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Tackling Circuit Drills

Coastal Carolina’s tackling Circuit to Emphasize Proper Technique
by: Curtis Walker
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We feel that one of the most important fundamentals is the ability to tackle and tackle well. As a staff, we try to emphasize the proper tackling techniques through a tackling circuit. The ability to tackle well shouldn’t ever be taken for granted. We use a four station circuit that touches on four key points that we must emphasize in order to be a good tackling unit. Although each position coach works tackling techniques into their individual periods, we use the tackling circuit to further emphasize the importance of proper tackling techniques to our players.

Depending on the size of your groups, we try to make the stations three to four minutes long. There is a whistle to signal the change of stations. All players are encouraged to sprint to the next station. There are several different ways to conduct such a circuit with the addition of other drills and longer stations. The four stations that we will illustrate in the article are Sideline, Open Field, Cut-Tackle and Dual Tackle.

Diagram 1. Sideline
Tackle



The set-up for our Sideline tackling station starts by placing two stand-up dummies seven yards from the sideline. Align the ball carriers 12 yards form the sideline. Position the tacklers opposite them, 15 yards apart as illustrated (See Diagram l). Instruct the ball carriers to put the ball in their outside arm. The tacklers are to stay on the back hip of the runner. Teach the tackler to gain leverage on the ball carrier avoiding him to cut back or outrun him.

Diagram 2A. Open-field Tackle


COACHING POINTS

• Always stay in a good football position • Be aggressive by delivering the hit (make sure that he is in bounds) • Keep your head up and hips down

The set-up for Open Field tackling station starts by aligning four cones as shown (See Diagram 2A). In this drill, each defensive position (linebackers, defensive linemen, and defensive back) has a different starting point.

Diagram 2B. Open-field Tackle


The linebacker starts on the side cone and drops in a 45 degree angle to the far cone. (See Diagram 2-B). The ball carrier will then race towards the side cone. The linebacker will then start an inside out pursuit angle on the back hip of the runner. The inside out leverage will force the runner outside taking away the cut back.

COACHING POINTS • Strike ball carrier from a low to high position while sliding head across jersey number
• Make sure that defender grabs cloth to insure tackle
• Tackler should square hips through contact
• Drive feet on contact until ball carrier is down

Diagram 2C. Open-field Tackle


The defensive back is aligned in the middle of the side cones (See Diagram 2C). The defensive back will stick his back pedal (plant and change direction) and advance on an inside out path towards the ball carrier as soon as he starts towards a side cone.

• Tackling coaching points are the same as above

The defensive lineman starts face down with his toes on the far cone (See Diagram 2D). Once the ball carrier moves towards a side cone, the lineman will get up and advance towards an angle tackle on the ball carrier.

Diagram 2D. Open-field Tackle


COACHING POINTS • Never cross your feet
• Body needs to remain in a good football position with hips down
• Grab cloth to insure tackle
• Drive feet on contact until ball carrier is down

THREE MAN CUT/TACKLE

To set up the Three Man Cut Tackle drill, position three cut blockers on all fours with 3 yards between them. A ball carrier is positioned 8 yards behind the last cut blocker. Two cones are placed 4 yards deep and 3 yards outside the last cut blocker (See Diagram 3) The defender must defeat a series of cut blocks (low, high, low) and the ball carrier will run between the cones after the defender defeats the last cut block. The ball carrier is allowed one juke move to avoid the defender.

Diagram 3. 3 Man Cut/Tackle Drill


COACHING POINTS • Defender must place lead leg outside the head of the cut blocker
• Place lead hand on helmet, back hand on shoulder pad and press down to stop the blocker’s momentum
• Make sure that feet are cleared by pressing off cut block
• Attack ball carrier on his backside hip
• Slide head across jersey number (KEEP HEAD UP ALWAYS)
• Drive feet until ball carrier is down

DUAL TACKLE

Dual tackle is a tackling drill that teaches two defenders the technique of making a combo tackle. In this drill, the defenders start with their backs to the ball carrier. They are five yards away from one another and ten yards from the ball carrier (See Diagram 4). On the coach’s command, the defenders will turn and find the ball carrier. The defender closest to the ball carrier will attack the far shoulder forcing only a cut back. The second defender will attack the near shoulder of the ball carrier. Once the first defender makes contact, the second defender should position his hit so their shoulders meet at the front of the ball carrier's body. Each defender’s head should be on the sides of the ball carrier.

Diagram 4. Dual tackle Drill


COACHING POINTS • First tackler should never let the ball carrier out run him
• Second tackler should always see his target (Do not knock teammate off tackle)
• Strike ball carrier from low to high

About the author

Curtis Walker

Curtis Walker begins his fourth year as the defensive coordinator and linebckers coach at Coastal Carolina. Last fall the Chanticleer's won their first Big South conference title in the program’s second season of competition. CCU’s defense led the nation in pass efficiency and finished fifth in scoring defense. Walker has served on Head Coach David Bennett’s staff for the past nine years including seven at Catawba College. A graduate of Catawba, Walker earned All-American honors as a player and was a 2004 inductee into Catawba’s Sports Hall of Fame.

QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions
you can email the author at:
KevinJohns@AmericanFootballMonthly.com


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