tackling technique

[hoosman]

I was taught a long time ago to bend the knees , put the helmet on the numbers, grasp with both arms and lift and drive. No one does that anymore. Now it’s hit them with a shoulder and try to knock them over, or dive at their legs, or even hit them while facing backwards. Is this to avoid targeting? to avoid injury? reduced reaction time? I watched UCF at Louisville and they missed a lot of tackles by diving out of position at the ball carrier. At least 4 times they missed the ball carrier completely . ???

 

[BCClone]

I was taught a long time ago to bend the knees , put the helmet on the numbers, grasp with both arms and lift and drive. No one does that anymore. Now it’s hit them with a shoulder and try to knock them over, or dive at their legs, or even hit them while facing backwards. Is this to avoid targeting? to avoid injury? reduced reaction time?

Concussions.

Teach to rugby tackle now. More coming into the side, put your head behind them, front arm around the their waist, chop Their thighs/legs with your trailing arm all while pulling yourself on top of their legs.

 

[DeereClone]

Concussions.

Teach to rugby tackle now. More coming into the side, put your head behind them, front arm around the their waist, chop Their thighs/legs with your trailing arm all while pulling yourself on top of their legs.

Agree that’s how they are taught. Still a bunch of defensive backs that just launch and dive at the knees without much wrapping up/chopping/twisting to complete the tackle.

 

[Cycsk]

Seems like you will miss more tackles the old way. Guys are too fast and may just run past you.

 

[cyclonesurveyor]

Concussions.

Teach to rugby tackle now. More coming into the side, put your head behind them, front arm around the their waist, chop Their thighs/legs with your trailing arm all while pulling yourself on top of their legs.

We moved to Northern Ireland with young boys who had wrestled and started playing rugby over there. Its the same technique for a double leg. my boys were small for their age but they could "tackle" and made the coaches happy.

 

[Bipolarcy]

I was taught a long time ago to bend the knees , put the helmet on the numbers, grasp with both arms and lift and drive. No one does that anymore. Now it’s hit them with a shoulder and try to knock them over, or dive at their legs, or even hit them while facing backwards. Is this to avoid targeting? to avoid injury? reduced reaction time? I watched UCF at Louisville and they missed a lot of tackles by diving out of position at the ball carrier. At least 4 times they missed the ball carrier completely . ???

I think they teach basically the same thing. They only difference now is they tell you to move your helmet to one side or the other of the numbers and use your shoulder pads to the numbers.

 

[VeloClone]

I think they teach basically the same thing. They only difference now is they tell you to move your helmet to one side or the other of the numbers and use your shoulder pads to the numbers.

Yes, and this is a good thing. If you put the helmet on the numbers and for some reason are unable to or fail to keep your head up you may be guilty of what used to be called spearing but is now part of the targeting rule. Each thing a player can do to remove another of the indicators of targeting from each tackle lessens the likelihood that they will accidentally be guilty of targeting. That should be the goal given the speed at which the game is played.

 

[cyclonespiker33]

That's all fine and dandy until the guy with the ball who is crazy fast decides he doesn't want you to tackle him.

 

[AuH2O]

If they wanted to actually make the game safer start tossing RBs who lead with the crown of their helmets and WRs who make a catch and duck their head down on contact.

There have been a ton of BS targeting calls when a receiver catches a pass, starts going down, ducks his head, and what would've been a perfect tackle to the body by a DB becomes contact to the head. Pure garbage.

 

[ajspatio19]

If they wanted to actually make the game safer start tossing RBs who lead with the crown of their helmets and WRs who make a catch and duck their head down on contact.

There have been a ton of BS targeting calls when a receiver catches a pass, starts going down, ducks his head, and what would've been a perfect tackle to the body by a DB becomes contact to the head. Pure garbage.

Targeting needs to have tiers first of all, like flagrants in basketball. Targeting 1, without intent. Basic penalty with no ejection. Targeting 2, with intent. Penalty and ejection.

Second, targeting needs to be reviewable to determine who initiated the targeting to get rid of the issue you brought up. If it is determined the defender was aiming for a location other than the head and neck area first, then the ball carrier lowers into the contact it should either be a targeting on the offense or a straight up no call.

 

[KnappShack]

If they wanted to actually make the game safer start tossing RBs who lead with the crown of their helmets and WRs who make a catch and duck their head down on contact.

There have been a ton of BS targeting calls when a receiver catches a pass, starts going down, ducks his head, and what would've been a perfect tackle to the body by a DB becomes contact to the head. Pure garbage.

How did people survive with hard shell helmets and no facemasks?

 

[NorthCyd]

I realize instinct takes over when you have a helmet on to treat your head like a battering ram, but its really simple. Keep your head up and eyes on the target while tackling. If you do that you will never get called for targeting and the technique almost takes care of itself.

 

[CoachHines3]

speak for yourself

i was taught to put my head down and launch towards the opposing players head with my arms at my side

like a rocket taking off

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

If they wanted to actually make the game safer start tossing RBs who lead with the crown of their helmets and WRs who make a catch and duck their head down on contact.

There have been a ton of BS targeting calls when a receiver catches a pass, starts going down, ducks his head, and what would've been a perfect tackle to the body by a DB becomes contact to the head. Pure garbage.

This can't be overstated. Hell Young got tossed from the Big 12 title game because Stoops threw himself backwards trying to get extra yards. There needs to be targeting one and targeting two, that would solve a lot of the problems.

 

[Clonefan32]

I'm guessing there's been a switch in technique taught due to the targeting rules. You are seeing people ejected for using proper form and leading with a shoulder and getting a guy in the head. One common criticism of targeting rules when they first came out is that it would lead to more defenders going for legs, which for many offensive players is worse than the upper body.

The targeting called in the Auburn/PSU game has to be one of the worst I've seen. I get the rule but the whole thing has jumped the shark a bit and has placed an unfair onus on the defender to anticipate where there head/neck will wind up at full speed, while completely exculpating the offensive player from lowering their head or going to ground.

 

[AuH2O]

I'm guessing there's been a switch in technique taught due to the targeting rules. You are seeing people ejected for using proper form and leading with a shoulder and getting a guy in the head. One common criticism of targeting rules when they first came out is that it would lead to more defenders going for legs, which for many offensive players is worse than the upper body.

The targeting called in the Auburn/PSU game has to be one of the worst I've seen. I get the rule but the whole thing has jumped the shark a bit and has placed an unfair onus on the defender to anticipate where there head/neck will wind up at full speed, while completely exculpating the offensive player from lowering their head or going to ground.

Offensive players have zero responsibility in this, and cause a majority of the problems. And that says nothing about the dozens of times every game an offensive players leads with the crown of the helmet.

 

[isutrevman]

Agree that’s how they are taught. Still a bunch of defensive backs that just launch and dive at the knees without much wrapping up/chopping/twisting to complete the tackle.

I think a lot of has to do with a 190lb defensive back trying to tackle a 260 lbs tight end. Taking out their legs is the way to go. Tackling the "old" way will get them drug for another 4-5 yards or just steam rolled.

 

[isutrevman]

This can't be overstated. Hell Young got tossed from the Big 12 title game because Stoops threw himself backwards trying to get extra yards. There needs to be targeting one and targeting two, that would solve a lot of the problems.

In my opinion, the only targeting penalty should be to defenseless receivers. Once they make any move (take a step, duck, start to spin, etc...) they are no longer defenseless and should be fair game. Stoops was an active "runner" at the point trying to get extra yards, leading with his head no less. A runner does that at their own risk knowing they will likely get hit. What else was Young supposed to do in that instance? Let him get the extra yards? He didn't hit him with his helmet.

 

[VeloClone]

In my opinion, the only targeting penalty should be to defenseless receivers. Once they make any move (take a step, duck, start to spin, etc...) they are no longer defenseless and should be fair game. Stoops was an active "runner" at the point trying to get extra yards, leading with his head no less. A runner does that at their own risk knowing they will likely get hit. What else was Young supposed to do in that instance? Let him get the extra yards? He didn't hit him with his helmet.

I think there should still be targeting to defenseless QBs as well when they are forcibly hit in the head while throwing the ball. Incidental contact to the QB's head (or a ducked head in an effort to avoid a hit) should not be targeting.

 

[NickTheGreat]

I think the ballcarrier should get ejected for lowering/leading with this head. YOu see it all the time, where he drops his head into the defensive players head, and the defensive guy gets called targeting.

That and Targeting 1 and Targeting 2 would be a fair way to do it.