If you had the opportunity to spend an hour with Penn State Linebackers Coach Ron Vanderlinden, what would you ask him? Think for a moment about the tradition of Nittany Lion linebackers. I had that opportunity at last month’s American Football Coaches Association convention in San Antonio. While we were getting ready for a photo shoot, we talked informally, not about X’s and O’s but about game preparation.
Coach Vanderlinden takes a special pride in preparation as we spoke about the advances in digital computer technology. Specific cut-ups are now available for all position players. He stressed four keys from analyzing tapes of an opponent that he communicates to his linebackers. His points of emphasis:
1. “We burn scouting disks for our linebackers and have them ready Monday so they can study them during the week. We try not to overload them with information but make sure the top 3-4 rushing plays are on there so we know the blocking schemes against our fronts.
2. “We include two recognition plays on the tape: screens and draws. On those plays we look at the offensive line and the backs to see how they react when either play is coming.
3. “The quarterback’s eyes are also a key. On pass plays does he turn his shoulder and eyes in the direction of the throw or does he look off and throw in another direction? How consistent is he in doing this?
4. “We also examine 3 to 5 of our opponent’s pass routes against the coverages that we run. Are there any little things that tip the coverage that can make a difference?”
Coach Vanderlinden has the distinction of coaching two linebackers that both won the Chuck Bednarik Award as Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons. Pat Fitzgerald, now the head coach at Northwestern, accomplished the feat while a Wildcat and Paul Posluszny did the same at Penn State the past two years. Vanderlinden was DC at Northwestern under Gary Barnett’s staff.
One of the subjects Coach Vanderlinden is passionate about is blitzing. You don’t want to miss his in-depth strategy on blitz packages in short yardage situations. He speaks candidly in an upcoming issue on the subject.
In this month’s issue we honor the Samson Strength and Conditioning Coaches of the Year at the professional, college, and high school level. Congratulations from all of us at Clark Publishing to this year’s winners. We hope you enjoy this issue of AFM.
Respectfully,
Rex Lardner
Managing Editor
American Football Monthly
rlardner@lcclark.com
561-355-5068 (x 329)
Coach Vanderlinden takes a special pride in preparation as we spoke about the advances in digital computer technology. Specific cut-ups are now available for all position players. He stressed four keys from analyzing tapes of an opponent that he communicates to his linebackers. His points of emphasis:
1. “We burn scouting disks for our linebackers and have them ready Monday so they can study them during the week. We try not to overload them with information but make sure the top 3-4 rushing plays are on there so we know the blocking schemes against our fronts.
2. “We include two recognition plays on the tape: screens and draws. On those plays we look at the offensive line and the backs to see how they react when either play is coming.
3. “The quarterback’s eyes are also a key. On pass plays does he turn his shoulder and eyes in the direction of the throw or does he look off and throw in another direction? How consistent is he in doing this?
4. “We also examine 3 to 5 of our opponent’s pass routes against the coverages that we run. Are there any little things that tip the coverage that can make a difference?”
Coach Vanderlinden has the distinction of coaching two linebackers that both won the Chuck Bednarik Award as Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons. Pat Fitzgerald, now the head coach at Northwestern, accomplished the feat while a Wildcat and Paul Posluszny did the same at Penn State the past two years. Vanderlinden was DC at Northwestern under Gary Barnett’s staff.
One of the subjects Coach Vanderlinden is passionate about is blitzing. You don’t want to miss his in-depth strategy on blitz packages in short yardage situations. He speaks candidly in an upcoming issue on the subject.
In this month’s issue we honor the Samson Strength and Conditioning Coaches of the Year at the professional, college, and high school level. Congratulations from all of us at Clark Publishing to this year’s winners. We hope you enjoy this issue of AFM.
Respectfully,
Rex Lardner
Managing Editor
American Football Monthly
rlardner@lcclark.com
561-355-5068 (x 329)
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