The big hit is one of the most exciting aspects of football. Many fans attend games because they love to see a tackler drive his shoulder into the midsection of the opponent and drive in at full speed. This may result in the ball carrier getting separated from the ball and a change of possession turning the game around.
Form Tackle
Defensive players are taught how to "form tackle" from the time they start playing youth football. This is the safest and most effective way to tackle. When a player uses the proper form to tackle, he drives his shoulder into his opponent's midsection. As he puts his shoulder into his opponent's body, he wraps his arm around his midsection and then drives him into the ground.
Block-Down Tackle
The block-down tackle is one of the most explosive hits during a football game. When a linebacker or defensive back has a chance to run at full speed to deliver a big hit, the result can be devastating. He is hitting the ball carrier with force and the desired result is to separate the offensive player from the ball as he gets driven to the ground.The danger of the block-down tackle is that the ball carrier gets a chance to run free if he can avoid the full impact of the hit. The tackler is not wrapping the ball carrier up and the ball carrier can try to make the tackle miss by spinning on impact, and that may allow him to keep running with the ball.
Drag-Down Tackle
This is a common tackle, used when a smaller player takes hold of a larger player. The smaller player tries to negate the ball carrier's strength and power by taking hold of him around the legs. Smaller players have a better chance of taking down bigger players when they can get lower than their opponents and win the leverage battle. Seattle Seahawks defensive backs coach Jerry Gray says that winning the leverage battle is essential for smaller players. "You have to get lower than the other man and wrap him up around the legs," Gray said. "You can't try to overpower a bigger man by tackling the upper body."
Best Tacklers
Hall of Famers Ronnie Lott, Dick Butkus, Lawrence Taylor and Joe Greene are considered to be among the best tacklers in the history of football. All were concussive hitters who threw their body around with reckless abandon when tackling, but also used excellent tackling form. "You always want to register the big hit on defense but when you are not in that position, you have to find a way to bring him down," Lott said. "You have to work out your tackling plan and figure out the best way to bring the ball carrier down."
References
- "Play Football the NFL Way"; Tom Bass; 1991
- "Inside the Helmet"; Peter King; 1993
- Jerry Gray; NFL assistant coach; Seattle
- Ronnie Lott; Hall of Fame defensive back; Los Angeles
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