Linebackers: Drills, Skills, and Mentality

Description

Great defenses are built around great linebackers. Linebackers: Skills, Drills, and Mentality provides an overview of the key factors involved in developing linebackers into game-changing playmakers. These football instructional videos outline the skill sets, drill work, and mental preparation needed to create better linebackers. The coaching videos also includes a series of drills that are designed to sharpen tackling, improve vision, practice pass drops, and shed blocks. In addition, these coaching videos discusses how to elevate the level of leadership intangibles that linebackers must posses to take charge of the defense. The videos feature tools that coaches can use to get their linebackers playing faster, smarter, more physical, and more motivated to lead.

Among the topics covered:

• Fundamental focus
• Fundamentals of tackling
• Vision
• Run-game drills
• Pass-game drills
• Competition drills

Lessons

1 Introduction 2 Linebacker & Leadership 3 Fundamental Focus 4 Stance 5 Tennis Ball Warm Up 6 Chutes 7 Footwork 8 Fundamentals of Tackling 9 Close Space Tackle Drill 10 Feet Fit & Finish 11 Vision 12 QB Lane Drill 13 Triangle Read Drill 14 Run Game Drills 15 Scrape Drill 16 Stuff Technique 17 Three Man Cut / Tackle 18 Down Hill Cut 19 Open Field Angle Tackle 20 Leverage & Fit Drill 21 Roll Tackle 22 Pass-Game Drills 23 Box Drill 24 Line Drills 25 Locate & Break Drill 26 Locate & Break II 27 Window Drill 28 Competition Drills 29 Win the Hands 30 Bully Drill 31 Line Reaction Drill 32 Conclusion

The Coach

Grant Cain

Special Teams Coordinator / Tight Ends, Indiana University

Grant Cain – Special Teams Coordinator / Tight Ends, Indiana University

Grant Cain is the Special Teams Coordinator and Tight Ends Coach at Indiana University, bringing more than two decades of coaching experience across the collegiate and professional levels. A longtime member of Curt Cignetti’s staff, Cain previously served at James Madison as Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach and was promoted to Assistant Head Coach before following Cignetti to Indiana.

Cain’s special teams units have consistently produced at a high level. In his first season at Indiana, the Hoosiers led the Big Ten with four blocked kicks, ranking sixth nationally, while earning the third-highest special teams grade among Power Four programs according to Pro Football Focus. During his tenure at James Madison, his players earned multiple All-America and All-Conference honors, while tight end Zach Horton earned First-Team All-Sun Belt recognition.

Before James Madison, Cain spent six seasons at Mercer, ultimately serving as Assistant Head Coach while coaching inside linebackers and special teams. He previously coached defensive ends and outside linebackers at Coastal Carolina, began his coaching career at Catawba College, and also worked with the Colorado Crush, helping the organization win ArenaBowl XIX.

A former defensive back and team captain at Catawba, Cain helped the program reach the NCAA Division II Playoffs in each of his four seasons, including a national semifinal appearance. His coaching background spans special teams, tight ends, linebackers, defensive ends, recruiting, and program leadership, giving him a comprehensive perspective on developing winning football teams.