Guest Author - Tara O´Gorman

Coach Wayne Spruill and his wife Vicki recently completed work on a website designed to teach all about the position of Linebacker.

He recently contacted me to see if I would be willing to take a look at the site, offer feedback, and possibly feature the site in an article. Coach Spruill told me he has been a football coach at the high school and college level in Texas for more than 40 years, coaching linebackers since 1991.

As a football fan who desires to learn every aspect of the game, I was eager to find out more about the linebacker position. Stated simply, the linebacker is a position of defense, where a set number of linebackers (the exact number depends on the determined play formation) are positioned behind the defensive line, ends, and tackles.

Linebacker Junction, located at http://www.linebackerjunction.com features Coach Spruill’s personal experience, techniques, and suggestions as a linebacker coach, along with references to products including instructional and drill books and videos and strength-training and agility programs.

The site is set up in a simple, easy-to-follow format, lining up topics in the left margin related to the position of linebacker. From qualities important for the position, to techniques to learn and improve performance, the site certainly offers a complete picture of the role of linebacker.

I found the most interesting feature of Linebacker Junction to be the section on the “Zero Defects (ZD) Concept,” which includes “things that can be controlled” by the player, including the creed “we shall never be out-hustled or out-hit. Our concentration on the practice and game field, our desire to excel, and the way we work together depends only upon our individual and collective efforts in the weight room, at meetings, practices and games.”

Far beyond ‘tackling,’ the role of linebacker is a complex role. Coach Spruill lays out the importance of this role, the necessary qualities of a successful linebacker, and the many ways in which the linebacker can improve his performance and gain the edge over his offensive opponents.

The setup of the site is easy to navigate and provides a simple navigation setup for computer users with novice skills. Visit the site for more information on improving performance as a linebacker and to find out how to contact Coach Spruill.