Denver Native (Carol)
10-03-2009, 08:26 AM
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13475212?source=rss
Rulers measure length, thermometers measure temperature and odometers measure miles that have passed. Tackling? Well, that can measure the beating heart of a defense.
"It's all want-to," Broncos linebacker Darrell Reid said.
"It's a pride thing; you have to take pride in it, want to do it," said Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey. "It isn't always fun, but the teams that do it well can accomplish some things."
A lot of real estate remains between the Broncos making something special of their 3-0 start, but in the early going the team's defense has been much improved, in large part by avoiding the erosion of field position caused by the dreaded "yards after contact."
In recent years, the Broncos often struggled in executing one of football's basics — sound tackling. This year, new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan made it a point of emphasis.
"It was discussed, a lot," linebacker D.J. Williams said. "We put the pads on in training camp, we tackled to the ground some days, we talked about coming in at the right angle, all of that. And then you get as many guys to the ball as you can, bring everybody.
"Then if you miss, there is three more guys anyway."
At its root, tackling is bruise-inducing geometry. Good tacklers approach at the correct angle, get in the right position, get the helmet across the front of the target and wrap up with their arms.
But with the speed and strength of today's players, tackling can often be simply survival, locking on and hanging on until help arrives. And, after training camp ends in the summer, it's a technique that is often not practiced much in the NFL because of limited roster size, the risk of injury and the week-to-week struggle to simply get ready for the next opponent.
Which is why creating good habits early in camp is key, because those habits have to survive over the course of a season.
"When you're taking a proper angle, that's kind of half the battle," Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said. "And then when you get there, as long as you don't let the guy go back to open space where you don't really have any help, then it comes down to putting your face in there, wrapping him up and holding on until one of your teammates comes, or bring him to the ground yourself.
"You can eliminate a lot of big plays if you've got good tacklers."
Nolan said he graded the defense with just three missed tackles in the victory over Oakland on Sunday, in 44 snaps — 23 runs, 21 passes. There were times in the last three seasons when the Broncos had players miss that many tackles in a quarter.
McDaniels said the ability to tackle was a consideration when assembling the roster. Free-agent signees such as Reid, linebacker Andra Davis, safety Brian Dawkins and safety Renaldo Hill, as well as draft picks such as cornerback Alphonso Smith, had traditionally been sure tacklers.
Bailey has long been considered an elite tackler. He keeps his eyes on the ball carrier longer than most defenders as he closes in — many players duck their heads early, going for the "SportsCenter" moment — to ensure he gets his man down.
"People don't think about it much, but teams that do it (well) win, and how you do it says a lot about who you are," Bailey said.
Nolan said it's important to not leave defenders in too many one-on-one situations in the open field.
"I don't care who the player is. If you have five open-field tackles you've missed, you've got to question your scheme a little bit," he said. "You can teach it a lot of ways, but there needs to be a pack going to the ball all the time, and if the first guy misses, the pack usually tackles him."
Tackling 101
The Broncos have shown themselves to be an improved tackling team in the early going this season. Talk to scouts and personnel executives around the league, and it's pretty universal what makes a good tackling team over the long haul:
Be willing. Collisions hurt, and it's a tough job braving them week after week.
Run to the ball. Defenders consistently in 1-on-1 situation in the open field, without help on the way, will be at a disadvantage over time.
Limit yards after contact. Get the ball carrier down at the point of contact.
Eyes up. The knockout shots may look great on the highlights, but consistently charging in with your head down will result in more misses than hits.
Gather yourself. Defenders have to get their feet under them, square up and drive through the ball carrier.
Hang on. There are elite athletes all over the field. So accept that plenty of times it won't be pretty, just hang on until the help arrives.
Rulers measure length, thermometers measure temperature and odometers measure miles that have passed. Tackling? Well, that can measure the beating heart of a defense.
"It's all want-to," Broncos linebacker Darrell Reid said.
"It's a pride thing; you have to take pride in it, want to do it," said Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey. "It isn't always fun, but the teams that do it well can accomplish some things."
A lot of real estate remains between the Broncos making something special of their 3-0 start, but in the early going the team's defense has been much improved, in large part by avoiding the erosion of field position caused by the dreaded "yards after contact."
In recent years, the Broncos often struggled in executing one of football's basics — sound tackling. This year, new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan made it a point of emphasis.
"It was discussed, a lot," linebacker D.J. Williams said. "We put the pads on in training camp, we tackled to the ground some days, we talked about coming in at the right angle, all of that. And then you get as many guys to the ball as you can, bring everybody.
"Then if you miss, there is three more guys anyway."
At its root, tackling is bruise-inducing geometry. Good tacklers approach at the correct angle, get in the right position, get the helmet across the front of the target and wrap up with their arms.
But with the speed and strength of today's players, tackling can often be simply survival, locking on and hanging on until help arrives. And, after training camp ends in the summer, it's a technique that is often not practiced much in the NFL because of limited roster size, the risk of injury and the week-to-week struggle to simply get ready for the next opponent.
Which is why creating good habits early in camp is key, because those habits have to survive over the course of a season.
"When you're taking a proper angle, that's kind of half the battle," Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said. "And then when you get there, as long as you don't let the guy go back to open space where you don't really have any help, then it comes down to putting your face in there, wrapping him up and holding on until one of your teammates comes, or bring him to the ground yourself.
"You can eliminate a lot of big plays if you've got good tacklers."
Nolan said he graded the defense with just three missed tackles in the victory over Oakland on Sunday, in 44 snaps — 23 runs, 21 passes. There were times in the last three seasons when the Broncos had players miss that many tackles in a quarter.
McDaniels said the ability to tackle was a consideration when assembling the roster. Free-agent signees such as Reid, linebacker Andra Davis, safety Brian Dawkins and safety Renaldo Hill, as well as draft picks such as cornerback Alphonso Smith, had traditionally been sure tacklers.
Bailey has long been considered an elite tackler. He keeps his eyes on the ball carrier longer than most defenders as he closes in — many players duck their heads early, going for the "SportsCenter" moment — to ensure he gets his man down.
"People don't think about it much, but teams that do it (well) win, and how you do it says a lot about who you are," Bailey said.
Nolan said it's important to not leave defenders in too many one-on-one situations in the open field.
"I don't care who the player is. If you have five open-field tackles you've missed, you've got to question your scheme a little bit," he said. "You can teach it a lot of ways, but there needs to be a pack going to the ball all the time, and if the first guy misses, the pack usually tackles him."
Tackling 101
The Broncos have shown themselves to be an improved tackling team in the early going this season. Talk to scouts and personnel executives around the league, and it's pretty universal what makes a good tackling team over the long haul:
Be willing. Collisions hurt, and it's a tough job braving them week after week.
Run to the ball. Defenders consistently in 1-on-1 situation in the open field, without help on the way, will be at a disadvantage over time.
Limit yards after contact. Get the ball carrier down at the point of contact.
Eyes up. The knockout shots may look great on the highlights, but consistently charging in with your head down will result in more misses than hits.
Gather yourself. Defenders have to get their feet under them, square up and drive through the ball carrier.
Hang on. There are elite athletes all over the field. So accept that plenty of times it won't be pretty, just hang on until the help arrives.