Bad tackling

[Spence]

I just got around to watching the Miami - Ohio State game....I saw bits and pieces yesterday.......anyway what is with all the bad tackling this year.... Not only this game and these teams but a ton of horrible tackling by lots of teams. Head up, wrap, and drive them into the turf. It isn't that hard.

[Spence]

I've noticed this for a couple of years now. It drives me nuts. Tacking is the most fundamental skill in football. It isn't hard at all.

[Eric]

I've noticed this for a couple of years now. It drives me nuts. Tacking is the most fundamental skill in football. It isn't hard at all.

Me too. I think the biggest problem that makes it difficult on players to make routine tackles is their positioning. They just don't know how to get in a position to tackle the ball carrier and they take awful angles in either coverage or pursuit.

[Spence]

I think lots of times they want to get the "big hit" and they fling their body instead of wrapping and taking the player down. Too many highlight reels.

[Eric]

I think lots of times they want to get the "big hit" and they fling their body instead of wrapping and taking the player down. Too many highlight reels.

I was watching some of the Miami OH / Eastern Michigan game and a Miami OH defender was flying in to make the tackle about 10 yards away from the sideline and he went full throttle, led in with his shoulder, and hit the EMU player just underneath the shoulder. The EMU player stumbled a bit but still went another 5 yards before he lost his balance and stepped out of bounds. An example of poor tackling because all you have to do is wrap the guy up and you've saved your team 5 yards to make it 3rd and long.

[Brian Roastbeef]

Saw plenty of that in the Syracuse-Washington game... Now yeah it's easy to say, "well look at the teams..." but still - it is a pretty basic skill. I spent more than enough time knocking over the popsicle in high school practice - should be able to do the same at the collegiate level.

[Cane from the Bend]

The other thing that frustrates me when it comes to the way some of these guys tackle, is when they do wrap up the ball carrier... but try too hard to make an emphasis tackle... and wind up throwing the guy down... forward 2 or 3 yards... sometimes resulting in a first.

Just throw him straight down, and stop trying to prove yourself so much.

If all else fails... pick him up and carry him backwards a couple of yards... the play ends immediately with the progress going in reverse.

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