Watch that clip a couple times and you'll notice a few things. It was a big hit, and Shawn Williams came flying in. For a new LB recently converted from S, he had a good game, against much, much weaker competition. But if you keep watching, you'll notice an issue there, and it's an issue that's plagued this defense for a while. For comparisons' sake, view that big hit one more time, then view this one below.
There is a difference between the two tackles that makes Blue's a near perfect hit, and Williams' "tackle" very wrong. It's his arms. Blue explodes through the ball carrier, arms around them, wrapping them up and driving them in to the ground. Williams, just slams in to the guy, hoping he'd fall. And being Coastal, he falls. Now let's see Williams' "tackle" against a superior competitor that Coastal can put on the field...
See the problem?
I think the problem is not so much not wrapping up as it is not running through the ball carrier. Williams leaves his feet for no reason. That's not fundamentally sound & is something kids are taught not to do in peewee ball. If he runs through the ball carrier, he's much more likely to wrap up. Unfortunately, your typical NFL d-back is a poor tackler - so college & HS kids watch ESPN highlights & pick up bad habits.
ReplyDeleteBlue's tackles, OTOH, were beautiful to watch. Sound fundamentals combined with burning desire to inflict maximum punishment.. Dude scared guys on his own team when he was out there.
ReplyDeleteI've long felt Blue's hit is almost a textbook perfect tackle. Head up with his eyes on what he's hitting, sticking that head in to the middle of the man's chest, wrapping up and exploding through the man, slamming him to the ground. Flying missiles don't always work, and Isaiah Crowell had a carry in the game that helped illustrate the importance of wrapping up, when he swiveled and spun out of a hit on a 2 or 3 yard gain.
ReplyDeletethe defensive fundamentals have been a problem at uga for years now. wrapping up has never been stressed (at least from the perspective of a fan) and there is little or no punishment (natch) for this behavior, other than the team scoring and the dogs losing, which doesn't seem to bother enough people. and watching the boys in red jump and holler and slap each other after a big hit after an 18 yard completion is just miserable.
ReplyDeleteit was bad especially bad in the aids years (natch natch)...watching ellerbe, an amazing talent in so many respects, line up with his ass nearly touching the ground in a squat position was so painful. and even bvg was no darling of the fundamentals...you could see it last night if you watched the game. dunta ain't wrapping anyone up either.
Defensive Fundamentals are almost non-existent in college football anymore. While Blue's hit was phenomenal due to it's ferocity, the only way it's "solid form" is because the receiver didnt have the ball.....(which was not due to Greg Blue's hit, but probably due to his presence).
ReplyDeleteBlue's head was up. But good form is having it to the side of the player with arms wrapping up the LEGS, not the waist.
Herschel would have had even more yards running against today's tacklers. They're all taught improper technique. IMO.
Coach,
ReplyDeleteWhen you're coming straight at a guy, isn't it better technique to aim for the sternum with your eyes, instead of the side? I'd think if you tried to stick your head on the side, that would get you leaning in a direction where the ball carrier could more easily cut the other way and slide off or get mostly arm instead of the shoulder and more force/body of the tackler? And unless you are going low, isn't it hard to hit them in the chest and wrap their legs at the same time? I'm not a coach and never have been, so I love getting the opinions of those with more experience and expertise than myself.
And kp, Dunta is definitely becoming more of a flying missle than a tackler. I can guarantee he was taught better than that, and had pretty good form coming up. He was always a big hitter.
I love blogs about what equates to me tackling my sister. That team sucked, glad we have teams like that on our schedule. I am not excited about Shawn Williams at linebacker yet. I hope the cooler weather makes broken bones heal faster.
ReplyDeleteSanchez,
ReplyDeleteWe teach our guys to go low and come up through the player eyes up with helmet on the ball, trying to increase the chance of a fumble, wrapping the legs in the process.
Obviously, in the speed of the moment, no one expects it to be exact with every tackle, and as long as the ball carrier goes down, we're stoked. Williams tackle wasn't near as close to textbook as Blue's. And part of that also seemed to be that Williams had further to travel "through the air" before contact.
I guess I'm just old school. I want to see our guys going low, fast & hard. Let the teammates come along and finish off by punishing the upper body once the legs are strapped.
And I beg of you, never again show a video of Reshad trying to tackle.
ReplyDeleteI got mad all over again.
As a child raised by a football coach all I heard about (then and now) was the fundamental way to tackle.
ReplyDeleteHSC has nailed it. A hard hit involves the shoulder at the waist (lower would be better)of ball carrier with head up and to one side with arms wrapped around as if one hand is trying to grab your other wrist. You drive from the legs as that is where the power comes from. The best have the sense of timing that allows them to roll their hips under and then explode through impact.
It kills my dad to watch people lead with their head and not wrap up these days.
I don't know coach, low, head through the ball, wrap the legs and slam to the ground, Reshad had one that was pretty close to that, although dropping his head here would be an issue.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1su79vloRNg
That was much better than the bi-curiousness that took place at the Tech fiasco. He has had some good ones.
ReplyDeleteJust watched it again. That was a great tackle. GATA style.
ReplyDeleteIts a big problem and has been for a long time. I want to put a choke hold on these coaches sometimes! WTF and the problem is the next week they come out and do the same crap! Seeing Jones play S makes my blood boil and my skin crawl, that piece of Shiznit.
ReplyDelete