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August 12, 2007

Fundamental Tackle

Filed under: Coaches,Football,Tactics — Chas @ 11:55 pm

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.





[…] Wannstedt went 5-6, then 6-6, and just lost his number one receiver. Aside from breaking even on the field, they’re down in the standings in the ticket sales department, offering up season ticket packages at rock bottom rates–$120 for seven games, and another whole set for $10. Their defense, Wannstedt’s specialty as an assistant with the Cowboys et al, ranked 87th last year, finishing just behind Fresno State and UAB in total defense. They suffered crushing defeats to West Virginia and Louisville to end 2006, and according to Chas, who would really, really know about this by now, they both don’t and can’t tackle on defense. […]


Yep… this is what I’ve noticed in both of Wannstedt’s years at Pitt. Nobody can tackle! Interesting to see this becoming public knowledge now. Pitt could actually be pretty good if they spent a little more time on the basics, at least in my opinion.

Ol’ Ronnie Zook (Orson’s [NAME REDACTED]) used to appear on Florida television advertising Simply Orange juice, saying, “Football comes down to the fundamentals… blocking and tackling.”

And he was right. Of course, the Gators under his tenure couldn’t tackle anyone either.

Comment by Ryan Ferguson 08.13.07 @ 9:54 am

I’m so F’ing mad I can’t even respond other than to say that Rhodes sucks ass.

Comment by Dan35 08.18.07 @ 3:23 pm

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