers, you can add in the fourth trigger with the ‘High Hat’ read by the Guard.

But not until the master it. Mastery means 90% of the time they are exploding off the trigger without hesitation.

Most coaches are trying to do too much with Linebacker Key Reads. They end up with linebackers frozen on the play or backing up.

The only answer they have is to blitz that guy every play. When you blitz your linebacker every play, he’s a Defensive Lineman. One who does not know or even work on Defensive Line triggers.

Trim those key reads down so they know what to do. Then work on mastering the trigger explosion.

Coach Simple. Play Fast. Win.

Find out how Linebacker Key Reads work to create perfect run fits inside the 4-2-5 Defense System. Plus key reads for the 33 Stack Defensive System and the 4-3 Defense System. Get instant access to it all for free inside JDFB Coaching Foundations. Enter your email address below to get started…