Coach Tom Bass brings more than 30 years of coaching experience to USA Football. Along with answering youth coaching questions, he also receives emails from young players. You can email the coach at NFLAskTheCoach@aol.com.
Tyler from Denver sent the following question:
I play fullback and backup weak side linebacker. I want to know what the responsibilities of fullback are, and I really want to know how to impress the coach and become a starting linebacker.
Hi Tyler,
In most offenses, the fullback serves a very important role. His primary running responsibility is between the tackles often on short yardage and goal line situations. Of equal importance is his ability as a blocker.
He will be asked to lead block when the half/tail back carries the ball. The play may be directed to the inside on a lead play, off-tackle on a power play, or wide to the outside on a sweep or toss play.
Another major responsibility for the fullback is blocking or releasing as an outlet receiver for the quarterback on drop-back pass plays.
Coaches are impressed with players, at any position, who have a positive attitude, make few if any mistakes, give 100 percent during the entire practice, are first in line for all drills and listen to what the coach is saying to any player at his position.
Make sure you know your assignments so that you can take full advantage when the opportunity comes for your turn on the field either at fullback or linebacker.
- Coach Tom Bass
Scott from Bossier City sent the following question:
I am a junior linebacker, and I have one big weakness. When I see my read man go in motion off the snap, I am coming full speed as soon as he flinches. But when I am coming in a lot of the time, the runner might cut or slow up, and I'll end up making a shoe lace tackle or just completely missing the man. I'm a full speed, head-on tackler, but I seem to always overrun the play or take bad angles. Should I slow down and take the chance of being blocked by a lineman, or is there something else I can do?
Hi Scott,
A majority of long runs by the offense occur because the defense (usually the LB) has over-pursued the ball carrier and given him a free cutback lane. It is important that you learn to stay inside-out on the ball carrier. Allow your force man on the outside of the formation to turn the ball carrier back to you and that you use the sideline as an extra defensive teammate.
It is a good drill to practice shuffling to your right or left (not crossing your feet) when you first start moving with the ball. This allows you to keep your hips and upper body square to the line of scrimmage, to stay slightly behind the ball carrier and to react and attack forward when he makes his cut up the field.
Being square to the line also allows you to see and feel any blocker coming from your outside and to defeat the blocker as you keep your path.
Before practice, lay down some blocking dummies to be the offensive linemen. Have another LB be the ball carrier and have him come across the formation and then cut up between the bags. You should shuffle down the line, staying behind his path and then attack the line when he runs in a gap between the bags. Have him line up in different positions in the backfield, and then swap positions so you both benefit from the drill.
It is very good that you recognize that this is an area of concern for you and that you begin right now to work on correcting this to improve your performance. Good luck this season.
- Coach Tom Bass
McCoy from Paintsville sent the following question:
Does an offset penalty result in replay of the down?
Hi McCoy,
Offsetting penalties do result in a replay of the down. This situation often comes up during a pass play where you may have holding by both the offense and defense.
Unfortunately, if your team is on offense and you have gained 20 or 30 yards it may not seem fair, but that is the rule.
- Coach Tom Bass
Devin from Marlboro sent the following question:
I'm a senior, and this is my first year playing football for Marlboro High School. I was having trouble because I had to learn everything about the sport in just a few weeks. I'm 5-foot-8 and 195 pounds and have been trying to put on weight because I'm a left tackle, but I want to be a linebacker because that seems like the better position for me. But I'm still learning the game, and I'm the new kid. Do you think I should keep trying to work into the defensive line and keep my weight up, or should I try to learn linebacker and maybe drop 15 to 20 pounds?
Hi Devin,
Since this is your first year of football, you may find it difficult to learn more than one position. It may be best for you to really work at offensive tackle and if you have time, and the situation presents itself, you may want to try defensive end.
The reason I say this combination, rather than tackle and linebacker, is that the skills and techniques you learn at offensive tackle will help you learn to play defensive end and the knowledge you develop as a defensive end can carry over to your performance as an offensive tackle.
Try to focus on one position until you feel that you can play at that position to the best of your ability. After that you might consider trying another spot. Stay positive, work hard and have fun.
- Coach Tom Bass
Bryan from Texas sent the following question:
I'm a freshman this year, and I'm 5-foot-10 and 140 pounds. I play defensive end and wide receiver. Recently my coaches decided to have me play center in addition to my current positions. Could tell me the basics of playing center?
Hi Bryan,
Playing center is one of the positions on offense that has the most responsibility. Your action will start every offensive play and you must get the ball moving on the correct snap count.
You have to practice the exchange of the ball so that you can successfully give the ball to the QB regardless of the direction that you have to move to execute your assigned block for the play called in the huddle. Practice this exchange as much as you can with your QB, making the snap as you step straight ahead, to the right and left, and stepping back to pass protect.
In many offenses, the center may have the added responsibility of calling out blocking schemes and setting the pass protection blocking on pass plays. If this is true for your team, make certain you spend extra time studying your calls and reaching a good understanding of the various defenses you are going to face.
Number one, get the ball snapped on the correct count and make sure you get it back into the hands of the QB. You have added a fun position and one that coaches feel is extremely important.
- Coach Tom Bass
Coach Tom Bass, the technical writer and advisor for USA Football is a thirty-year NFL coach who has also authored several books, including "Play Football the NFL Way" - the first "how to" book ever authorized and published by the NFL. Coach Bass is happy to personally autograph his books to you. Book ordering information can be found on http://www.coachbass.com/.
