With more than 1,000 career tackles, Baltimore Raven Ray Lewis has built a reputation for hard hitting, such that opposing offensive players rarely take him head on and skitter out of bounds when possible. Lewis has mastered tackling technique, a fundamental skill for a linebacker who needs to bring offensive players to the ground. Blocking, the bread and butter of offensive linemen, involves keeping a defender away from the ball. Learning blocking and tackling techniques begins in Pop Warner football and continues through high school, college and the pros.
Significance
Tackling is an obvious focus for the defense, particularly linebackers and the secondary looking to bring down either the receivers or tight ends coming off the line of scrimmage, or the running backs or quarterback running out of the backfield. Because a turnover can force members of the offense to play defense, even a quarterback or punter as the last man back may need to know tackling techniques to prevent a touchdown after a change of possession. As for blocking, linemen need to know how to block on every play, but tight ends and fullbacks, and even sometimes the quarterback, will be called to block on occasion to protect a runner or wide receiver and thus need to acquire technique.
Tackling Technique
Tackling boils down to stopping an advancing opposing player by any legal means, such as wrapping your arms around his body or upper legs and then dragging him to the ground or out of bounds. Good tackling starts with bending at the knees rather than the waist, writes Tom Bass in "Football Skills and Drills." Lewis displays the correct position before his tackles: back straight, body lowered, eyes locked the ball carriers' chest. Make contact with your shoulder pads, never with your helmet. Drive your shoulder pads up and through the side of the ball carrier, Bass advises; grab your opponent's jersey and bring him to the ground.
Blocking Technique
If you have a spot on the line, you need to work on your blocking technique to protect the quarterback during passing plays and create gaps in the line for the running backs to shoot through. Technique involves taking your stance and stepping forward with short, choppy steps to engage your assigned defender, who can be in front of you, to the side or in the secondary. Contact the defender with your shoulder pads, followed by your hands at chest level. Avoid grabbing at his jersey, as you risk the referee seeing this and whistling you for a hold. At the moment of contact, drive your hips forward to move the defender backward, recommends youth coach David Wamer at the online site Coaches Notebook.
Expert Insight
Start at half-speed when learning tackling, and practice one drill a day when you are in pads if you are on the defense. The coach can have kickers and offensive players practice tackling once a week, Bass recommends. Avoid driving the ball carrier to the ground during practice. In blocking drills, have the coach recommend a stance; two point if you pass a lot; three point, with one hand on the ground for most plays; and four point, with two hands on the ground, for short-yardage plays.
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