Tackling technique?

[Ruthinking]

A while back coach Ash mentioned the change in the way the staff teaches tackling. I missed the discussion. Can someone please explain what the new technique is and exactly what is different about it? (I'm hoping to understand the difference before tomorrow's game). Thanks in advance!

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

Sure read this: http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...gby-style-tackle-is-changing-college-football

Make sure to watch the videos.

 

[IMARUFAN]

Here's Pete Carroll explaining Rugby Tackling. Certainly seems to work pretty well for the Seahawks:

 

[brodo]

Here's Coach Ash explaining the implementation of rugby tackling while at Ohio State:

 

[Knight Shift]

According to today's article by Dunleavy, it could have a bigger impact than the change to the spread offense for RU:
http://www.app.com/story/sports/col...ugby-tackling-change-spread-offense/83354686/
“With the rugby-style tackling, you want your face cheek-to-cheek and you want to kill the engine, which is basically wrapping the thighs and stopping the legs,” defensive tackle Darius Hamilton said.

“We’ve been in a position before where we’ve tackled too high and that’s been a reason for a lot of missed tackles. And over-running things, sometimes what happens when you bite the ball is you get on a weird angle, they cut it back and it’s a gain of a lot of yards.”

 

[Dpgru]

According to today's article by Dunleavy, it could have a bigger impact than the change to the spread offense for RU:
http://www.app.com/story/sports/col...ugby-tackling-change-spread-offense/83354686/
“With the rugby-style tackling, you want your face cheek-to-cheek and you want to kill the engine, which is basically wrapping the thighs and stopping the legs,” defensive tackle Darius Hamilton said

“We’ve been in a position before where we’ve tackled too high and that’s been a reason for a lot of missed tackles. And over-running things, sometimes what happens when you bite the ball is you get on a weird angle, they cut it back and it’s a gain of a
lot of yards.”

It is also supposed to be safer because it takes a lot of pressure (in theory anyway, I am not aware of any statistical evidence although there may be some) off of the neck and head. Hopefully that is true. Anything that reduces injuries helps the game at all levels.

 

[herdof3]

We have had very poor tackling over the last several years at least. This really isn't revolutionary - Any youth football coach worth anything preaches this tackling technique. But it takes effort to get low and when kids get older the Big hit mentality takes over. Having the guts to enforce it is the key...if you don't tackle my way...you don't play

 

[Divine Providence]

We have had very poor tackling over the last several years at least. This really isn't revolutionary - Any youth football coach worth anything preaches this tackling technique. But it takes effort to get low and when kids get older the Big hit mentality takes over. Having the guts to enforce it is the key...if you don't tackle my way...you don't play

Actually, it's totally revolutionary, "Face Cheek to the Butt Cheek" means head to the rear, not head across the bow of the ball carrier as kids have been taught since they started playing Football. It's safer because it takes the head out of tackling but entails the learning of a totally different concept. Don't be surprised if you see some missed tackles tomorrow night as some kids are adjusting to the new technique. We will get better and better and will be fine by the season opener. Rugby Tackling is the technique that everybody is going to,

 

[vkj91]

We have had very poor tackling over the last several years at least. This really isn't revolutionary - Any youth football coach worth anything preaches this tackling technique. But it takes effort to get low and when kids get older the Big hit mentality takes over. Having the guts to enforce it is the key...if you don't tackle my way...you don't play

I think you are mistaken. I'd bet that virtually zero youth football coaches teach this. I brought it up at a youth meeting in my town and 99% of the coaches had never even heard of it much less taught it.

 

[Dpgru]

I am really going to date myself here but as a kid who started playing what we called "rough tackle" as opposed to touch tackle football our equipment was helmets with no face mask or maybe one bar across the mouth area and shoulder pads that were really nothing more that felt covered with plastic we were all taught to tackle with the head to the side and shoulders to the legs. RBs were taught to run with high knees to make it hard for the defender to get at their legs. It wasn't called rugby style we were just told to "wrap them up". The equipment was for protection as opposed to today's equipment which doubles as weaponry. Maybe there will be a shift back to this type of tackling for safety reasons. Back then if anyone suggested using your head in tackling would have been considered an idiot.

 

[vkj91]

I am really going to date myself here but as a kid who started playing what we called "rough tackle" as opposed to touch tackle football our equipment was helmets with no face mask or maybe one bar across the mouth area and shoulder pads that were really nothing more that felt covered with plastic we were all taught to tackle with the head to the side and shoulders to the legs. RBs were taught to run with high knees to make it hard for the defender to get at their legs. It wasn't called rugby style we were just told to "wrap them up". The equipment was for protection as opposed to today's equipment which doubles as weaponry. Maybe there will be a shift back to this type of tackling for safety reasons. Back then if anyone suggested using your head in tackling would have been considered an idiot.

I think many are missing the actual point here. On of the main differences in "Rugby" style tackling vs what we were all taught is the placement of the head. Forever, we were all taught to get our head in front(when scraping from the side) in order to stop momentum. Now, they are being taught to put the head behind in a cheek to cheek fashion. Also, as opposed to running through the man the object is basically to "sit and roll" in an attempt to pull the runner down. While "head on" tackling still has many of the techniques we were taught there are some subtle differences especially regarding head placement.

 

[miketd1]

In other words, folks are starting to realize that using the head as an additional surface to tackle someone with could lead to brain/head/neck injuries.