By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Twitter: @MikekKuchar

Introduction

In recent years, tackling has shifted more into a science than a fundamental. As evidenced by various methodologies (the Seattle Seahawk Tackling progression and Heads Up Football) have strived to take the head out of tackling, coaches are continuously trying to find methods to both help their players become more efficient tacklers and protect them from injury.

When conducting our initial research on this topic, we struggled with our focus. We wanted to provide our coaches with answers (mainly in the form of drill work) to correct the most problematic issues their players were having in tackling, such as keeping the head up, driving through the tackle, keeping proper leverage, etc. However, as we started the interview process with our contributors, we found that there was a pocket of coaches who have developed their own “tackling system” to fit the needs of their players and the circumstances in which these tackles are made. So rather than rollout a drill catalog of 100+ random tackling drills (many of which can be considered to be outdated), we wanted to provide coaches with a framework of a system that helps them create and develop the drill work which reinforces the proper tackling techniques and helps their defenders fix the most common errors in tackling. We’ve found that your system can be established in the following ways:

• Studying each opponents’ offensive system to assess which types of tackling situations your defenders may be involved in. This has a lot to do with the personnel of your opponent. For example, are they based in spread sets where open field tackling may be more inherent or are they more heavily grounded in 12, 22 personnel based as an inside the box run team?
• Studying opponents’ offensive personnel to assess which kinds of tackling situations you believe your defenders will encounter during the season. This can be done by reviewing prior game film from other opponents.
• Studying your own personnel to evaluate which types of tackles (either based on scenarios or fundamentals) they are missing and take corrective actions to fix these problems.

In case one, we present a series of questions that we geared to our contributors which focus specifically on which elements they use to develop their system, how they identify either scenario based of fundamental based tackling errors and how much in-season practice time is devoted to correcting these tackling issues. Below is a key of the coaches that contributed to this study:

Contributor Key (in Alphabetical Order):

Joey Didier (JD): Defensive Coordinator, University of St. Francis (IN)

Vincent DiGaetano (VD): Defensive Analyst, Wagner University (NY)

Matt Entz (ME): Defensive Coordinator, North Dakota State University

Chris Kappas (CK): Defensive Coordinator, Mount Union University (OH)

Jamie Marshall (JM): Defensive Line Coach, Lindenwood University (MO)

Matt McLagan (MM): Defensive Coordinator, Northern State University (SD)

Jay Niemann (JN): Defensive Coordinator, Rutgers University

Mike Siravo (MS): Defensive Coordinator, Temple University

Eric Schmidt (ES): Defensive Coordinator, North Dakota University

Why is it important to have a “tackling system,” rather than a series of drills in teaching tackling to your players?

JD: “Tackling is the cornerstone of defensive football. There is no schematic answer to your players not being able to bring down an opponent’s ball carrier. Having a tackling system is important for three reasons: 

1: It creates teaching consistency among your defensive staff. 

2: It carries over to all positions and can be applied to all situations.   

3: It creates focus and buy-in with your players as to why tackling will help them be successful, and most importantly keep them safe.”

VG: “Three reasons I believe:

1: Develops common language among players and coaches.

2: It allows for drill work to focus on different segments of tackling consistent with system.

By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Twitter: @MikekKuchar

Introduction

We’ll start with perhaps the most common error in any open-field tackling situations: incorrect body placement. It seems to be the number one issue during the approach of a ball carrier.  So whether you’re teaching the shimmy technique, the break down technique or the long stride/short stride technique, it’s imperative to address how you want to make sure your defenders essentially come in at ball level.

It was Rutgers University head coach Chris Ash that told us he studied film on how tackles were made, not missed, before developing his system. Below is a tutorial from North Dakota University on tackles made with proper body placement.

By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Twitter: @MikekKuchar

Introduction

Once the proper body positioning is taught in the open field, it becomes necessary for defenders to use the proper leverage points to make a tackle. Commonly referred to as “tracking” the ball carrier, we’ve found that leverage seems to be the most referred to word in teaching tackling and various coaches teach leverage are examined in this case. Leverage can pertain to both the area of the field (sideline, force or cutback) and it can also pertain to the leverage the defender has on the ball carrier (inside out, head up or outside in).

It was Rutgers University head coach Chris Ash that told us he studied film on how tackles were made, not missed, before developing his system. Below is a tutorial from Northern State University on both force tackle situations and cutback tackle situations.

Below is a tutorial on force tackle situations from Northern State University:

By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Twitter: @MikekKuchar

Explanation

Most commonly referred to as “losing the cup” losing multiple defender leverage points on a ball carrier are another common issue in tackling. What should usually result in an immediate tackling situation can turn into a substantial gain if one or more of those defenders lose leverage. While this all may depend on coverage structure, it’s essential that defenders know and understand which responsibility they have in each run situation.

It was Rutgers University head coach Chris Ash that told us he studied film on how tackles were made, not missed, before developing his system. Below is a tutorial from Northern State University on what it calls “Vice” tackle, where three defenders converge on a ball carrier.

By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Twitter: @MikekKuchar

Explanation

Once the approach mastered and the proper leverage is attained, the defender needs to “finish” on the ball carrier by bringing him down to the ground. How coaches implement this fundamental in their system varies. Some use mats, some use agile bags and some use bodies. Below are the specific drills that teach this phase of tackling.

What we found most common is coaches teaching a “near leg, near shoulder” contact point on the tackle. It has become imperative for defenders to get that lead foot in the ground before making contact. For example, if a defender is making contact with his left shoulder, his left foot should be in the ground and vice versa.

It was Rutgers University head coach Chris Ash that told us he studied film on how tackles were made, not missed, before developing his system. Below is a tutorial from North Dakota University on tackles were made with the near leg, near shoulder contact points.

By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Twitter: @MikekKuchar

Introduction

Back in 2014 the Seattle Seahawk Rugby tackling video went viral sending hundreds of coaches to reconsider how they were teaching tackling. One of these coaches was Chris Ash, the former Ohio State University co-defensive coordinator who is now the head coach at Rutgers University. According to Coach Ash, when he first viewed the Seahawk tackling video, he simply took he drills he viewed (along with googling ‘rugby tacking’ on the internet) and directly implemented these drills. It was all he knew how to do.

But now two years later, Atavus (http://www.atavus.com)- the Seattle based company that was behind that Seahawk drill tape- has put together a system on how you can design and implement the rugby tackling system in your program. XandOLabs.com spent a weekend in Philadelphia with the Atavus crew as they clinicked us on how they are developing their system to suit the needs of football coaches. Below is a sneak peek on some of the newer progressions they are designing this off-season as it pertains to transitioning rugby style tackling to the game of football.

Two-Step Process

In Atavus’ teaching progression, tackling takes a form of a two-step process: a tracking zone and a tackling zone. The definition of these two are below:

Tracking Zone- Pre-contact phase used to maximize potential contact. It’s defined as a controlled movement phase.

Tackling Zone- Contact phase where the goal is to maximize power and control over the ball carrier.

According to Rex Norris, head of football development at Atavus, when these two measures are combined it creates a positive tackling situation.

Tracking Phase

In the tracking zone, the goal is to close space on the ball carrier and limit his options. “This is about identifying the target and starting the correct pursuit angles by being continuously under control,” said Coach Norris. According to Coach Norris, there are three phases to the pre-contact zone:

By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Twitter: @MikekKuchar

Introduction

Football is a game of short bursts and shorter words, so in this case we wanted to provide coaches with the specific verbiage our contributors are using to teach tackling. While some of these words may be familiar, there are different ways to say the same thing to your players and a coach never knows which words will stick. We asked our coaches the following question:

Which common buzzwords do you use to teach tackling with your players?

Mount Union University Buzzword Catalog (Chris Kappas, Defensive Coordinator)

Full Speed as Long as Possible: “We talk about going full speed as long as you can to close out the space (between you and the ball carrier). You can’t give defenders a landmark because it’s a feel thing. It’s not three yards, etc. The goal is to get that near foot shimmy to step on that ball carrier’s toes. You have to break down close enough where he can make moves but you need to be far enough where he can’t run straight through you if you miss the arm tackle.”

Lindenwood University Buzzword Catalog (Jamie Marshall, Defensive Line Coach)- Rugby Style Emphasis

Tracking the Near Thigh: “We talk about tracking the near thigh (instead of the near hip) because as you track the ball carrier the near thigh always tells you where the receiver or the ball carrier is going. Your eyes can get lost if it’s up on the hip because that can lead to the belly button. We went to the near thigh. Wherever your eyes are looking your body is going to take you. We talk eyes to the thigh, wrap and squeeze. You can’t look at the hip if you’re asked to contact the thigh.”

Shoulders Through Thighs: This pertains to the finish component of the roll tackle where a defender’s shoulders makes contact with the ball carriers thighs.

Run or Roll: This pertains to the decision that the defender makes post contact on whether or not to run through the tackle or roll through the tackle.

North Dakota State University Buzzword Catalog (Matt Entz, Defensive Coordinator)

Hit Up Position: “We don’t use the phrase coming to balance because I think it brings out some different thought processes for kids. If I just said ‘be careful to keep your balance,’ the general player will widen his feet and drop his center of gravity where his footwork is outside of his frame. Now if that ball carrier changes direction I’m going to have to step underneath myself to recover. What we talk a lot about is getting to a hit up position where my feet are under my armpits.”