Am i right for Middle line backer

Question

Am i right for a middle line backer i am 13 yrs old

5'7 and 127 pounds ?

my age group is all 13 year olds

Answer 1

Yeah you are right for a middle linebacker, be like a Ray Lewis just a beast get 15 tackles a game, DO WORK SON!

Answer 2

Yea, you'd be average to do it, maybe gain a few pounds, make sure you can hit people down fast and know where the ball is going at all times.

Answer 3

Middle linebackers have a lot more to do with capabilities, leadership and intensity than with size and bench strength.  I played this position and outside linebacker.  You need to hold your ground in the MLB position, keep the blockers off your body, and have good vision to see the play develop, good instincts to sense where the hole is opening up, and good lateral movement to play from tackle to tackle.  That's your responsiblity.  If the ball moves outside the tackles you need enough pursuit speed to get out there and help, but your primary responsiblity is tackle to tackle.  The nose tackle(s) in front of you - their job is to clog up the blocking scheme to keep people off of you and plug up the interior running lanes so you can make the tackle.  You need enough power to "toe under" backs and drive them back.  Don't get in the habit of "catching them" and falling backward - stop them first, wrap them up tightly, then DRIVE THEM BACK.  

You need to keep blockers (guards, center, fullback - most often) off of your "core"  -  long arms are a help, but a strong shot to the body with one forearm (I mean blow 'em up!) and a strong stiff arm with your other hand will keep separation and allow you to watch the play commit, shed the block and stop the run.  A common mistake many interior linebackers make when they first start is to try and avoid/outrun the blocker and cut off the play.  This builds bad technique and makes it easier for the offense to use misdirection, and easier to block you on second-man, counter and trap plays.  Learn to stand your ground, use the technique described above, and then move to the play.  Put your feet back and your trunk/arms forward to prevent blockers from shooting your legs and knees, and aid your leverage when you make initial contact.  In this position - if they try that (poor technique on their part) - you can eliminate them by pushing them to the ground.  

On passing plays, stay locked on the QB's eyes, "feel" the play motion develop, and step back in proportion to the depth the quarterback does.  In other words, if it's short yardage, he's going to take a three step drop and look for someone crossing the field.  Long yardage requires him to take a deeper drop so the receivers have time to get down the field.  Knowing that allows you to "time" when receivers will make their cuts and when he will make his final "look", commit to his motion, then throw.  Count it off in your head.  If you can break it up or intercept it - great.  If you can't - make sure you hit that receiver so hard he never wants to see you again the rest of the game.  I mean take him apart.  Nothing illegal or unsportsmanlike - but you have to be the big hitter on the team in these situations, and make receivers pay.  Once the QB releases a pass, that is the time to start head-hunting.  If it's not in your area of responsibility, then go provide help. You'll often pick up a "dancer" or "fighter" and you'll do it at full speed. He will remember you.  

If your coach blitzes (rare in junior high, but he should do some) think about a couple things.

1.  Ask your interior linemen during/after the first series to rate the blocking/tenacity of their man across from them.  Start sizing up where the strong linemen are, and who the "targets" are for blitzing over/around/through to get to the quarterback. This also helps you "read and anticipate" where the QB will likely go for short yardage gains - typically behind his "money" (strongest) offernsive linemen.  Knowing who that is helps you pressure the offense rather than simply waiting on them to come at you.

2.  When you blitz, use an upsweep motion with your arm.  For example, deliver a powerful shock to your blocker's right shoulder with your left hand, then sweep up hard with your right hand and get under his right armpit with that hand. Now you've got him at least neutral, and probably off-balance enough to vault around him with both arms and get to the QB.  

If you don't see too many passes at your age, you likely won't be asked to blitz much if at all - but it helps to have technique to practice if you need it.

That ought to give you enough to think about.  

More than anything at ML, make crushing contact on every play, keep people off of you/control THEM off the block, then move to the action and make the play by hitting HARD, and wrapping runners up (get your arms around them).  Hit people on the numbers and you'll never be faked out.  

I'm excited for you. Tear 'em up!

Answer 4

yeah this guy robe wrote a little too much

he did explain everything but im sure you can figure it out

look im 15 and i play middle line backer for my high school team

im 6' and 165 pounds. at 13 your size is pretty good but once you get into high school i strongly suggest hitting the gym. worked for me this off season i gained about 15 pounds in muscle and went up very significantly in all of my core lifts, which will be very important when it counts

just telling you what to expect when you get older