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.
Mike sent the following question:
I play a DE position, and I'm wondering if there is a way to get off the ball quickly enough to get either a sack or a tackle. I've been watching the NFL games and the DEs seem to get off really quickly. I'm wondering if it has to do with how tall you are or how fast you are?
Hi Mike,
Getting a quick start is dependent on three factors. These are your ability to concentrate on the ball, your corresponding explosive movement on the snap low across the line of scrimmage and the alignment of your stance.
To get a quick start, it is essential to turn your head so that you can see the center and the ball. The instant you see the ball move, you need to be charging low across the line of scrimmage.
The one mistake many defensive ends make is that on their first step they come up and never put the offensive blocker under stress by exploding across the line into the offensive backfield.
To get a quick charge, you need to adjust your stance so that you have greater weight on your front hand and front foot. There should be very little weight on your back foot. You need to have your front foot up under your body in front of or directly under your hips so that you push forward off of this front foot the instant the ball moves. As you move forward, you will want to stay low and take a quick step across the line of scrimmage with your back foot.
Think about adjusting your feet into this type of stance whenever it is third down and you feel the opposition is going to throw the ball. The key is to be charging across the line and not stepping with a short step with your back foot and standing straight up into the air.
Coach Tom Bass
Brian sent the following question:
I am a freshman, and I play inside linebacker on a 5-2 defense. I am not comfortable at this position after playing outside linebacker in youth football. I like the outside because I can see the play develop and I can use my speed, but my coach says he wants his best tackler on the inside. Can your offer any advice to help me adjust?
Hi Brian,
There are two major differences you encounter when moving from an outside linebacker position to an inside linebacker position. The first is that the play can come at you much faster and the second is that blockers can come at you from directly in front of you or from your inside or your outside.
It is very helpful if you learn to see the triangle of blockers in your area. This would be the blocker in front of you and the blockers on either side of this player. By seeing these players you can be in good position to react to any immediate blocker that may attack you.
If none of these three players attempts to block you, you should look to the offensive tackle on your side, the lead back (if the offense uses one) and finally the tight end on your side.
Allow your mind and your eyes to naturally move through this progression: blocker in front, blocker on either side, tackle on my side, lead back, tight end on my side.
When you learn to think and react in this manner you will not be overwhelmed prior to the snap thinking about everything that can possibly happen to you on the next play.
It will take you a little while to be comfortable in the position, but you will find that it can be a great position to play on defense because you have the opportunity to get in on tackles on both sides of the field.
Coach Tom Bass
Brenden sent the following question:
I play wide receiver on our freshman football team. I was reading your book on the wide receiver position and found that there was a major difference between how I have been coached to setup at the LOS and how you say to do it. I have been instructed to setup with my outside foot back. Could you please explain why my coaches would have me setup this way and what the advantages or disadvantages might be? Also, do you recommend I approach my coaches about changing my stance? If so, how would I go about it without making them upset?
Hi Brenden,
The more you play football, the more you will come to understand that there is often more than one way to play a position. Often there may be an equal number of good reasons for using one skill or technique over another. Often it will be what your coach has learned as a player or has observed watching other teams play.
I always liked to have the outside foot up so that it was easier for my wide receivers to turn their head and look in to see when the ball is snapped eliminating unnecessary offside penalties.
Lining up in this way does have a disadvantage if the defensive player moves up to an inside press position on the line of scrimmage. Then we would have our receivers change their stance so that their outside foot was back. We felt that this adjustment of their feet allowed them to step forward and to the outside on their first step. Stepping in this manner resulted in giving the receiver a greater opportunity to create instant separation from the defensive back as they released up the field.
As far as approaching your coaches, I would probably let it go if you find that you are seeing the ball and are getting out of your stance quickly. You might ask your position coach about changing your stance if you find you are slow off the ball, feel that you are having difficulty looking in and seeing the ball at the snap, or if the defensive back is playing you from an outside bump and run position.
Coach Tom Bass
Thomas sent the following question:
I will be playing defensive tackle. I wanted to know what it is colleges would look for the most in me. Would they concentrate on my strength in the weight room, my grades in the classroom or my play on the field the most? I really want to play college ball and I know they look at all of this, but I was wondering what the most important area is for me to concentrate on?
Hi Thomas,
First, they are going to look at the way you play the game. They are going to want to see your effort when you're ahead and when you are behind. They need to see a consistency and commitment on your part to the game.
College coaches want to observe how you play against the best offensive players, do you hold your own or even dominate them and the performance you show when you are challenged.
Next, they are going to check your classroom performance and your test scores. For many schools this may be first thing they check. College coaches will know the grades and test scores that a player will need to be admitted to their school, so they will often go there first and eliminate any player who can not meet their minimum requirements. It is your responsibility to know the required courses you need to take and to sign up with the clearing house to determine your eligibility to be recruited.
Many players worry about their performance in the weight room, but this will be third on the list for any college coach. College coaches feel that if a player performs well in the game in high school and has the required grades and test scores to be admitted to their college that they can and will make them stronger once they reach the college campus.
Show your ability on the field and in the classroom and the rest will take care of itself.
Coach Tom Bass
Adrian sent the following question:
I'm currently playing football for an 11-13 league, and I'm just a rookie. I normally practice being a wide receiver, but they have me as a running back. Are there any good tips you can give me for being a good running back for my team? I already know to lower my shoulder; I learned that lesson at practice.
Hi Adrian,
It is a great lesson for every running back to learn to lower his shoulder and attack the defensive player when you know that you are going to be tackled. You should also learn to deliver a blow with your forearm, not protecting the ball, when you see the tackler is about to make contact.
To become a good running back you must learn much more than how to run with the ball. It really is important that you understand the blocking on each and every play that you carry the ball.
Once you know the blocking, you can anticipate where the hole will be, run under control once you receive the ball, and then know when it is time to put on the burst that will break you into the second level of the defense.
Next it is important that you work on your blocking so that you can help any other runner that is carrying the ball or the QB when he sets up to pass.
Finally you need to learn the pass routes that a running back will run in your offense. Your training as a wide receiver should really help you in this area. Learning the different pass routes should be easy for you and you are already comfortable catching the ball.
Try to start right now becoming a complete running back and not a one- dimensional player who only thinks about carrying the ball.
Coach Tom Bass
Coach Tom Bass, the technical writer and advisor for USA Football, is a 30-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/.
