re: Someone explain "heads up" tackling to me.

quote:

---

Because it's a normal human instinct to lower your head when your about to get hit

---

No it isn't. Lowering your head is the result of players becoming essentially invulnerable due to their headgear making their faces so protected. Pre-facemask and even before that in the pre plastic shell helmet days you'd have guys get bloody noses and busted teeth, but NO ONE was getting their necks broken because no one lowered their head blindly like a fricking missile because it would be putting your face in harm's way...and getting your face busted up kind of hurts.

No facemask, and your point is the opposite. People don't lower their face into harm's way...unless they think it's not going to be. It's human nature to AVOID getting your face hit...unless you've learned over time it's not gonna get hit.

We've traded bloody noses and busted teeth for spinal injuries and brain trauma.

quote:

---

True. In the NFL, you rarely see good form tackling. I hardly ever see clean wrap ups anymore. It's like they try to hit you with no hand wrap-up and if you go down, fine, if not, well frick it. I see better tackling in pee wee, where I guess players get better coaching.

---

This is what gets me. We were always taught to keep our heads up and see what you're tackling (waist, belt buckle, etc.) and get your helmet on the ball. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but it's what I always remember.

In the last 20 years or so tackling has devolved into a bunch of spears and head shots. More about getting on Sportscenter and making the offensive guy your bitch by knocking them out than making a tackle. It's just a ghetto way of playing the game. Poor coaching at youth levels. Now we see all these rules trying to eliminate those kinds of hits but most players don't know any better anymore. It's hurt the game and added to the negative image that football has developed.

This is what we teach our fourth graders and it works well.

If your defensive players are getting trucked then they are to high.

Shoulder pads to thighs. Keep feet driving and the runner goes down.

Some of you older folks might remember LSU's Johnny Robinson who is in the NFL HOF. He did not tackle 'heads up' but he did not tackle with a hit from the crown of his helmet. If he was facing a large RB he tucked his chin to his collar bones and hit the guy low with the BACK of his helmet. He had a very long career in the NFL with no major injuries.

Sorry, it's not the NFL HOF but it should be:

LINK

quote:

---

Johnny Robinson deserves to have his bust in Canton, amongst his Chiefs teammates, Buck Buchanan, Bobby Bell, Willie Lanier, Emmitt Thomas, Len Dawson, Jan Stenerud, coach Hank Stram and owner Lamar Hunt.

---

And if you don't think my observations of his tackling are accurate, you can stick it up your arse.

Tackle progression drills are a good start to every practice. Teaches tackler everything from the toes being dug in all the way up to head placement. Emphasis is placed on dropping hips and exploding up and through the tackle.