• Linebackers come in all shapes and sizes, especially at the HS level. However, there seems to be a “mold” that makes up the ideal player
• Instincts are a somewhat uncoachable attribute that can really set a LB apart from their peers. The ability to read the big picture and act upon what they see is what gets many players to the higher levels.
• Size wise we’re looking for someone 5’11” to 6’2” weighing in somewhere around 225 lbs. Much taller and you’re looking DE, much heavier and you may be thinking DT
• Speed is critical, especially for interior LBs, and we want 4.6 40 m speed, or
someone who can play sideline to sideline. They don’t have to be the fastest guy on the field, but lack of speed can keep them from making a lot of plays
• Run stopping is a mindset that most, if not all, high level LBs possess. You want a player that has a nose for the ball and isn’t afraid to put himself in the mix.
• Block shedding and tackling are skills that seem to be a byproduct of the traits above. Although you can train them, they usually are natural and size, strength, speed, instincts often make players better at them.
​• When you think linebacker, you generally think leader of the defense, especially in the higher leagues. This is no different for the ideal backer. They need to be a leader of character that the rest of the defense can follow.

• In HS, size may be the least important attribute. If you have the guy that fits the
ideal size, great. But, that shouldn’t outweigh the other attributes on the list
• A player who shows instincts to find the ball through the chaos of the line of scrimmage and mesh points should be moved to inside linebacker immediately. You’ll likely have to teach key reads for your players, so ensure you start with practicing those fundamentals.
• Speed likely won’t be a resource that you have an abundance of. Your inside backers can be a little slower, as they need to focus on stopping the run and are late pass defenders. OLBs need a little more speed to get to the flats and provide the force to their side quickly.
• Run stopping mentality is important at every level of LB play. You have to have kids getting downhill. In HS you’ll likely be feeling out a player’s fight or flight response and attempting to coach them to go make plays. Some just don’t have what it takes, and you may find them more successful on the line when contact isn’t an option.
• Block shedding in high school ball needs to be simplified. If you train the traits above, you’ll see shedding is a natural by-product. When you’re getting downhill, and beating a blocker to the spot, you’ll generally win the engagement. If you’re looking for technical ways to get off blocks, Joe recommends the rip move over shock and shed at this lower level.
• Tackling must be practiced daily because it can be fairly unnatural to many of your players. If a player can’t get it right, they may not be useful on defense, and that’s a hard truth for some kids. One-on-one heads up tackling is the least common tackle in football. Most of your LBs will be tackling while chasing the ball carrier to the outside, setting up a much easier and more successful tackle for those underperformers “see Daniel circa. 2003”.