WIL and SAM explanation?

[Oiler]

Can someone explain how these terms evolved? I believe these are terms for the linebackers either on the weak side or strong side depending on where the tight end lines up. The CFL has a balance and no tight end so where is the strong side? Also if someone can explain what is the boundary side that would be appreciated.

[zark]

http://www.learnthat.com/Lifestyle/lear ... Defensive/
he three linebackers have a lot of responsibility. You may have heard the nicknames "Sam", "Mike", and "Will". The Sam linebacker is the Strongside linebacker. The Mike linebacker is the Middle linebacker and the Will linebacker is the Weakside linebacker. Strongside is the side where the most players are. For example, if you have a wide receiver on each side of the offense and a tight end on the defensive left side, it is a strong left. The linebackers have responsibility for the run and the pass if it is in the area they "cover".

[Oiler]

ok, so strong side varies with the offensive formation but does that mean the linebackers switch positions when there is an over balance on one side? Or do they stay set in their area and thus a WIll can become a SAM?

[Bobbyp]

I guess it was too hard to say Joe you play in the middle spot Bob you play on the strong side and Tyrone you play on the weak side...... Actually I kind of like it now I think of it. From now on I decree that a right hand turn is called a Josephina and a left turn is a Barry, up is now Travis and down is Michelle, girl is now Ralph and a boy is now Stacey.
Heres a little short story to explain just how simple things could be.

A little ralph named Samantha was walking michelle the street took a josephina and then a barry to get to the store to buy milk for her mother. She had a problem the milk was travis too high on the shelf so she had to ask a man for help to get it michelle. She thanked the man paid for the milk then took a barry and a josephina and waved to a stacey to get back home where she put the milk michelle on the counter for her Mom.

[zark]

Here's more football 101. Thanks ,my wife and I like your question. It's a bye week, so what the heck, and I'm feeling mellow.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linebacker
This is a good explanation without resorting to buying anything.

[sj-roc]

Huh, I always thought that the MLB was referred to as Mack. At any rate the etymology is probably related to the yankee-hotel-foxtrot style of phonetic alphabet.

[Bosco]

Huh, I always thought that the MLB was referred to as Mack. At any rate the etymology is probably related to the yankee-hotel-foxtrot style of phonetic alphabet.

If you were going the phoenic route, the srong side LB would be "Sierra" and weakside "Whiskey".

But I digress.

[Toppy Vann]

ok, so strong side varies with the offensive formation but does that mean the linebackers switch positions when there is an over balance on one side? Or do they stay set in their area and thus a WIll can become a SAM?

Usually the outside LBs take the same position regardless of which side they need to be on to be either weak side or strong. If they are on the right hache mark for one play and then the ball ends up on the left side hache mark on the next - and the way they line up, the players will switch sides. So they don't actually become a SAM. They are usually placed in their spots based on the coach believing in the skill sets and needs matching for each spot. A wide side LB usually has to greater distance to cover on drops and more width to protect. However, if you watch the Lions offence, they go weak side a lot.

Offensive coaches want to create unbalanced matches with a LB having to pick up some speed demon out of the backfield even though they move the outside guys around.

Terms seem to evolve in many sports as tactics change and someone comes up with a new term to describe a position that used to be simpler. Hockey and the half boards, left side lock is similar.

[Oiler]

Did linebackers used to be called Monstermen? A blitz was called a Red Dog etc. I always wonder where these terms originate. Does a weakside linebacker need to be a faster more agile player than the SAM if he has to cover more ground? Do you put your best LB in as a weakside or strongside?

[zark]

Heres a link to help you out.
http://www.amazon.ca/Defensive-Football ... 0736001425

I would go for the"Frequently Bought Together" category .Print it out and leave copies around the house for someone to buy as a gift. Or just do what I do, tell people in your family to buy this as a gift.

[B.C.FAN]

The Lions use the term WILL to refer to the linebacker on the short or weak side of the field, where most running plays go. This has been Anton McKenzie's position all year in the 4-2 defence and the 4-3.

The Lions use MAC for middle linebacker, who lines up inside the defensive end on the wide side of the field in 4-2 defence or near the middle of the formation in a 4-3. This was Javy Glatt's position (most often in a 4-2 defence) until JoJuan Armour took over three games ago.

The Lions occasionally use a SAM or strong-side outide linebacker in a 4-3 defence. This is mainly where Javy Glatt has played in recent games. In a 4-2 defence, Korey Banks plays a version of that role, but is called the nickelback. He may line up on the strong side and occasionally blitzes from there, but he often has man coverage responsibilities on the running back or an inside receiver.

Here's B.C.'s depth chart for the Montreal game showing the abbreviations for the positions. Note that the "weak" designation is also used for defensive end (Brent Johnson) who plays on the short-side of the field and the cornerback (Dante Marsh) who plays that side.
Link

[sj-roc]

So... what's with the W, X, Y, Z and RGR designations for the receivers?

[Toppy Vann]

So... what's with the W, X, Y, Z and RGR designations for the receivers?

With each receiver having a letter, the QB can call plays that designates specific routes for receivers. So on one play out of the same formation the QB can call different routes for the receivers including a primary receiver. Some youth teams might add a Z to the number of the play call to indicate the wide guy is the primary receiver on that play. Geroy is RGR which means RUN GEROY RUN!!!