Coaches Corner: Mailbag question about tackling

CoachBt and Eroc,

Everyone complains nowadays about tackling, I think it is part of getting old I guess. The one specific thing that drives me nuts is the lack of using there arms. I can see it in the pros, but in college where coaches have total control and people lined up behind them to take their spot I am amazed coaches cannot get people to wrap up. I would think guys like Carr, Meyer, Stoops were so secure in their job they would have it beaten in these guys heads, use your arms or find the bench. When I see a replay of some guy dropping their head to make a tackle as they bump them with their shoulder as they scoot on buy, I always think of the film room on Monday and wonder what do coaches say about this? Yet it is pervasive. I thought with Marinelli the Lions might change, but they are the same. I am beginning to wonder if they are teaching a different technique where you do not use your arms to avoid injuries. What do you guys think?

Thanks for your time,
Ziff72

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Ziff72 ... Thanks for the question.

There are a number of factors that affect the quality of tackling in today’s football. With teams, limited to 85 scholarships there is less and less hitting in practices. The scholarship limit also effects depth and makes it difficult to bench players for having poor fundamentals, or performance.

One thing else that is a major factor from in years past is that teams don’t get as much practice time compared to back in Bo’s days where they could have more practices along with practicing a lot longer during that time period. In spring they are only allowed 15 practices and I believe is the same in the bowl practice where back in Bo’s era it was a lot more and also the time factor is limited now a days compared to back in the day.

Less hitting leads to less actual tackling practice. Another factor is players trying to make highlight reels by getting those knockout hits instead of fundamental sound tackles. A third factor is type of offenses teams are running. With more teams running either some version of the spread offense or multiple WR pro sets, DB’s and OLb’s who can cover and play in space are being favored over those who can tackle. These types of offenses also heighten the fallout from missing tackles. Final factor is that more and more high school and college’s teams are focusing on the offense. This focus leads them to put their best athletes on the offensive side of the ball.

Hopefully that will answer your question or at least help.

written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine

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