April/May 2019 - 39

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ARE YOU GRADING
THESE THREE AREAS
OF THE TACKLE?
By USA Football
Many successful programs spend the offseason
reviewing their team's film from the previous season.
These self-scouting sessions often reveal schematic
tendencies and other play-calling trends.
But what about technique?
With so much focus on scheme, technique tends to fall
by the wayside in offseason film review. That's why
we're challenging defensive coaches to go back and look
at their team's tackling on film.
Subscribers to USA Football's Advanced Tackling
System have revealed three Key Performance Indicators
(KPIs) that they found particularly helpful, even after just
starting their subscription. The KPIs are aspects of the 5
Fights progression that powers the Advanced Tackling
System. Each of the " fights " represents the mental
exercise to execute the critical details of the tackle
precisely.
The 5 Fights progression consists of:
* Fight to Track
* Fight to Prepare
* Fight to Connect
* Fight to Accelerate
* Fight to Finish
Within these fights are 37 total KPIs. For this article,
we'll reveal the three KPIs that subscribers identified as
exceedingly valuable. We encourage you to go back to
your game and practice footage from last year to see if
your players are executing these aspects of the tackle
well.
FOOT IN THE HOOP
Players may recognize this better as stepping in the
" Madden " circle. This step occurs just prior to contact
and is part of Fight to Prepare, which focuses on the
ability to transition from tracking the ball-carrier to
getting into the correct body position for upcoming
contact.
When reviewing your film, see if each tackler made the
step close enough before contact so that power was
generated without over-elongating the body. If not, the
player isn't successfully executing Foot in the Hoop.
Most likely, they need to continue tracking for a step or
two before initiating the tackle.
ARM CLAMP
Imagine a vice or workbench tool. The strength of our
arms must glue the defender's shoulder to the ballcarrier,
allowing no room to escape.
To combat force after initial contact takes strength in the
lats, biceps and forearms. The best tacklers take pride in
their clamp. They never come off a tackle.
This is part of Fight to Connect, which focuses on the
key elements of winning at the point of contact. When
watching your film, we challenge you to evaluate your
players clamp. From the time they make connection
until the time the tackle is completed, there should
be no air or daylight between bodies. We always stay
connected.
CLEATS IN THE GRASS
A tackler's power comes from being able to push against
the ground. As soon as defenders lose this ability, the
tackle becomes all upper body and no legs.
Defenders must master the ability to keep their cleats in
the ground in all body positions in order to continue to
accelerate and generate force through the runner and
into the tackle.
This is part of Fight to Accelerate, which focuses on
generating force through the feet and into the ground
to provide sustained, controlled pressure and power.
Count how many times your tacklers give up their feet
before the tackle is completed to get a good idea of how
well they keep their cleats in the grass.
DRILLS TO CORRECT PROBLEM AREAS
When you go back to review your film, you might find
that your struggling in one of these key areas with
certain players or position groups. What can you do
to address these problems next season and hold your
players and coaches accountable for executing great
tackles?
You can claim access to three free lessons, either
teaching the elements of the 5 Fights progression or
drills to correct the problem, by creating an account at
footballdevelopment.com/advanced-tackling.
If you're interested in learning more about the complete
Advanced Tackling System, the 5 Fights or the 37
total KPIs, you can get an individual or team license at
footballdevelopment.com/advanced-tackling/register.
Choose #113 online or text CADAPR 113 to 41411
COACHAD.COM 39
http://www.footballdevelopment.com/advanced-tackling http://www.footballdevelopment.com/advanced-tackling/register http://www.COACHAD.COM
April/May 2019

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