Remember what I said the last day or so about bias and DC Paul Rhoads not getting any benefit of the doubt from me. Well, this article about tackling and technique nearly killed me. It’s a good article that has a lot of different coaches offering perspectives. Considering for the last 4-5 years the common mantra I’ve been screaming at the Pitt defense is along the lines of “tackle, don’t just hit,” reading any comment from Rhoads was going to set me off.
Pitt defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads emphasizes the need to finish plays with your feet, with the concept being a defender should come close enough to step on a ball-carrier’s feet.
“Pretty much the thing we emphasize is take the extra step,” Pitt senior safety Mike Phillips said. “They want you to step on his toes. People think they’re there, but they’re not and they have to arm tackle. The great running backs like (Rutgers running back) Ray Rice and (West Virginia’s) Steve Slaton break those arm tackles.”
Rhoads also preaches to keep those feet moving once a defender has made contact, in order to gain leverage and drive the ball-carrier back. His mantra is for defenders to make the hit with your head high and eyes to the sky.
“If you think you’ve got him and your feet stop, you’re not going to make that tackle because you’ve just got him with your arms and hands,” Rhoads said. “You can’t tackle that way. If your eyes drop and you don’t see your target, you’re not going to tackle him.”
Then, clearly, Paul Rhoads is a lousy effin’ teacher. The final quote of the article sums up the issue.
“I think tackling is a skill that’s taught,” said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, an Upper St. Clair native. “Certainly, intangibles can help you. But tackling’s like blocking, you don’t just fall out of bed and do it. You have to work at it.”
In the time that Rhoads has been DC, the fundamentals of tackling have just never been there. He may be conveying all the passion and energy to the players. But how to tackle hasn’t been there.
