Poor tackling is not just

[Potosihog]

A razorback trait.  These NFL games today have had a ton of missed tackles.

[Hawgphish]

And can someone explain why holding is called on some plays and not on others....  Because there is clear evident holding on every every every play. 

[12247]

Those NFL teams also had bunches of great hitting, blocking, super catches, great throws and lines doing a great job for most of the game on both sides of the ball.

[(notOM)Rebel123]

Those NFL teams also had bunches of great hitting, blocking, super catches, great throws and lines doing a great job for most of the game on both sides of the ball.

Agree. The guys carrying the ball are pretty good at breaking tackles.

[26.2Hog]

A razorback trait.  These NFL games today have had a ton of missed tackles.

So you're saying we have an NFL caliber defense?   

[Pig in the Pokey]

And can someone explain why holding is called on some plays and not on others....  Because there is clear evident holding on every every every play.

the mob/Vegas

[rzrbackramsfan]

A razorback trait.  These NFL games today have had a ton of missed tackles.

NFL defenses miss wayyyy fewer tackles than college, they're closing speed is insane too.

[MissippHog]

And can someone explain why holding is called on some plays and not on others....  Because there is clear evident holding on every every every play.

Or why is targeting called sometimes but not others.  There were several instances where targeting (by it's definition) could have been called in yesterday's and today's games.

[hogman99]

Or why is targeting called sometimes but not others.  There were several instances where targeting (by it's definition) could have been called in yesterday's and today's games.

As one famous coach said a few years back (I'm paraphrasing) "They go so fast and it messes you up"

[12247]

At the speed of the game, it is likely that many penalties are missed on every play.  I believe the refs using holding on the line either offensive or defensive could be called on every play.  I think the refs use those positions to equal out the game or maybe to assist their favorite team.

[hogginbama]

So you're saying we have an NFL caliber defense?   

We could lead the NFL in missed tackles if they would just let us in the league.

[FANONTHEHILL]

Poor tackling is everywhere.  There are so many theories and reasons.  For what it's worth, I see three main things that have had an impact on tackling in recent years.

1)  With all of the concussion questions and limiting contact in practice, the live tackling drills have been greatly reduced.  If you don't practice it, you don't do it in live play.  That contributes to #2.

2)  Hard contact, primarily to the upper body is penalized.  Half of what we were taught a generation ago is illegal now.  The kids are shown video after video of what will get them ejected.  You also run into objectivity issues with officiating crews.  Targeting this week may not be targeting next week.  The inconsistency makes teaching tackling a greater challenge.

3) I know people don't like to hear it, but 7 on 7 hurts defensive fundamental football in regard to tackling.  I will give you that it helps reading routes and braking on the ball, but I'm a big believer in repetition and muscle memory.   If a player spends every summer in high school doing nothing more than putting a hand on a receiver that catches the ball, it's hard to train your body to hit with a shoulder and wrap up.  Why aren't there enough reps to break these bad habits, see #1. 

I fully understand all the rules in place to protect the players, but those rules combined the so many rules geared toward the offense make playing LB or in the secondary much more difficult than they used to be.

[Potosihog]

Poor tackling is everywhere.  There are so many theories and reasons.  For what it's worth, I see three main things that have had an impact on tackling in recent years.

1)  With all of the concussion questions and limiting contact in practice, the live tackling drills have been greatly reduced.  If you don't practice it, you don't do it in live play.  That contributes to #2.

2)  Hard contact, primarily to the upper body is penalized.  Half of what we were taught a generation ago is illegal now.  The kids are shown video after video of what will get them ejected.  You also run into objectivity issues with officiating crews.  Targeting this week may not be targeting next week.  The inconsistency makes teaching tackling a greater challenge.

3) I know people don't like to hear it, but 7 on 7 hurts defensive fundamental football in regard to tackling.  I will give you that it helps reading routes and braking on the ball, but I'm a big believer in repetition and muscle memory.   If a player spends every summer in high school doing nothing more than putting a hand on a receiver that catches the ball, it's hard to train your body to hit with a shoulder and wrap up.  Why aren't there enough reps to break these bad habits, see #1. 

I fully understand all the rules in place to protect the players, but those rules combined the so many rules geared toward the offense make playing LB or in the secondary much more difficult than they used to be.

Great insight. 👍

[DeltaBoy]

Poor tackling is everywhere.  There are so many theories and reasons.  For what it's worth, I see three main things that have had an impact on tackling in recent years.

1)  With all of the concussion questions and limiting contact in practice, the live tackling drills have been greatly reduced.  If you don't practice it, you don't do it in live play.  That contributes to #2.

2)  Hard contact, primarily to the upper body is penalized.  Half of what we were taught a generation ago is illegal now.  The kids are shown video after video of what will get them ejected.  You also run into objectivity issues with officiating crews.  Targeting this week may not be targeting next week.  The inconsistency makes teaching tackling a greater challenge.

3) I know people don't like to hear it, but 7 on 7 hurts defensive fundamental football in regard to tackling.  I will give you that it helps reading routes and braking on the ball, but I'm a big believer in repetition and muscle memory.   If a player spends every summer in high school doing nothing more than putting a hand on a receiver that catches the ball, it's hard to train your body to hit with a shoulder and wrap up.  Why aren't there enough reps to break these bad habits, see #1. 

I fully understand all the rules in place to protect the players, but those rules combined the so many rules geared toward the offense make playing LB or in the secondary much more difficult than they used to be.

I agree 100% we need more tackling drills.

[Cinco de Hogo]

We could lead the NFL in missed tackles if they would just let us in the league.

More money, winning be danged! Let do it!

[al_pigcino]

I don't understand why you can't have year round sports.  Football should be practiced all year long. 

[hogsanity]

I don't understand why you can't have year round sports.  Football should be practiced all year long. 

Well, pro athletes, in whatever sport, usually do workout year round.

As far as scholastically ( ages 7-18 ) how would you do year round? What if a kid wants to play more than one sport? How could the football team practice every day if kids were also playing basketball or baseball or running track?

One of the biggest issue I see with tackling is that kids are not taught how to tackle properly at a young age. Football, above all other sports, is the toughest for volunteer coaches to do a really good job of proper technique teaching.  All alot of them want to do, at least around here, is find the fastest kid and give him the ball, and on defense find the fastest kid and tell him to go get the ball.

[al_pigcino]

Well, pro athletes, in whatever sport, usually do workout year round.

As far as scholastically ( ages 7-18 ) how would you do year round? What if a kid wants to play more than one sport? How could the football team practice every day if kids were also playing basketball or baseball or running track?

One of the biggest issue I see with tackling is that kids are not taught how to tackle properly at a young age. Football, above all other sports, is the toughest for volunteer coaches to do a really good job of proper technique teaching.  All alot of them want to do, at least around here, is find the fastest kid and give him the ball, and on defense find the fastest kid and tell him to go get the ball.

You could still play other sports (pro athletes do).  Not every kid is a 3 sport person.  I knew lots of people who only wanted to play baseball/football/basketball.  Let them do it all year long.  You can still give them the summer off.  What's wrong with January - May having football practice?  What's wrong with August baseball? 

[hogsanity]

You could still play other sports (pro athletes do).  Not every kid is a 3 sport person.  I knew lots of people who only wanted to play baseball/football/basketball.  Let them do it all year long.  You can still give them the summer off.  What's wrong with January - May having football practice?  What's wrong with August baseball? 

I, personally, do not think there is anything wrong with it. The issue is though, and this is true especially in classes 5a-2a, almost all the football kids are also your basketball team and your baseball team. I ref all 3 major sports and I see the same kids on Friday nights in Nov, Tuesdays and Fridays in January, and on afternoons in March and April.  So, do the kids that want to play multiple sports fall behind those that do not? Do the coaches begin to pressure kids not to play one of the other sports so they can have them for football practice?

[DeltaBoy]

I, personally, do not think there is anything wrong with it. The issue is though, and this is true especially in classes 5a-2a, almost all the football kids are also your basketball team and your baseball team. I ref all 3 major sports and I see the same kids on Friday nights in Nov, Tuesdays and Fridays in January, and on afternoons in March and April.  So, do the kids that want to play multiple sports fall behind those that do not? Do the coaches begin to pressure kids not to play one of the other sports so they can have them for football practice?

True at my HS we have about 25 kids boys and girls that do all the sports.