Never Stop Taking Reps: Marcus Klund on Mental Reps, Practice Habits, and Grading Linebackers

Featuring: Marcus Klund

Podcast: Football IQ - Mastering Defensive Strategies - Marcus Klund, LB Coach, Calgary Stampeders

Website: American Football IQ

"You should always be taking some type of rep, whether it's physical or mental."

Introduction

Marcus Klund wasn't the biggest or the fastest player on the field. At about 5'9" and a half, he still became a four-time all-conference and two-time All-American safety at Lindenwood University. His explanation is simple: he knew he had to be a student of the game.

Now the linebackers coach and run game coordinator for the Calgary Stampeders, Klund joined Doug Brady on the American Football IQ Football IQ series to talk about how he builds that same mindset in his players — through practice habits, mental reps, and a grading system that rewards production.

The Student of the Game Slows It Down

Klund tells his players that once you become a true student of the game, the game slows down. And when the game slows down for you, you're playing faster than the game.

For him, that meant gaining his advantage mentally: film study, preparation, and knowing his job inside and out. Then it meant knowing the jobs around him. If he knew a linebacker's drop or another defender's fit, he understood what he could do, what he couldn't do, and when he could jump something.

That's the difference between knowing an assignment and understanding a defense.

Take Your Chances in Practice

Klund wants his players to trust their instincts — and practice is where they build them. His message is direct: don't think, don't hesitate, and take your shot in practice.

If a player takes a chance and the offense makes a play on him, it's practice. That's where he learns what he can and can't do. And many players surprise themselves. They find out they can make a play they didn't think they could, and that confidence carries into games.

Klund's logic is simple: you're not going to lose a game in practice. That's the place to find out where your limits are.

Mental Reps Behind the Play

Not every player gets every physical rep. Klund's standard is that if you aren't getting the physical rep, you need to take the mental rep.

He builds that into every day. During pre-practice team walkthroughs, he has his first two groups mirror each other — the first group up front, the second group about four yards behind, and Klund behind them. Everyone should be moving in unison. If they aren't, he knows he has a coaching problem to fix.

During team periods, he puts his backup linebackers behind the defensive backs so they can still mirror their position from farther back.

His point is about ownership. Players who lose focus because it isn't their turn aren't getting better. If you want to be a starter, or want to be great, you should always be taking some kind of rep.

Grade the Assignment — Then Grade the Play

Klund grades his players with a basic plus-minus: did he execute his job or not? But he doesn't stop there.

He's big on point-of-attack grading. A player can know his job and be consistent from an assignment standpoint and still not make plays. If he isn't making plays at the point of attack, he isn't helping the team win.

Klund also keeps a production chart. Players earn points for tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, hands on the ball, and coverage sacks. His view is that if a player is on the field, his execution grade should already be high — production and point of attack are what separate players.

Make Practice Competitive

Klund grades practice too. He names a player of practice based on production and point-of-attack play, then puts up an old college or high school photo of that player for the room.

It's a small touch, but it builds competition. Players want to be that guy — and it reinforces what the coach values.

Five Strip Attempts, Every Practice

Takeaways are a habit, so Klund sets a number. As a unit, his linebackers need at least five strip attempts on film every practice.

He also coaches how to do it. Inside the box, it's rip and strip — but not grabbing and twisting a ball carrier, which is where players get hurt. On the second level or the perimeter, it's a quick punch at the ball or a chase from behind, focusing on the football without holding the runner up.

Why Football IQ Changes Everything

Klund's practice habits are all forms of football IQ training. Mental reps build recognition when players aren't on the field. Taking chances in practice builds instincts and confidence. Grading production keeps understanding tied to results.

American Football IQ is designed to add even more of those reps away from the field, so players show up to practice already knowing what they're looking at. We don't sell cards. We sell mental reps.

Final Thoughts

Be a student of the game until it slows down. Take your chances in practice. Take a mental rep every time you're not getting a physical one. Know your job — then make plays at the point of attack. That's how players turn knowledge into production.

Follow American Football IQ on Instagram, X, and YouTube for more football education. Join the Skool community to connect with coaches and players who are serious about building their game the right way. And check out the American Football IQ Flashcards on Amazon — a practical tool for getting more mental reps outside of practice. To hear the full conversation with Marcus Klund, watch Football IQ - Mastering Defensive Strategies - Marcus Klund, LB Coach, Calgary Stampeders.

Train the brain the same way drills train the body.

Podcast Source

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