Seattle Tackling vid gaining popularity

http://mmqb.si.com/2014/08/15/pete-carroll-seahawks-tackling-video/

“….The Seahawks refer to themselves as a “shoulder leverage tackling team.” Basically, they track the near hip of the ball carrier, and then lead with the near shoulder in the thigh of the ball carrier. They feel this helps take the head out of the equation. The basic tackle is the Hawk Tackle. The teaching points are: eyes through the thighs, wrap and squeeze, and then “drive for 5”—push the ball carrier back five yards when necessary.

Sound similar to rugby tackling? Carroll thought so too. There are several rugby highlights sprinkled in.

“I’ve always thought it’s an awesome game,” he said. “It’s the most natural game of football in that you don’t have pads on. I think we can make dramatic illustrations of how you can play the game without a helmet.”

The other tackle techniques taught in the video are tracking the ball carrier, the Hawk roll tackle (tackler rolls himself and the ball carrier after contact), the profile tackle (with an aiming point through the near pec), the strike zone against defenseless players (below the neck and above the knees) and the compression tackle (two defenders on either side of the ball carrier).

The shot heard ’round the Super-Bowl, the key first-quarter hit by Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor on Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas that set the tone for the Seahawks’ 43–8 rout, was shown on the video in the strike zone portion, but was also an example of a profile tackle.

“It’s a perfect example of utilizing the strike zone,” Carroll said. “The strike zone thought is something Rocky came up with that has really helped us. We have to avoid hitting players in the head and neck area. We don’t want to go below the knees either. It’s been a really cool addition because it makes sense.

“Kam Chancellor, who is one of the toughest and most physical players in the NFL, has taken the teachings to heart. [His tackling] demonstrates how you can maintain your physical play and still do it the right way, within the guidelines of the league. Really, they are the guidelines that all football should be following.”

The most surprising aspect of the video is that Carroll said they have learned to drill the techniques in-season and during the offseason, in pads or in shorts and a t-shirt. Tackling across the NFL has suffered in the three years since the NFL enacted its rule changes. The likely cause is that most coaches haven’t figured out a way to effectively drill tackling without pads. Judging by the Seahawks’ success on defense, it appears that Carroll has….see link

• This topic was modified 9 years, 9 months ago by wv.
• This topic was modified 9 years, 9 months ago by wv.