Designing Tackling Systems – Case 2: Reinforcing Proper Body Placement in Open Field Tackling

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.