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Understanding Linebacker Roles in Football

This quiz tests your knowledge of linebacker roles and strategies in American football, focusing on key players, formations, and historical context.

1 Also called the "Mike" linebacker, the middle linebacker is often referred to as the "________ of the defense" and is typically the most skilled and pivotal player of the linebackers corps.

2 ________ is generally regarded as the originator of this defense, developing it and using it with great success with the 1985 Chicago Bears.

3 Since the strong side of the ________ is the side on which the tight end lines up, or whichever side contains the most personnel, the strongside linebacker usually lines up across from the tight end.

4 A Linebacker (LB) is a position in American and ________ that was invented by football coach Fielding Yost of the University of Michigan.

5 [1] Linebackers are members of the ________, and line up approximately three to five yards (4 m) behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen.

6 The 46 is used in heavy run situations; when a team wants to bring lots of pressure; or merely to confuse the ________ and offensive line.

💡 Interesting Facts

  • before the 2008 International Bowl, American football linebacker Jamaal Westerman was asked questions about the weather in Toronto, because he had lived there.
  • according to Edmonton Eskimos general manager Danny Maciocia, Canadian linebacker Mark Restelli "plays as if his hair is on fire".
  • All-Pro linebacker Milan "Sheriff" Lazetich, a rodeo rider before joining the NFL, reported that no end or back ever threw a block like a wild pony "when he feels the first touch of a saddle".
  • during the offseason, Canadian football linebacker, Raymond Fontaine, works as a roughneck in the Alberta oil fields.
  • former American football linebacker Craig Sauer has three brothers who have played professional ice hockey.
  • while with the Edmonton Eskimos, Canadian football linebacker Tumbo Abanikanda was called "T. A." because his head coach couldn't pronounce his name.
  • in Steve Morrison's first year as Brother Rice defensive coordinator they won a MHSAA football championship and in his first year as Western Michigan linebacker coach one of his linebackers led the nation in sacks.
  • Paul Posluszny, a linebacker for Penn State's football team, was recently named college football's best defensive player of the year.
  • University of Colorado football player Jordon Dizon, one of three finalists for the Dick Butkus Award as America's top collegiate linebacker, attended Waimea High School, the westernmost high school in the United States.
  • Michigan linebacker Tony Momsen blocked a Vic Janowicz punt and recovered it in the endzone for the only touchdown in the famed 1950 Snow Bowl game.
  • linebacker Quincy Monk nearly had a football helmet drop kicked into his head during the 2003 NFL playoffs.
  • Mike Reid was a linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals before becoming a country music singer and releasing the single "Walk on Faith".
  • National Football League All-Pro linebacker and Super Bowl champion Cato June was co-class president, salutatorian and a member of the National Honor Society in high school.
  • Oregon linebacker Casey Matthews is the son, grandson, brother, and nephew of National Football League players.
  • Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis, the son of professional wrestler Road Warrior Animal, is the first Buckeyes scholarship football player from Minnesota since 1933.
  • German-American football center Adolph F. "Germany" Schulz is credited for developing the "roving center" technique, which became the basis for the linebacker position.