USA Football Month: My favorite drills
1,276 views · Published 18 August 2015 · 0:28 · Indexed 8 November 2026
Channel: USA Football · 2015 · Sports
As a college linebacker, I wasn’t the fastest or strongest guy on the field. But through sound fundamentals, I could do my job, which was to get the ball-carrier to the ground and make the offense line up again. At Penn State, we worked the basics at every practice. By increasing hip explosion, footwork, hands and positioning along with the ability to get separation to defeat blockers, I was able to get on the field. The video below includes a series of drills that Coach Ron Vanderlinden used with the Penn State linebackers during my time in State College. If you look for the young, good-looking guy wearing No. 16, that’s me from way back when. As the core of my training, these drills represent my favorite drills. Be sure to share your favorite drills all this month at the #PlayFootball page for your chance to win great prizes. Be sure to also check out USA Football’s Skills and Drills videos series for position-specific instruction to build proper technique at any level.
