I've watched a lot of high school games over the past few years. I have noticed a lot teams with poor tackling. Lunging at ball carriers or going for the knock out blow. Has the emphasis on defending the pass as much the run in practice exposed poor tackling techniques in players or has it caused it?

 

What I mean is, back in the day (and for anybody born before me, if you can remember high school you should count your blessings on having your mental health at your advanced ages) we prepared for games against predominantly ground based offenses. Not only were we doing tackling circuits, but in "Team" we were shedding the blocks of scout linemen to get to the ball carrier. We hit all of the time.

 

As the game has evolved, there is less hitting in practice. Technique is lost because of lack of repetition. As offenses have spread out, athletes have been given more and more space and angles to make plays with the ball. As a result, tackles are being missed all over the field. Are more tackles being missed because of the evolution of the game and players are just not able to break down and make the tackle due to the space they have to defend, or is it just exposing the fact that teams don't give enough reps to tackling?

I've watched a lot of high school games over the past few years. I have noticed a lot teams with poor tackling. Lunging at ball carriers or going for the knock out blow. Has the emphasis on defending the pass as much the run in practice exposed poor tackling techniques in players or has it caused it?

 

What I mean is, back in the day (and for anybody born before me, if you can remember high school you should count your blessings on having your mental health at your advanced ages) we prepared for games against predominantly ground based offenses. Not only were we doing tackling circuits, but in "Team" we were shedding the blocks of scout linemen to get to the ball carrier. We hit all of the time.

 

As the game has evolved, there is less hitting in practice. Technique is lost because of lack of repetition. As offenses have spread out, athletes have been given more and more space and angles to make plays with the ball. As a result, tackles are being missed all over the field. Are more tackles being missed because of the evolution of the game and players are just not able to break down and make the tackle due to the space they have to defend, or is it just exposing the fact that teams don't give enough reps to tackling?

 

Both....It amazes me the lack of tackling drills high school teams do...They are so scared of getting kids hurt..

I'd say a little of both but more because of the spread offense. Tackling a good athlete one on one is difficult even with good technique which is why I think the offense is successful. Instead of having to deal with multiple defenders and rely on blocks and broken tackles to get to open space with the spread you are giving them that open space very quickly in a one on one situation.

I believe the perception of poor tackling has something to do with the evolution of the modern skill player. In many elite players now, the footwork is so good , that even correctly formed tacklers are made to look bad!

I believe the perception of poor tackling has something to do with the evolution of the modern skill player. In many elite players now, the footwork is so good , that even correctly formed tacklers are made to look bad!

 

Right, but shouldn't defensive players improve as well?

Right, but shouldn't defensive players improve as well?

 

There are some players I have seen that simply could not be tackled one on one in the open field (Elliot, Simpson and Morgan are in this class IMO). Some teams still reserve their elite athletes for offense.

"Arm Tackling" is an epidemic and it needs to be stopped.. I have seen several high school games this season, and the tackling is flat out awful. I agree there is very little hitting at practices, probably due to all of the concussion talks on ESPN, and, trying to keep kids from getting hurt at practice. Trying to keep kids from being hurt in practive is going to cause them to get hurt in a game. If they are not taught to tackle properly, they will not be able to execute properly. I think the lack of tackling drills and "full go" practices will, in the end, lead to more injuries on Friday nights. Just my two cents..

"Arm Tackling" is an epidemic and it needs to be stopped.. I have seen several high school games this season, and the tackling is flat out awful. I agree there is very little hitting at practices, probably due to all of the concussion talks on ESPN, and, trying to keep kids from getting hurt at practice. Trying to keep kids from being hurt in practive is going to cause them to get hurt in a game. If they are not taught to tackle properly, they will not be able to execute properly. I think the lack of tackling drills and "full go" practices will, in the end, lead to more injuries on Friday nights. Just my two cents..

 

Kids learn arm tackling in youth football and don't really unlearn it high school.

Kids learn arm tackling in youth football and don't really unlearn it high school.

 

We teach kids at the 7/8th level in Ft Thomas to play behind your pads. If a kid is still trying to arm tackle after he leaves us, then maybe just maybe he is not fit for that contact sport. IMO!!

Kids learn arm tackling in youth football and don't really unlearn it high school.

 

It's tough to unlearn something, if it's not drilled over and over in practices.

We teach kids at the 7/8th level in Ft Thomas to play behind your pads. If a kid is still trying to arm tackle after he leaves us, then maybe just maybe he is not fit for that contact sport. IMO!!

 

We taught them at the 3rd and 4th grade level. Funny thing is, they didn't pick it up until we started doing the pursuit drill. Then all of a sudden they were taking proper angles and getting to the ball with hips back and heads up. Didn't make sense.

This is a great thread and I think I agree with just about everything, everyone has said

The ability to tackle well is directly tied to the ability of a player to get to the spot on the ground necessary to tackle the defender. If a player is quick, fast, reads/reacts well, he is going to be a better tackler and that will have more bearing on his success than how perfect his technique happens to be. Form tackle/technique drill work does help and is critical in keeping kids safe, but you have to get there first before any of that happens.

 

In looking at some old HS football pics, I saw a lot of arm tackles. Some were because a play fake got a defender in poor position. Some because a fast ball carrier had the ball and it was all the slow defender(myself)could do to get a hand on them and then try to hold on! If you are slow and in open field, an arm tackle is success if you can hold on!

 

If a player wants to tackle better, get faster, be great with reads/reactions, and watch a ton of video so you recognize what is happening sooner and then can play faster. I've seen 5.1 40s play at 4.8 because of their effort and preparation.

 

Sometimes I think Ashland's LBs are 4.7s and playing at 4.5. Those guys get to the ball!

I think that most teams in the state still have kids that play both ways.You spend a lot of time installing a finesse offense it takes time away from the defense and then you ask those same kids to be aggressive and to hit somebody.I think that is one of the problems.

This is a great thread and I think I agree with just about everything, everyone has said

 

Me too, all of these points are valid.