In a sample clip from his comprehensive video course, Jim Knowles – Linebacker Fundamentals, legendary college defensive coordinator, Coach Jim Knowles, shares his expertise on linebacker “stance and start” drills.
These drills are designed to build the foundational skills that translate directly to game-day success. With a focus on practicality and habit formation, Coach Knowles provides a detailed breakdown of how linebackers can refine their technique to perform instinctively under pressure. As he emphasizes, “It’s important that your drills show up on film,” meaning the skills practiced must be evident in actual gameplay footage.
This blog post explores the core elements of Coach Knowles’ approach, highlighting key techniques, practical applications, and actionable insights for players and coaches alike.
Watch the video below or keep reading to learn more.
The Purpose of Stance and Start Drills
Coach Knowles believes that drills should do more than just fill practice time—they must train habits that become second nature during games. When fatigue or high-stakes moments hit, players won’t have time to think; they’ll rely on muscle memory. Stance and start drills are crafted to ensure that linebackers can execute their responsibilities without hesitation.
The primary goals of these drills include:
- Establishing a strong athletic stance
- Eliminating false steps
- Promoting clean, efficient footwork
- Generating explosive force from the ground
- Maintaining technique in pressure situations
Coach Knowles encourages creativity in drill design, noting that if a drill doesn’t translate to on-field performance, it’s time to adapt or invent a new one. The ultimate test is whether the skills honed in practice are visible when reviewing game film.
Key Techniques for Linebackers
1. Starting in an Athletic Position
A linebacker’s stance sets the stage for everything that follows. Coach Knowles stresses the importance of beginning in a great athletic position—weight forward, knees bent, and ready to explode. He cautions against “sitting back in the rocking chair,” a common mistake where players rest too much on their heels, delaying their initial movement. The first step must be quick and decisive, with no wasted motion.
2. Clean Feet and No False Steps
“We talk about clean feet all the time,” Coach Knowles says, emphasizing the need for efficient footwork. False steps—unnecessary movements that slow reaction time—are a linebacker’s enemy. To reinforce this, he uses a simple yet effective tool: placing a bag behind the linebacker’s heels. If the bag moves during a drill, it signals a false step, providing immediate feedback for correction.
3. Generating Force with the Drive Leg
Explosiveness comes from pushing off the ground with the drive leg. This force propels the linebacker forward or laterally, enabling rapid changes in direction. Coach Knowles considers this a core fundamental, asking, “Can I just push off and change direction?” The ability to do so efficiently is critical for tracking plays and staying in position.
4. Working Low and Finishing Strong
To maintain leverage, Coach Knowles incorporates drills where linebackers work under a chute, forcing them to stay low. He also emphasizes “finishing on a hip” of a running back, ensuring proper body position for tackling. Even in non-contact drills, players practice shooting their hands at the point of contact to build muscle memory for live scenarios.
5. Reading the Running Back’s Shoulders
Anticipating the play’s direction is a vital skill for linebackers. Coach Knowles teaches players to read the running back’s shoulders: parallel shoulders suggest an inside run, while perpendicular shoulders indicate an outside stretch. Crossing over is permissible when the shoulders are perpendicular, but linebackers must quickly square their shoulders back to the line of scrimmage. “When linebackers run sideways, seams are created in the defense,” he explains, highlighting the need to maintain a compact front.
6. Downhill Movement and Change of Direction
Getting downhill—moving toward the line of scrimmage—without false steps is a priority. Coach Knowles stresses keeping feet apart and staying in assigned gaps, using drills to simulate tracking a running back at game speed. He also underscores the importance of changing direction fluidly, a skill that separates good linebackers from great ones.
Drill-Specific Techniques and Tools
Coach Knowles enhances his drills with practical tools and methods to reinforce proper form:
- Bags for False Step Detection
A bag placed behind the heels serves as a checkpoint. If it shifts, the linebacker has taken a false step, allowing coaches to correct footwork on the spot. - Tackling Form: Near Foot, Near Shoulder
Modern tackling technique has evolved, and Coach Knowles adapts accordingly. He teaches “near foot, near shoulder” tackling—using the left foot and left shoulder for a left-side tackle, and vice versa—while keeping the head out of the play for safety. “No head across anymore; those days are over,” he notes, advocating for positioning the head behind the roll. - Rings and Chutes
Rings are used to refine footwork and tackling angles, while chutes encourage staying low. These tools ensure linebackers maintain proper posture and leverage throughout their movements. - Simulating Game Timing
Drills are kept short to mirror the duration of a football play. At Ohio State, the standard is “four to six, A to B, plus two,” meaning drills last between four and six seconds. This realism prevents overlong repetitions that don’t reflect game conditions.
From Drills to Game Film
Coach Knowles bridges the gap between practice and performance by referencing game scenarios where these skills shine. In one example, a linebacker tracks a play straight downhill, keeping his feet apart and staying in his B-gap assignment. Though not flawless, the player’s disciplined movement reflects the habits built in drills. In another clip, a linebacker moves downhill on an angle, adjusts quickly, and positions himself for a tackle—demonstrating how stance and start techniques enable real-time adaptability.
Tackling, he adds, is as much about timing as technique. Drills can perfect form, but players must develop the instinct to strike at the right moment, a skill honed through repetition and film study.
Conclusion: Building Instincts for Elite Play
Coach Jim Knowles’ “stance and start” drills are a masterclass in linebacker fundamentals. By focusing on athletic positioning, clean footwork, explosive force, and situational awareness, these drills create habits that linebackers can trust in the heat of the game. Tools like bags, rings, and chutes reinforce technique, while short, intense repetitions ensure relevance to live play.
As Coach Knowles reminds us, the proof is in the performance: drills must “show up on film.” For linebackers looking to elevate their game—or coaches aiming to develop the next great defender—mastering these principles is the first step toward success on the field.
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