BOMBER FOOTBALL TACKLING PROGRAM

Rugby Style, Shoulder Leverage Tackling Team (Taking the Head Out) BOMBER TACKLE Track with Leverage Hit the Strike Zone Strike with Shoulder Wrap Up and Squeeze Take Down

TERMINOLOGY TRACKING – Pursue and adjust the angle to keep leverage on the ball carrier. “Run and Gather” – closing distance on opponent while keeping leverage and tackling posture. Must break down and adjust to ball carrier, keeping leverage. LEVERAGE – Awareness of tackler’s position in relation to the ball carrier, keeping the ball carrier to our near shoulder. If the ball carrier is to my right, Keep ball carrier to the right side Strike the ball carrier near his left hip with the right shoulder. APPROACH – “Eyes through the thighs” suggests lowering center of gravity in relation to the posture of the ball carrier. STRIKE ZONE – Bottom of the numbers, top of the knees. (Baseball Strike Zone) SHOULDER – Striking with near shoulder through near hip of the ball carrier. No leading or striking with head!

TERMINOLOGY STRIKE – Contact WRAP & SQUEEZE TAKE DOWN Strike near hip with near shoulder. Drive near foot with near shoulder through contact. Strike Cheek to Cheek – Tackler’s cheek (face) to ball carriers near cheek (buttocks) Head Behind. WRAP & SQUEEZE Shoot Hands. Wrap legs of the ball carrier. Squeeze the ball carrier’s legs to the chest. TAKE DOWN Drive for 5 (drive for 5 hard steps). Roll if needed. Control the ball carrier to the ground and through the whistle.

TYPES OF TACKLES ANGLE = Ball carrier is to one side of the tackler Most used tackle SQUARED UP = Ball carrier is nose to nose with the tackler COMPRESSION = Two defenders converge on the ball carrier at the same time

ANGLE TACKLE EMPHASIS & PROGRESSION Track with Leverage Track near hip of ball carrier Close distance while keeping leverage (Run and Gather) Hit the Strike Zone – near hip of ball carrier Strike with Shoulder Drive near foot and near shoulder through contact Cheek to Cheek principle Wrap & Squeeze Shoot hands Wrap legs Squeeze ball carrier’s legs to the chest Take Down Drive for 5 Roll if needed

SQUARED UP TACKLE EMPHASIS & PROGRESSION Hit the Strike Zone with the Shoulder through the hip of the ball carrier Strike with knees bent Near foot drives near shoulder Cheek to Cheek – eyes up and head to the side of the ball carrier’s hip Wrap & Squeeze Take Down Drive for 5 Roll if needed

COMPRESSION TACKLE Track with Leverage Hit strike zone EMPHASIS & PROGRESSION Track with Leverage Both tacklers target the near hip Both tacklers keep the ball carrier to their leverage shoulder Hit strike zone Each tackler strikes the near hip of the ball carrier Strike with shoulder Each tackler steps with the near foot and drives the near shoulder through the near hip. Each tackler should be Cheek to Cheek. Wrap & Squeeze Drive for 5

TEACHING - TRACKING Tracking – (No Contact - No Pads Needed) Keep ball carrier on near shoulder If the ball carrier is shaded to his right shoulder, he should track to keep the ball carrier at a right shoulder angle. Target near hip of ball carrier Close distance and “Gather” The tackler and the ball carrier should close the distance to the ball carrier quickly while staying square to the line of scrimmage. As ball carrier stutters, gather to balance and prepare to redirect As players become proficient at closing the distance and gathering, can add a cutback element where the tackler has to redirect.

TEACHING - APPROACH Approach – “Eyes Through the Thighs” (No Contact – No Pads Needed) As approaching the near hip of the ball carrier Keep near foot forward Keeps the tackler in a position to adjust to a cutback Lower to a hit position bringing eyes level with the ball carrier’s thighs Keep eyes up! Do not lead with the head! Buzz feet

TEACHING - STRIKING Strike in the Strike Zone Strike With Shoulder Bottom of the numbers to the top of the knees Strike With Shoulder Near foot drives near shoulder through the near hip of the ball carrier Cheek to cheek (tackler’s cheek to the ball carrier’s cheek/buttocks)

TEACHING – TAKE DOWN Shoot Hands Wrap & Squeeze Wrap up ball carrier’s leg or legs Squeeze ball carrier’s legs to the chest Roll Tackler should roll to their open shoulder If making a right shoulder leverage tackle Wrap and squeeze Roll towards the left shoulder Drive for 5 If squared up or compression tackle Wrap and Squeeze Drive for 5 hard steps

TACKLING DRILLS – ANGLE & SQUARED UP TACKLE EMPHASIZE: HIT THE STRIKE ZONE, STRIKE NEAR FOOT DRIVING NEAR SHOULDER THROUGH NEAR HIP; CHEEK TO CHEEK, WRAP & SQUEEZE Start from the knees (No helmet needed) Strike the zone, wrap and squeeze ball carrier to the ground Progress to feet; ball carrier and tackler 1 yard apart (No helmet needed if slow) Strike the zone (near foot drives near shoulder; cheek to cheek) wrap and squeeze ball carrier to the ground Put it all together with ball carrier and tackler 5 yards apart Add cutback and block get off elements as the players become more proficient and comfortable with striking with shoulders; cheek to cheek

TACKLING DRILLS - TRACKING Emphasize: Targeting near hip, closing the distance and stay square Run and Gather (See Seahawks Training Video) Open Field Tackle Make a 12yd X 15yd Box Ball carrier at one end and tackler at the other Ball carrier must stay within the box Ball carrier can make one cut in attempt to score across the 15yd line Tackler does an “up-down” on go Tackler must track and two hand touch the near hip of the ball carrier

TACKLING DRILLS - ROLL EMPHASIZE: STRIKE THE ZONE WITH NEAR FOOT DRIVING NEAR SHOULDER; CHEEK TO CHEEK, WRAP AND SQUEEZE, AND ROLL TOWARDS OFF SHOULDER Start from knees (slow and easy) Progress to feet Put it all together with tackler and ball carrier 5 yards apart Use tall round or agile dummies as ball carriers when possible Use the high jump pit pad when possible

TACKLING DRILLS - SLED WORK EMPHASIZE: APPROACH, STRIKE, DRIVE FOR 5 NO PADS OR HELMET NEEDED 5 man sled or single pop up tackling sled Hit the zone Strike with shoulder – near foot drive near shoulder – pop the sled Drive for 5 hard steps

TACKLING DRILLS – COMPRESSION TACKLE EMPHASIZE: TRACKING TO NEAR HIP, APPROACH, STRIKE WITH NEAR SHOULDER; CHEEK TO CHEEK 2 on 1 One ball carrier 5 yards from two tacklers Ball carrier does not move Two whistles First whistle – tacklers track and approach the ball carrier and buzz feet Second whistle – tacklers strike, near shoulder to near hip, cheek to cheek Wrap and squeeze and drive for 5. Team “Call Out” Drill (no contact) 11 defenders take their positions Running back/receivers line up 5 yards behind the ball. Coach calls out any two defenders Defenders do an up-down Ball carrier or receiver are tossed a ball and can make any move to elude defenders Defenders must track to the near hip and approach the ball carrier and buzz feet Ball carrier must stop when one or both defenders reach the hip Whistle blows when both defenders are at the hip of the ball carrier

Training Resources Seattle Seahawks Tackling Videos Pete Carroll Narrated Video from 2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLldjE6vvFs Rocky Seto (Seahawks Tackling Coach) Town Hall from 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtXNZX8TlYo AND Seattle Seahawks 2015 Tackling Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Pb_B0c19xA