62-540: The Butkus Award , instituted in 1985 by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, is given annually to the top linebackers at the high school , collegiate and professional levels of football . The award, named in honor of College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus , is presented by the Butkus Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports
124-491: A deep middle-of-the-field responsibility in the Tampa 2 defense. In standard defenses, middle linebackers commonly lead the team in tackles. The terms middle and inside linebacker are often used interchangeably; they are also used to distinguish between a single middle linebacker playing in a 4–3 defense , and two inside linebackers playing in a 3–4 defense . In a 3–4 defense, the larger, more run-stopping-oriented linebacker
186-445: A defensive lineman (such as stopping the runner on a running play) or a defensive back (such as dropping back into pass coverage). How linebackers play their positions depends on the defensive alignment, the philosophy of the coaching staff, and the particular play the offense may call. Linebackers are divided into middle linebackers, sometimes called inside linebackers, and outside linebackers. The middle linebacker, often called "Mike",
248-404: A football field." In 1909, Michigan suffered its first loss to Notre Dame . In 1910, Michigan was led by All-Americans Albert Benbrook and Stanfield Wells and played its only undefeated season of the independent years, compiling a 3–0–3 record. In 1916, John Maulbetsch led Michigan to one of its finest records. The Wolverines won seven straight games. Led by fullback Frank Steketee ,
310-727: A makeover by the Butkus family to help end anabolic steroid abuse among young athletes. Three players have won both the high school and collegiate Butkus Awards: Notre Dame linebackers Manti Te'o (2008, 2012) and Jaylon Smith (2012, 2015) and also Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean (2018, 2021). Four players have won both the collegiate and professional Butkus Awards: San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis (2006, 2009), Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller (2010, 2012), Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly (2011, 2014, 2015, 2017), and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith (2017, 2022, 2023). Linebacker Linebacker ( LB )
372-566: A margin of 550–0 en route to a perfect season and victory in the inaugural Rose Bowl on January 1, 1902, over Stanford , the team Yost had coached the year before. From 1901 to 1904, Michigan did not lose a game, and was tied only once in a legendary game with the Minnesota Golden Gophers that led to the establishment of the Little Brown Jug trophy. Yost's teams used the short punt formation . He also developed
434-430: A more complex read for the quarterback. Many 3–4 defenses have the ability to quickly morph into a 4–3 on the field. In the 46 defense, there are four linemen, three linebackers and a safety who is moved up behind the line of scrimmage. Thus, it appears as if there are four linebackers, but it is really three linebackers with one safety playing up with the other linebackers. Three of the defensive linemen are over both of
496-430: A normal safety would do. The 46 is used in heavy run situations to stop the run, when a team wants to apply much pressure, or merely to confuse the quarterback and offensive line. This defense is effective at run-stopping but is weaker than a 4–3 defense at pass coverage because it uses only three defensive backs. This defensive scheme is often played with two inside line backers and two outside line backers. The names of
558-419: A number of health and wellness activities including the "I Play Clean" anti-steroid program. The award was first established by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, which relinquished control of the award in 2008 following a lawsuit by Butkus. Traditionally, the award was given only to the top collegiate linebacker. The Butkus Award was expanded in 2008 to include high school and professional winners as part of
620-401: A pass play. The linebacker should also have strong safety abilities in pass situation to cover the tight end in man on man situations. He should also have considerable quickness to read and get into coverage in zone situations. The weakside linebacker (WLB), or the "Will" in 4–3 defense, sometimes called the backside linebacker, or "Buck", as well as other names like Jack or Bandit, must be
682-541: A play called "Old 83" resembling an option . Before Michigan finally lost a game to Amos Alonzo Stagg 's Chicago Maroons squad at the end of the 1905 season, they had gone 56 straight games without a defeat, the second longest such streak in college football history. During their first five seasons under Yost, Michigan outscored its opponents 2,821–42, earning the Michigan team the nickname "Point-a-Minute." The team featured running back Willie Heston , who Yost called
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#1732780243484744-459: A record of 165–29–10. From 1901 to 1905, his "Point-a-Minute" squads had a record of 55–1–1, outscoring their opponents by a margin of 2,821–42. The 1901 team beat Stanford , 49–0, in the 1902 Rose Bowl , the first college football bowl game . Under Yost, Michigan won four straight national championships from 1901 to 1904 and two more in 1918 and 1923. In 1921, Yost became Michigan's athletic director and served in that capacity until 1940. He
806-556: A son, Fielding H. Yost, Jr., two brothers, Ellis and Nicholas, and a sister, Mrs. Charles Barry. Yost was buried at Ann Arbor's Forest Hill Cemetery near the University of Michigan campus. A native of West Virginia, Yost's unusual pronunciation of the school's name, "MEE-she-gan," copied by long-time Michigan football broadcaster Bob Ufer , is affectionately carried on by many Michigan football fans and often referenced by ESPN sportscaster Chris Fowler . A devout Christian , he
868-731: A total of 144 to 32. Yost played at left tackle against Michigan, leading to a protest that Ohio Wesleyan had assured Michigan that Yost, a paid coach and non-student, would not play and had engaged in trickery by introducing another individual as Yost. One week later, Michigan announced that it would no longer schedule games against Ohio Wesleyan. In 1898, Yost was hired to coach the Nebraska football team with compensation of $ 1,000 for 10 weeks of service. The 1898 Nebraska team compiled an 8–3 record, including victories over Iowa State (23–10), Missouri (47–6), Kansas (18–6), and Colorado (23–10), and losses to Drake (6–5) and Iowa (6–5). In June 1899,
930-444: Is a playing position in gridiron football . Linebackers are members of the defensive team , and typically line up three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage and the defensive linemen , playing closer to the line of scrimmage than the defensive backs (secondary). As such, linebackers play a hybrid role and are often the most versatile players on the defensive side of the ball; they can be asked to play roles similar to either
992-549: Is frequently the " quarterback of the defense". His central role on the field means he is in the best position to call defensive plays and direct shifts and changes based on what the offense is doing. Outside linebackers are often in a position to blitz , a defensive maneuver where the player rushes into the offensive backfield to disrupt a running play or sack the quarterback on passing plays. Besides "Mike", other nicknames such as "Sam", "Will", or "Jack", are commonly used to refer to various linebacking roles. Historically, some of
1054-421: Is generally a run-stuffer who is better able to handle offensive linemen and stop running backs, while the other is often a smaller, faster player who excels in pass coverage. However, the smaller or cover LB should also be able to scrape and plug running lanes decently. The design concept of the 3–4 defense is to confuse the offensive line in their blocking assignments, particularly in pass blocking, and to create
1116-407: Is having a defensive front of three large defensive linemen who command constant double teams. In particular, the nose tackle, who plays over the offensive center, must be able to hold ground and to occupy several offensive blockers to allow the linebackers to make plays. The focus of the 3–4 defensive line is to occupy offensive linemen thus freeing the linebackers to tackle the running back or to rush
1178-495: Is often a hybrid DE/LB. Usually, teams that run a 3–4 defense look for college defensive ends that are too small to play the position in the pros and not quite fluid enough to play outside linebacker in a 4–3 defense as their "Jack" linebacker. The idea behind the 3–4 defense is to disguise where the fourth rusher will come from. Instead of the standard four down-linemen in the 4–3, only three players are clearly attacking nearly every play. A key for running this defense successfully
1240-528: Is pulling. In coverage, the Will often covers the back that attacks his side of the field first in man coverage, while covering the weak flat in Texas Loop or hooks/curl areas in zone coverage. The number of linebackers is dependent upon the formation called for in the play; formations can call for as few as none, or as many as seven. Most defensive schemes call for three or four, which are generally named for
1302-503: Is usually called into either blitz or pass coverage to make up for the missing defensive back. In the NFL and college football, this alignment is used mainly in short yardage situations or near the goal line. It is commonly used in high school football. Fielding H. Yost Fielding Harris Yost ( / j oʊ s t / ; April 30, 1871 – August 20, 1946) was an American college football player, coach and athletics administrator. He served as
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#17327802434841364-425: Is usually still called "Mike", while the smaller, more pass protection/route coverage-oriented player is called "Will". "Mikes" usually line up towards the strong side or on the side the offense is more likely to run on (based on personnel matchups) while "Wills" may line up on the other side or even a little further back between the defensive line and the secondary. The outside linebacker ( OLB ), sometimes called
1426-581: The College Football Hall of Fame in 1951. Tommy Hughitt was heavily inspired by Yost's system and used it to great success, later adapting it to the professional game with the Youngstown Patricians and Buffalo All-Americans . Yost invented the position of linebacker with center Germany Schulz ; co-created the first ever bowl game , the 1902 Rose Bowl, with then legendary UM athletic director Charles Baird ; invented
1488-504: The South as Frank Juhan , who played at Sewanee during 1908–1910. In the East, Ernest Cozens of Penn was "one of the first of the roving centers," another archaic term for the position, supposedly coined by Hank Ketcham of Yale . Walter E. Bachman of Lafayette was said to be "the developer of the 'roving center' concept". Edgar Garbisch of Army was credited with developing
1550-409: The hurry up offense . Yost initiated the concept of coaching as an actual profession near the turn of the century when he was paid as much as a UM professor. The professionalization of coaches that started with Yost and later, Walter Camp at Yale University , symbolized how serious college football was becoming, and Yost symbolized this more so than any of his peers. It was he who first articulated
1612-527: The "Buck, Sam, and Rebel", is usually responsible for outside containment. This includes the strongside and weakside designations below. They are also responsible for blitzing the quarterback. Not only is the OLB responsible for outside containment and blitzing the QB, but they also have to perform pass coverage in the flats – sometimes called a drop. Outside linebackers pass coverages covers quick slants outside, in curls in
1674-411: The "roving center method" of playing defensive football in 1921. In professional football, Cal Hubbard is credited with pioneering the linebacker position. He starred as a tackle and end , playing off the line in a style similar to that of a modern linebacker. The middle or inside linebacker ( MLB or ILB ), sometimes called the "Mike" or "Mac", is often referred to as the " quarterback of
1736-654: The 1889–90 school year. He next enrolled at the Ohio Normal School (now known as Ohio Northern University ). Yost played for the Ohio Normal baseball team. After three years at Ohio Normal, he returned to West Virginia to work in the oil fields. In 1895, Yost enrolled at West Virginia University where he studied law, earning an LL.B. He also played football for the West Virginia University football team. A 6-foot, 200 pounder, Yost
1798-667: The 1900 Stanford team to a 7–2–1, outscoring opponents 154–20. After first applying at Illinois, Yost was hired in 1901 by Charles A. Baird as the head football coach for the Michigan Wolverines football team. Yost coached at Michigan from 1901 through 1923, and again in 1925 and 1926. He was highly successful at Michigan, winning 165 games, losing only 29, and tying 10 for a winning percentage of .833. Under Yost, Michigan won four straight national championships from 1901 to 1904 and two more in 1918 and 1923. Yost's first Michigan team in 1901 outscored its opposition by
1860-542: The 1918 team went undefeated in the war-shortened season. The 1922 and 1923 teams went undefeated, led by punter Harry Kipke . The only blemish was a tie with Yost protege and brother-in-law Dan McGugin 's Vanderbilt . At the end of the season, Yost called the 1925 Michigan team "the greatest football team I ever coached" and "the greatest football team I ever saw in action". The team featured quarterback Benny Friedman and left end Bennie Oosterbaan , sometimes referred to as "The Benny-to-Bennie Show". In tribute to
1922-403: The 3–4 defense three linemen play the line of scrimmage and four linebackers back them up, typically two outside linebackers and two inside linebackers. The weakside inside linebacker is typically called the "Will", while the strong side or middle inside linebacker is called the "Mike". "Sam" is a common designation for strong outside linebacker, while the other position is usually called "Jack" and
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1984-584: The Haskell Indians (12–0 and 18–0), Nebraska (36–20), and Missouri (34–6). During the 1899–1900 academic year, Kansas had Yost as its football coach and James Naismith as its basketball coach. Naismith also served as an assistant football coach during the 1899 season. In May 1900, Yost was hired as the football coach at Stanford University , and, after traveling home to West Virginia, he arrived in Palo Alto, California , on August 21, 1900. Yost led
2046-697: The University of Kansas Athletic Association offered Yost $ 350, and an additional $ 150 conditionally, to coach the school's football team. After spending the summer in Colorado, Yost arrived in Lawrence, Kansas , on September 4, 1899. During the 1899 season, the Kansas football team "lived separate from the rest of the students and ate specially selected and prepared food . . . with Coach Yost as their only mentor". The team compiled an undefeated 10–0 record, outscoring opponents 280–37. The season included victories over
2108-408: The back field to make a play as fast as possible. Outside line backers sometimes are considered to be pass players before they are run players. But that depends on where they are lined up, if they are outside of the box of the defense then they will be pass first players, but if they play inside the box lined up behind the defensive end then they are typically a run player. One of the outside linebackers
2170-416: The contest did not help appearances. He assured all concerned that he would return to Lafayette for at least three years of study. Yost began his coaching career at age 26 as head coach of the 1897 Ohio Wesleyan football team . Yost's team compiled a 7–1–1 record, shut out six of its nine opponents (including a 6–0 victory over Ohio State and a scoreless tie with Michigan ), and outscored all opponents by
2232-414: The defense". Often it is the middle linebacker who receives the defensive play calls from the sideline and relays that play to the rest of the team, and in the NFL he is usually the defensive player with the electronic sideline communicator. A jack-of-all-trades , the middle linebacker can be asked to blitz (though they often blitz less than the outside linebacker), cover, spy the quarterback , or even have
2294-409: The fastest of the three, because he is often the one called into pass coverage. He is also usually chasing the play from the backside, so the ability to maneuver through traffic is a necessity for the Will. The Will usually aligns off the line of scrimmage at the same depth as Mike. Because of his position on the weakside, the Will does not often have to face large interior linemen one on one unless one
2356-409: The fieldhouse concept that bears his name; and supervised the building of the first on-campus building dedicated to intramural sports. Yost was also known for a series of admonitions to his players beginning with the words, "Hurry up," for example, "Hurry up and be the first man down the field on a punt or kick-off." This inclination earned him the nickname, "Hurry up" Yost. He was also an innovator of
2418-425: The flats. The "flats" are the edge of the field closest to the sideline, from the line of scrimmage down about ten yards. John Alexander is the first person to have played outside linebacker in the NFL. The strongside linebacker (SLB) is often nicknamed the "Sam" for purposes of calling a blitz . Since the strong side of the offensive team is the side on which the tight end lines up, or whichever side contains
2480-530: The greatest player he ever saw. In 1904, Germany Schulz stood up from the center position and created the position of linebacker . Yost was horrified at first, but came to see the wisdom in Schulz's innovation. In 1908, Michigan lost to Penn 29–0, the worst defeat suffered by a Michigan team during the Yost era. Yost said of Schulz's performance: "He gave the greatest one-man exhibition of courage I ever saw on
2542-488: The head football coach at: Ohio Wesleyan University , the University of Nebraska , the University of Kansas , Stanford University , San Jose State University , and the University of Michigan , compiling a coaching career record of 198–35–12. During his 25 seasons as the head football coach at Ann Arbor , Yost's Michigan Wolverines won six national championships , captured ten Big Ten Conference titles, and amassed
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2604-416: The line backers know to get into their zone in order to cover the pass. If the guard come out for a run play they know that they need to fill the gap that they are supposed to so that they can make a play if it comes to them. Also, these inside line backers are often called on a blitz which is when no matter what the offense does, as soon as that ball is snapped they are shooting their gap and trying to get into
2666-402: The linebackers' responsibilities vary based upon whether a man or zone coverage is called. In zone coverage, the linebackers will generally drop into hook zones across the middle of the field. However, some zones will send the outside linebackers into the flats (area directly to the left and right of the hash marks, extending 4–5 yards downfield). In a man-to-man call, the "Sam" will often cover
2728-410: The most impactful defensive players, such as Pro Football Hall of Fame members Chuck Bednarik , Dick Butkus , Jack Lambert , Ray Lewis , Ray Nitschke , Mike Singletary , Brian Urlacher , and Lawrence Taylor , were linebackers. Before the advent of the two-platoon system with separate units for offense and defense, the player who was the team's center on offense was often, though not always,
2790-414: The most personnel, the strongside linebacker usually lines up across from the tight end. Often the strongside linebacker will be called upon to tackle the running back on a play because the back will be following the tight end's block. He is most often the strongest linebacker; at the least he possesses the ability to withstand, shed, and fight off blocks from a tight end or fullback blocking the backside of
2852-589: The now accepted premise about student-athletes in the sport that: "Football builds character." No fewer than 77 men who either played for Yost, or coached under him as an assistant, went on to become head coaches in college football; two, Benny Friedman and Tommy Hughitt , helmed teams in the National Football League (NFL). In addition Dan A. Killian , who was the head coach for the LSU Tigers (1904–1906), reportedly played quarterback on
2914-473: The number of linemen, followed by the number of linebackers (with the 46 defense being an exception). For example, the 4–3 defense has four defensive linemen and three linebackers; conversely, the 3–4 defense has three linemen and four linebackers. In the 4–3 defense there are four down linemen and three linebackers. The middle linebacker is designated "Mike" (or "Mac") and two outside linebackers are designated "Sam" and "Will" according to how they line up against
2976-416: The offensive formation. If there is a strong call, the linebacker on the strongside is called "Sam", while the linebacker on the weakside is called "Will". The outside linebacker's job is to cover the end to make sure a run does not escape and to watch the pass and protect from it. The middle linebacker's job is to stop runs between the tackles and watch the entire field to see the play develop. On pass plays,
3038-473: The offensive guards and the center, thereby making it difficult to double-team any one of the three interior defensive linemen. This can also take away the ability of the offense to pull the guards on a running play, because this would leave one of the defenders unblocked, or, at best, give another lineman a very difficult block to make on one of the defenders. The safety, like the linebacker, can blitz, play man-on-man, play zone, or drop back into deep coverage like
3100-425: The passer or otherwise drop into pass coverage. The primary responsibilities for both outside linebackers are typically to stop the run and rush the quarterback in passing situations, where they line in front of the tackles like true defensive ends. The outside linebackers in a 3–4 defense must be very skilled at rushing the quarterback, and would be playing defensive end in a 4–3 defense. Among inside linebackers, one
3162-482: The school where Yost began his coaching career, he arranged for Michigan to play its first game at Ferry Field (September 30, 1905) and its first game at Michigan Stadium (October 1, 1927) against Ohio Wesleyan. After retiring from coaching, Yost remained at Michigan as the school's athletic director , a position he held until 1940, then held the title of athletic director emeritus. Under his leadership, Michigan Stadium , Yost Fieldhouse (now Yost Ice Arena ), and
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#17327802434843224-518: The team's linebacker on defense. Hence, in contemporary football, one usually sees four defensive linemen to the offense's five or more. Most sources claim coach Fielding H. Yost and center Germany Schulz of the Michigan invented the position. Schulz was Yost's first linebacker in 1904 when he stood up from his usual position on the line. Yost was horrified at first, but came to see the wisdom in Schulz's innovation. William Dunn of Penn State
3286-432: The tight end with help from a safety over the top, while at other times, the "Sam" and "Will" will be responsible for the first man out of the backfield on their side of the center, with the "Mike" covering if a second man exits on that side of the field. In the " Tampa 2 " zone defense, the middle linebacker is required to drop quickly into a deep middle zone pass coverage thus requiring a quick player at this position. In
3348-399: The two inside line backers are often called Sam and Mike and these two are lined up about four yards from the line of scrimmage and are lined up with the offensive guard. The inside line backers are often more of a run player so they will defend the run before they will the pass. These line backers will be reading the offensive guard so they know what to do, so if the guard sets up to pass block
3410-602: The university's golf course were constructed. Yost was in poor health for several years before his death and was hospitalized at the Battle Creek Sanitarium in May 1946. He reportedly suffered from a stroke, but was released after two weeks and returned to his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan . In August 1946, Yost died of a gall bladder attack at his home. He was survived by his wife, whom he had married in 1906,
3472-491: Was a bitter feud between Yost and Knute Rockne , head coach of the Notre Dame football team . Yost had a profound impact on the Michigan athletics department. "No other man has ever given as much heart, soul, brains, and tongue to the game he loved—football" said Grantland Rice . A longtime football coach and athletic director, his career was marked with achievement. Yost was among the inaugural class of inductees to
3534-616: Was a farmer and a Confederate veteran. His family had been in Fairview since 1825 when his second great grandfather, David Yost, settled there and took up a grant of over 2,000 acres. Yost was educated in the local schools and became a deputy marshal in Fairview as a teenager. At seventeen, he earned a public-school teaching certificate. Yost began his college education at Fairmont Normal School in Fairmont, West Virginia . He then taught school at Patterson Creek, West Virginia , during
3596-573: Was a standout at tackle at West Virginia into the 1896 season. In October 1896, after his team lost three home games to Lafayette , played on three different fields over the course of three days, Yost became a remarkable personification of "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em." He transferred in mid-season to join Coach Parke H. Davis 's national championship team at Lafayette. Just a week after playing against Davis in West Virginia, Yost
3658-560: Was among the first coaches to allow Jewish players on his teams, including Joe Magidsohn and Benny Friedman . However, Murray Sperber 's book Shake Down the Thunder places principal responsibility for the Big Ten blackballing and boycotting of Notre Dame on Yost. It also claims this was motivated by anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant prejudice common in the early 20th century, though John Kyrk's book Natural Enemies points out that there
3720-413: Was another Western Conference linebacker soon after Schulz. However, there are various historical claims tied to the linebacker position, including some before 1904. For example, Percy Given of Georgetown is another center with a claim to the title "first linebacker," supposedly standing up behind the line well before Schulz in a game against Navy in 1902. Other sources have the first linebacker in
3782-655: Was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1951. Yost was also a successful business person, lawyer, and author; but he is best known as a leading figure in pioneering the development of college football into a national phenomenon. Yost was born in Fairview, West Virginia , in April 1871. Yost's family had settled in West Virginia, in 1825. He was the oldest of four children of Parmenus (sometimes Permenus) Wesley Yost (1845–1920) and Elzena Jane (Ammons) Yost (1852–1943), both natives of West Virginia. His father
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#17327802434843844-625: Was playing for Davis in Lafayette's historic 6-4 win over the Penn Quakers . The fortuitous timing of his appearance on the Lafayette roster did not go unnoticed by Penn officials. They called it "the Yost affair." The Philadelphia Ledger quoted Yost as saying that he came to Lafayette only to play football. The fact that he appeared in a Lafayette uniform only once, in the Penn game, and that he returned to West Virginia within two weeks of
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