Explosive Pursuit Drill for Linebackers at Mililani Trojans Open Program
As the Mililani Trojans prepare for another championship season, linebackers can expect to see a significant emphasis on explosive pursuit drills during open programs. One effective drill to improve a linebacker's ability to close the gap and finish tackles is the 'Pursuit to Contact' drill. Set up a series of cones 5-7 yards apart, with a coach or trainer at the end of each cone. Players will start at the first cone and sprint to the second, where they will perform a quick change of direction to the next cone. This process repeats for 3 sets of 10 reps. Coaching cues include 'Close the gap!' and 'Finish with your feet!' This drill translates to game performance by improving a linebacker's ability to quickly close the distance to the ball carrier and make tackles in space.