Today’s tackling in football is much different than what I learned. Back in the day I seem to remember being told to plant helmet in belt buckle, wrap up and drive into the ground or if all else fails, shoot for the legs.
Today’s tackling seems to consist of 1) delivering a shot to the numbers or head and hoping someone is behind you to actually bring the guy down or 2) grab and try to strip the ball.
Tackle #1 works well if the guy doesn’t see you coming or if you have help behind you (gang tackling). Tackle #1 does not work well if the guy sees you coming. You tend to bounce off and look really bad. However, if you catch the guy off guard and deliver a big blow you make the highlight reel and that’s what it all about now.
Tackle #2 seems to allow the runner to get 2-3 more yards because the tackler doesn’t wrap up. I wonder how many extra yards are yielded over the course of the year due to #2. If you do get the strip 1/50 tackles then you make the highlight reel.
Is this all about the show now or is this really a more effective way of tackling?
I could be wrong, but the change in the speed of the game probably has a lot to do with tackling style, if there is an actual difference between now and the 1940s when you played pee-wee football.
There is a high priority on stripping the ball now, which I’m guessing is probably a relatively new focus. The rest of your observations may not be entirely accurate. Solid defensive teams employ the best possible technique, and what you described doesn’t strike me as good technique.
I agree with you–the explosiveness and size of the guys makes it a different ballgame. football is less smashy than it used to be, it’s all about speed.
We had leather helmets when I played so you couldn’t lead with your head.
While you are attempting to strip, the guys is rumbling for another 5 yards. Doesn’t seem like the occasional strip is worth the extra yards yielded but I’m sure they keep some stats on this that say otherwise.
**The rest of your observations may not be entirely accurate. Solid defensive teams employ the best possible technique, and what you described doesn’t strike me as good technique. **
He’s apparently been watching the Eagles all season. Very honestly the worst tackling team I’ve seen.
I strongly suspect there are moneyball style statistics that support
the idea that stripping the ball is important enough that it is worth losing a couple
of yard per tackle. When a whole team is systematically trying to strip the
ball, that comes from the coaching staff, not each player trying to get on
the highlight reel. I also think hitting receivers high is largely about trying
to “separate” them from the ball. Again, I would guess that someone has
figured out that the statistics on the chance of a tackling high to prevent a
reception are favorable against the increased chance of a missed tackle.
Not to say that there isn’t plenty of highlight reel stupidity going on, but I don’t
think tackling technique qualifies.
Examples of both types you described in yesterdays Pats-Steelers game. Pats fell more into type #2 where all game long they had trouble bringing guys down, leading to extra yards as a result. Type #1 most prevalent on Troy Polamalu’s airborne head-twisting takedown of Wes Welker late in the game. Surprised there was no flag and that Welker wasn’t seriously hurt. Wouldn’t be surprised if Troy has to write a check to the league this week (same with Ryan Clark for the helmet shot on Gronkowski as he was out of bounds).
when i played highschool football as a kid (mid-90’s) we were definitely not allowed to go in head-first. ‘spearing’ was a penalty. we were taught to go in low, put a shoulder squarely in the gut.
Champ Bailey is the guy to watch for open field tackling. I am amazed at his ability to easily bring down dudes much larger than himself with apparent ease.