Serious Question: Someone Explain Modern Tackling To Me?

F

Flood

Special Teams Player
This is intended to be dead serious, not sarcastic, and I would appreciate real, thoughtful replies.

In the past, a decade ago or more, I suppose, tackling usually involved grabbing a guy with both arms and dragging him down. During this process, you might or might not hit him hard with your shoulders or body. But, you used BOTH ARMS in the process. Sort of like using arms as a lasso I guess.

The last couple seasons, I have noticed a change in this technique. Not just among Husker players, but among a LOT of teams. This new technique seems to be more about hitting someone as hard as you can, using just your shoulder pads. The arms seem to not really play a part. So, I guess, they think hitting someone hard enough with the shoulder pads should bring them down. But so many good players just spin away from these new style tackles.

What has caused this? Is there a change in the rules I am unaware of? A change in philosophy? Are the kids tackling the way they "imagine" it is done in the NFL or in a video game, with the real, underlying goal, for the player to make Sportscenter with a BIG HIT?

I am genuinely curious, if anyone has insight. This has puzzled me greatly. And while it was quite obvious in today's disappointing game, it looks like a change that is occurring in many or even most teams.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Flood

 
I'm with you. Tackling means tackling below the waist. not up high. I screamed it the entire game.

 
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I think right now we're seeing a generational issue with mindset on tackling in which this generation of players were brought up and developed in an era that glorified the "big hits" Kind of like that deal with the NFL promoting that big hits that are now seen as detrimental. Listening to ESPN radio like I do everyday, I hear guys like Herm Edwards and Trent Dilfer and Mike Golic share this theory, and that the only thing that will fix is attrition by time.

 
I think our problems with tackling is not tackling in practice but rather just "wrapping up". On Saturdays you will come out and play like you practice. Only way to fix tackling is to actually tackle.

 
Usually I just press X and run into the guy when I tackle on my PS3, same thing right? The guys are just not pressing X, problem solved!

 
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huskermike84 said:
Usually I just press X and run into the guy when I tackle on my PS3, same thing right? The guys are just not pressing X, problem solved!
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I usually press on the left stick of my playstation controller for a big hit. works often.

 
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iowahuskers said:
huskermike84 said:
Usually I just press X and run into the guy when I tackle on my PS3, same thing right? The guys are just not pressing X, problem solved!
Click to expand...
I usually press on the left stick for a big hit. works often.
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True, but for the PS3 challenged fans on this board I went with X. Saying "press on the left stick" is leaving me open to remarks from some of the witty vultures on here

 
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Eric the Red said:
I was taught and taught players to watch the waist. Is this incorrect?
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Yep - you're absolutely right. My coaches always said 'check the hips.' You watch the hips and that's what you aim for with your body. If you watch the upper body you make yourself susceptible to a bad juke or spin move.

 
Tackling used to be all about wrapping up in the mid-section. No high or low hits, but solid fundamentals. They still teach that at the Pop Warner level and at the high school level. But, if you watch the NFL, the tackling mechanics are terrible. They are going for the "big" hits to make a statement. There were a lot of these hits this past weekend, and sometimes, the ball carrier just bounced right off and kept running. Unfortunately, a lot of kids emulate the NFL and good fundamentals go out the window. I also think that the lack of fundamentals leads to a lot of the injuries that are seen every week.

 
Sorry, I am unqualified to answer your question. I only watch Husker games and therefore I know nothing about how tackling is or should be accomplished.

I apologize- I know you said you wanted serious answers but I couldn't resist.

 
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