TFL Weekly Rule Focus - Linebacker Run Containment

LINEBACKER-RUN CONTAINMENT

 

Designed to deter the offense from calling runs in third down passing situations. IT IS ASSUMED TO BE AUTOMATICALLY PART OF YOUR DEFENSE ALIGNMENT IN THIRD OR FOURTH DOWN SITUATIONS ONLY IN WHICH FIVE OR MORE YARDS ARE NEEDED FOR A FIRST DOWN. The defense may call a pass or run and play a three-, four-, or five-man line.  

If the offense calls a run to an area in which the linebacker is playing his normal position (playing in flat pass or look-in zone areas) and the white die roll is 1, 2, or 3, then the run containment rule is in effect. You must refer to the Run Containment Chart to see if the linebacker stops the runner short of the first down.  If the runner is stopped short of the 1st down then the white die indicates how many yards short of a 1st down he was.  For example, if the linebacker is rated 5 and a 2 is rolled on the white die then the runner is stopped 2 yards short of a first down.  However, if the reading from the card results in more than 2 yards short from a first down, accept this result instead.  Continuing with the same example (where a 2 is rolled on the white die) let’s say this occurred in a 3rd and 8 situation and that the runner's card yields a no gain result, accept this figure rather than crediting the runner with a 6-yard gain. 

If the linebacker involved has vacated his normal zone (for instance, he is stationed in a blitzing position or double-teaming a receiver), no adjustment is made to yards gained on play. This rule only applies to results read off running cards and may not be used within a team's own defensive 10-yard line. Results derived from defensive cards remain the same.  

If the linebacker has been moved from his flat/look-in zone, but a defensive back has been placed there, then containment can still occur since there is a man stationed in that zone.  For an Off-Tackle run vs. the 3- 4 the inside linebacker on that side of the field must be in the look-in zone for containment to be in effect.  For a linebuck vs. the 3-4 both inside linebackers must be back for containment to be in effect (use the higher rated linebacker when consulting the chart).  The preceding two sentences apply to the 3-4 formation but they do not apply to the 3-3-5 nickel or 3-2-6 dime formations since those formations do not use 4 linebackers. Linebacker-Run Containment does not apply to Must Run readings from the Quarterback’s card (see the “Shadowing Quarterback” rule).