Northern Iowa researchers: "LBs should be stepping backward on snap"

[clenz]

Pretty nifty to see UNI research getting published nationally for the best techniques to use...


http://www.nola.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/06/optimum_performance_beware_of.html
Los Angeles -- Three of the most important guys on a football team, especially in college and the professional ranks, are named Sam, Mike, and Will -- brothers from the linebacker family.


Those are named assigned the various linebacker positions in a 4-3 base defense. "Sam" stands for the strong side, and that linebacker is versatile enough to defend against the run and pass. "Mike" is positioned in the middle, and he commonly is in the middle of all the chaos. "Will" is is the weak-side linebacker, and his focus is on stopping the run with additional attention put on slot receivers.


Thanks to a 2014 article, A Comparison of Three Different Start Techniques On Sprint Speed In College Linebackers, published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, we now have the ability to help Sam, Mike, and Will accelerate quicker into the body of the ball carrier -- thus creating devastating force upon impact.


Researchers at the University of Northern Iowa, "compare(d) the effects of the RS (rhythm step) and the FS (forward step) techniques on sprint start ability in collegiate linebackers, who have been coached to eliminate the RS technique and to use the FS technique exclusively."


Why? Because, "many linebacker coaches teach their players to use the forward step (FS) technique with the first step being "positive" in nature. That is, the athlete initiates the sprint by leaning and stepping in the desired direction, as opposed to the RS – also known as the false step – in which the, "athlete steps backward, which displaces the base of the support behind the center of gravity before stepping in the desired direction."


The key phrase is center of gravity (COD) or base of support, that allows for a more effective push off with the fist step. Power is defined as mass times distance over time. Or, how quickly you can deliver your strength – the sudden impact.


Sixteen football championship subdivision collegiate football players, who were around 20 years of age at a height of 72 inches (6 feet), weighing 217 pounds, who had played the linebacker position in high school or in college and coached to use the FS technique in games and in practice, "performed 3 trials of either the RS or the FS technique, which was randomly assigned in a counter- balanced fashion."


Each player's chin was used as a reference point during video analysis of each sprint, "because it (chin) is a forward, leading landmark on the body's midline that is easy to locate frame to frame and moves forward similarly to the trunk, which is the reference used for sprint timing." The distances from, "the starting line, 2.5-m (meters), and 5-m lines were used to accurately scale the x and y coordinates to compare video with real-life measurements."


And for all you linebacker coaches, "the rhythm step out performed FS through both 2.5 and 5 m, suggesting that for collegiate football linebackers, RS is superior to FS."


Anyone paying attention?



Dammit...I put the wrong thing in the title. Ursus can we fix this?

[clenz]

Actual copy of the research done by UNI biomechanical researchers Robin Lund, Jason Cusick and Travis Ficklin

http://www.asbweb.org/conferences/2013/abstracts/458.pdf

[gotts]

Great work! I can't wait to see how they paint a banner beside the garage door for this :D

[Lehigh'98]

Why would they be stepping forward without understanding down and distance? Wouldn't the scenarios be completely different for them on 1st and 10 vs 3rd and 15? Also if OCs knew this, couldn't they game plan to compensate?

[NDSUSR]

http://bfy.tw/b0e

http://dc.etsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3808&context=etd (http://bfy.tw/b0e)

[PAllen]

Not surprising with all of the modern rules being pro passing. The running game is already dead in the NFL. I fear it will not be long before it is gone from the college game as well.

[heath]

First step back, then read and react. Unless you are blitzing all the great players do this without thinking. Why is there a thread about thisxsmhxxsmhx

[walliver]

The problem with all studies of this type is that they are performed under laboratory conditions in which the runner knows when and where he is to go. In an actual game, the linebacker has to first decide where he is going to go - the offensive line isn't just going to step out of his way. The time required to make this decision will basically eliminate any significant difference in first step technique.

[OhioHen]

The running game is already dead in the NFL.

Tell that to the Seattle Seahawks. Two straight Super Bowl appearances with a run-first philosophy.

I will yield that your point is valid for much of the NFL. For many teams 2nd and 7 is a default passing situation but with Dang3Russ at QB and Beast Mode in the backfield, the 'Hawks have considered 3rd and 7 to be a run-first option.

[clenz]

Tell that to the Seattle Seahawks. Two straight Super Bowl appearances with a run-first philosophy.

I will yield that your point is valid for much of the NFL. For many teams 2nd and 7 is a default passing situation but with Dang3Russ at QB and Beast Mode in the backfield, the 'Hawks have considered 3rd and 7 to be a run-first option.
Is the running game really going away?

Here's a look at leading rushers every year since the 16 game schedule started



Year
Player (age), + - HOFer, Bold - Active
Yds
Teams


2014
DeMarco Murray (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MurrDe00.htm) (26)
1,845
DAL


2013
LeSean McCoy (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McCoLe01.htm) (25)
1,607
PHI


2012
Adrian Peterson (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PeteAd01.htm) (27)
2,097
MIN


2011
Maurice Jones-Drew (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DrewMa00.htm) (26)
1,606
JAX


2010
Arian Foster (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FostAr00.htm) (24)
1,616
HOU


2009
Chris Johnson (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnCh04.htm) (23)
2,006
TEN


2008
Adrian Peterson (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PeteAd01.htm) (23)
1,760
MIN


2007
LaDainian Tomlinson (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TomlLa00.htm) (28)
1,474
SDG


2006
LaDainian Tomlinson (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TomlLa00.htm) (27)
1,815
SDG


2005
Shaun Alexander (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AlexSh00.htm) (28)
1,880
SEA


2004
Curtis Martin (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MartCu00.htm)+ (31)
1,697
NYJ


2003
Jamal Lewis (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LewiJa00.htm) (24)
2,066
BAL


2002
Ricky Williams (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillRi00.htm) (25)
1,853
MIA


2001
Priest Holmes (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HolmPr00.htm) (27)
1,555
KAN


2000
Edgerrin James (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JameEd00.htm) (22)
1,709
IND


1999
Edgerrin James (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JameEd00.htm) (21)
1,553
IND


1998
Terrell Davis (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DaviTe00.htm) (25)
2,008
DEN


1997
Barry Sanders (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SandBa00.htm)+ (29)
2,053
DET


1996
Barry Sanders (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SandBa00.htm)+ (28)
1,553
DET


1995
Emmitt Smith (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitEm00.htm)+ (26)
1,773
DAL


1994
Barry Sanders (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SandBa00.htm)+ (26)
1,883
DET


1993
Emmitt Smith (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitEm00.htm)+ (24)
1,486
DAL


1992
Emmitt Smith (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitEm00.htm)+ (23)
1,713
DAL


1991
Emmitt Smith (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitEm00.htm)+ (22)
1,563
DAL


1990
Barry Sanders (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SandBa00.htm)+ (22)
1,304
DET


1989
Christian Okoye (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OkoyCh00.htm) (28)
1,480
KAN


1988
Eric Dickerson (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DickEr00.htm)+ (28)
1,659
IND


1987
Charles White (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitCh00.htm) (29)
1,374
RAM


1986
Eric Dickerson (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DickEr00.htm)+ (26)
1,821
RAM


1985
Marcus Allen (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AlleMa00.htm)+ (25)
1,759
RAI


1984
Eric Dickerson (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DickEr00.htm)+ (24)
2,105
RAM


1983
Eric Dickerson (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DickEr00.htm)+ (23)
1,808
RAM


1982
Freeman McNeil (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McNeFr00.htm) (23)
786
NYJ


1981
George Rogers (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RogeGe00.htm) (22)
1,674
NOR


1980
Earl Campbell (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CampEa00.htm)+ (25)
1,934
HOU


1979
Earl Campbell (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CampEa00.htm)+ (24)
1,697
HOU


1978
Earl Campbell (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CampEa00.htm)+ (23)
1,450
HOU




Seems the leading rusher is staying pretty in line with historical numbers

2014 season average league wide
427 rushing attempts
1,781 yards
4.2 YPC
12 TD
111 yards per game

2013
433 rushing attempts
1,806 yards
4.1 yards per carry
12 TD
112 YPG

2002
440 rushing attempts
1,850 yards
4.1 ypc
14 TD
115 YPG


The difference between today's game and the NFL from even the late 90s is so small you hardly notice it when you look at stats.


Even going back to the year I was born

1988
485 carries
1,942 yards
3.8 ypc
15 TD

So, more carries but .3 YPC less per carry. So, over it's taken 27 years for the rushing game to lose ~50-60 carries per season, or ~3 per game. While there is less carries it is more efficient than ever to run the ball. Why? Because even average QBs in today's game have more QB skill than the good, not great, QBs of that era. Defenses have to respect the pass significantly more, even against the bad passing teams, that it opens up run games a bit more. It's funny, in 2002 (hell, even 2010) no one was complaining about the running game going away, yet the numbers now are pretty damn close to identical (less than carry per game difference since 2002 per team - 27.5 to 26.86). Now, because we have QBs that are entering the league with sigificantly more skill than ever QB not named Marino, Young, Favre or Montana of the late 80s and early 90s it's an issue.

[Lehigh'98]

It's not that running game is going away, it's a different style with read option and more mobile QBs. How many teams with no running game have won SBs?

[grizband]

It's not that running game is going away, it's a different style with read option and more mobile QBs. How many teams with no running game have won SBs?
Since 2002, 7 teams won a Super Bowl while ranking outside of the top 15 rushing (total yardage) teams in the NFL.

2014: New England
2011: New York Giants
2010: Green Bay
2008: Pittsburgh
2006: Indianapolis
2003: New England
2002: Tampa Bay

Between 1990 and 2001, every Super Bowl winning team ranked in the top 15 for total rushing yards. While that indicates a decline, I wouldn't say the rushing game is dead; only shifting.

[clenz]

Since 2002, 7 teams won a Super Bowl while ranking outside of the top 15 rushing (total yardage) teams in the NFL.

2014: New England
2011: New York Giants
2010: Green Bay
2008: Pittsburgh
2006: Indianapolis
2003: New England
2002: Tampa Bay

Between 1990 and 2001, every Super Bowl winning team ranked in the top 15 for total rushing yards. While that indicates a decline, I wouldn't say the rushing game is dead; only shifting.
Notice a theme with almost all of those

2002 Tampa - great defense
2003 New England - very underrated defense
2008 Pittsburgh - great defense
2011 New York - pretty good defense

The only one of those with real bad defense was Green Bay

[grizband]

Notice a theme with almost all of those

2002 Tampa - great defense
2003 New England - very underrated defense
2008 Pittsburgh - great defense
2011 New York - pretty good defense

The only one of those with real bad defense was Green Bay
Good point about defense, Clenz. That Packers defense did tank fifth in points allowed per game, though, probably the best packers defense in awhile.

[LeopardBall10]

Guys, they aren't talking about taking a step backward at the snap because of more passing or even because of a read step. What their research showed was the difference between the false step acceleration technique and the forward step acceleration technique which are typically the only two ways that LBs accelerate to the line of scrimmage once their reads have been made. The forward step method has been a huge coaching point for LB coaches since the early 90's and became the standard once the book "Complete Linebacking" by Coach Lou Tepper was published in the mid to late 90's which says, "Ideally, the first step will take (the linebacker) closer to the ball. Anything else will be classified as a false step."

The thought has been that, as a coach, you want to eliminate the false step from your linebacker's bad habits so that they are moving closer to the ball with every step. The false step is just a split step, or a small step backward with one foot that an "untrained" LB will use to push off and accelerate to the ball. Most LB coaches give minus grades and run specific drills to eliminate those false steps (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59okoy7wREE). But there has also been a school of thought that the reason every linebacker has this "bad habit" is because it is a more natural way to accelerate toward the ball. I think this research has finally proven that.

[clenz]

Guys, they aren't talking about taking a step backward at the snap because of more passing or even because of a read step. What their research showed was the difference between the false step acceleration technique and the forward step acceleration technique which are typically the only two ways that LBs accelerate to the line of scrimmage once their reads have been made. The forward step method has been a huge coaching point for LB coaches since the early 90's and became the standard once the book "Complete Linebacking" by Coach Lou Tepper was published in the mid to late 90's which says, "Ideally, the first step will take (the linebacker) closer to the ball. Anything else will be classified as a false step."

The thought has been that, as a coach, you want to eliminate the false step from your linebacker's bad habits so that they are moving closer to the ball with every step. The false step is just a split step, or a small step backward with one foot that an "untrained" LB will use to push off and accelerate to the ball. Most LB coaches give minus grades and run specific drills to eliminate those false steps (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59okoy7wREE). But there has also been a school of thought that the reason every linebacker has this "bad habit" is because it is a more natural way to accelerate toward the ball. I think this research has finally proven that.
Thank you for actually taking the time to read it and comprehend this. It's not a huge, 300 page, research dissertation but it was enough to get mentioned on multiple science/bio-metric and football feeds through twitter this past week.

[LeopardBall10]

Thank you for actually taking the time to read it and comprehend this. It's not a huge, 300 page, research dissertation but it was enough to get mentioned on multiple science/bio-metric and football feeds through twitter this past week.
My pleasure clenz, I have quite a bit of experience coaching those techniques and seeing how hard it can be to break those naturally occurring habits. I have always felt the norm needed to be challenged here and I am excited to see the research. I like Lou Tepper a lot as a coach who truly understood both technique and scheme, but someone who never has his ideas challenged is dangerous.