Transcript North Central College Tackling Progressions

NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE
TACKLING PROGRESSIONS
Schemes don’t mean a thing if you
can’t get them down!
Rick Ponx – North Central College – [email protected]
CCIW Champions 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11
SPRING PRACTICE DATES
April / May
Sunday
8
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
9
10
11
12
13
14
Practice 1
Practice 2
Practice 3
6 - 8:00 pm 4 - 6:00 pm
4 – 6:00 PM
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Practice 4
Practice 5
Practice 6
6 - 8:00 pm
6 – 8:00 pm
4 - 6:00 pm
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Practice 7
Practice 8
Practice 9
4 - 6:00 pm
4 - 6:00 pm
4 – 6:00 pm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------29
30
1 MAY
2
3
4
5
Practice 10
Practice 11
Practice 12
4 - 6:00 pm
4-6:00 pm
4 – 6:00 pm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Practice 13
Practice 14
Practice 15
4:15 – 6:00 pm 4– 6:00 pm 4– 6:00 pm
OUTLINE
Why we teach what we teach
 Buzz Words/Language we use
 Fundamental drill progression for all tackles
 Situational tackles
 Situational drills
 Mistakes to watch for

IF THIS IS DAY 1...

Get the ambulance
ready...

Get the ambulance
ready...
This is not what we consider tackling……
Day 1 at North Central College…
THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNDAMENTAL
ASPECT OF TEACHING TACKLING IS???
Feet?
Hip Roll?
Arms?
Legs?
Keeping the top of the head
out of contact!
BUZZ WORDS
Holsters
 Eyes at ball level
 Chest on the Quads
 Shimmy
 Profile
 Uppercut – Not “wrap”
 Sky the Eyes
 Clamp

FUNDAMENTAL PROGRESSION DRILLS
GENERIC TACKLING – “DOING THE BASICS, BETTER”





Low Pads/Low Eyes – 4 Point stance, hands in the holster,
hide the numbers, eyes through the Riddell
Eyes at Ball Level – Ball carrier lines up in front of entire
group and walks straight line raising and lowering as if he
were a running back. All tacklers have staggered feet,
lower and raise with ball carrier.
Hit up position – 2 point stance, parallel feet to see knees
over toes, then stagger feet.
Chest Pop #1 – 4 point stance, on air lead with the chest
(chest pop) hands stay in holster.
Chest Pop #2 –4 point stance, hands in holster, lead with
the chest and explode out onto crash pad.
DRILLS – “DOING THE BASICS, BETTER”




Knee Rollover#1 – one knee down on ground, up knee
directly over ankle bone, hide the numbers, roll the up
knee forward/out in front of toes, #’s stay hid.
Knee Rollover #2 - Start in parallel stance, shimmy
feet, on command they roll over left knee/or right knee
and hold position.
Chest Pop/Knee Rollover #1 – One knee down on the
ground, face mask against the sled pad. On command
roll over knee and pop chest into sled pad. Alternate
knees.
Chest pop/Knee Rollover #2 – 2 point stance, stagger
feet. Roll over knee and chest pop into sled. Hold
position.
DRILLS – “DOING THE BASICS, BETTER”
Uppercut – 4 point stance, introduce
uppercut on air, pinkies together, eyes to the
sky, chest pop, hands above your eyes.
 Uppercut w/shield – 4 point stance, shield
holder in front touching player’s nose.
Uppercut and chest pop the shield.
 Uppercut w/shells – 4 point stance only
already in the uppercut holding a shell.(pads
w/jersey)

DRILLS – “DOING THE BASICS, BETTER”




Uppercut/Hip roll #1 – From a 4 Point, lead with
chest and throw uppercut. Explode on to crash pad.
Uppercut/Hip Roll #2 – 4 point stance, introduce a
stand up bag in front of player. Lead with chest and
throw uppercut on stand up bag.
Uppercut/Hip Roll #3 – 2 point stance, shield holder
in front touching a player’s nose. Uppercut and chest
pop the shield. Stagger feet.
Uppercut Gauntlet – 2 point stance, run forward and
uppercut an agile bag being held out from the side.
Three in a row.
DRILLS – “DOING THE BASICS, BETTER”
Bounding – promotes knee drive, can also
add uppercut to each bound.
 Roll over and pop up – On one knee. Roll up
knee over toe and pop up down knee. Drive
knee high, chest out, uppercut.
 Roll over pop up, walk – On one knee, pop
up and continue on a walk. Knees high and
wide.

DRILLS – “DOING THE BASICS, BETTER”
Uppercut Squeeze #1 (right/Left) – Put
player in the uppercut on air. Give directional
call (RT/LT) this simulates ball carrier
spinning. Player must squeeze and jerk ball
carrier opposite of the spin direction.
 Uppercut Squeeze #2 – Uppercut fit with
shells. Squeeze and jerk opposite direction
of spin.
 Uppercut Squeeze #3– Uppercut squeeze
with BC. Ball carrier actually attempts to spin
on directional call.

DRILLS – “DOING THE BASICS, BETTER”
Uppercut, Double time the knees – on air in the
uppercut. Machine gun the knees high and
wide for 10 yards.
 Uppercut, Double time the knees – w/shells.
 Uppercut, Double time the knees – 2 point
stance, coach stands 3 yards in front of tackler
and throws shells at tackler as he runs forward.
 Uppercut/Rollover/double time knees – One
knee up or 2 point stance. Use on a stationary
sled.

FINISH IN “THE PIT” – “DOING THE BASICS, BETTER”

Knee Drive – Fit tackler on BC up against pit
with feet staggered. On command drive the
back knee up into air and tackle BC into the pit.

Also done with tackler 5 yards away

Stay Clamped – Align BC next to porta pit,
tackler one step away. Roll hips, throw uppercut
and drive knee up tackling BC into the pit. On
command of roll BC starts to roll one way and
tackler has to stay clamped.
SITUATIONAL TACKLES LB/DB’S
Shimmy Tackle – Belt buckle at you, 2 way go
 Profile Tackle – Only see BC profile, 1 way go
 Near Foot/NF – Defender out-leverages BC
 Shimmy Near Foot – BC makes a cut
 Shimmy NF/NF – BC makes 2 cuts
 Profile Late Shimmy – BC cuts back into you
 Roll Tackle – Bigger back, bad angle

VARIATION PROGRESSION DRILLS
SHIMMY TACKLE – I SEE BELT BUCKLE



Stance – Feet, hands, eyes
Footwork – 2” hot stove, always
gain ground
Down the line:
Walk/Shimmy/Walk
Shimmy hold rollover
Sprint/Shimmy/Rollover 3X
½, ¾, full speed w/partner
Broomstick Drill w/partner:
keeps them from reaching
must bring their hips
Time and distance (moving)
Box Drill – Open Field
PROFILE TACKLE – ALL I SEE IS PROFILE



Eyes – At BL - Stationary
On a walk 3 steps away
½, ¾, full (Stride Length)
Time and distance (Air)
vs. Shields
Footwork – Widen base on
last 2 steps
Head/Neck Squeeze – Fit
position squeeze BC into
uppercut
SHIMMY TACKLE EYE FIXATION
PROFILE TACKLE EYE FIXATION
Outside leverage =
Track far pec
INSIDE LEVERAGE = TRACK NEAR HIP
Eyes focused on ball carriers belt
buckle. Begin to “shimmy” 3
yards away
PROFILE & SHIMMY TACKLE
TRACKING LANDMARKS
LB/DB VARIATIONS
NF/NF – TACKLER OUTLEVERAGES BC
Footwork – 3” Near Foot Steps
On a Line/Off A Line
Walk NF/NF (Air)
Jog NF/NF (Air)
Sprint NF/NF (Air)
Add the BC
Keep inside foot up and
outside foot back. Keep
outside arm free
Hit Up – Execute appropriate
tackle based on BC
reaction.
.
SHIMMY NEAR FOOT – BC CUTS

Footwork – 3” break step
Shimmy position “break”
NF break/Buzz feet
NF break/Run through
½, ¾, full, w/partner
Time & Distance
SHIMMY NF NF – BC CUTS TWICE


Footwork – Same as NF,
keep right to the right and
left to the left
Keep shimmy steps narrow
and break steps at 3”
LB/DB VARIATIONS
PROFILE LATE SHIMMY – BC CUTS LATE


Footwork – walk tracking
the hip, 3 steps away,
shimmy
Jog, Sprint
Time & Distance
Vision Decision
Eyes – get to ball level on
shimmy
ROLL TACKLE – TACKLING A BIG BACK




Footwork – same as profile
Eyes – get to ball level
Contact point – knees of
BC
Drill – Partner drags agile
bag. Tackler is 5 yds away
runs through profile FW
and shoots on the bag low,
clamps and rolls.
DL TACKLING VARIATIONS
NF/NF GATHER – BELT BUCKLE IS AT YOU



FW – Fit on sled, shed to
NF/NF
NF/NF to gather
Eyes – Kiss the football
Hands – In the holster
Uppercut
NF/SPRINT – BC BOUNCES WIDE


Eyes – See the BC’s hip
FW – Fit on sled, shed to NF
Brooms
Snap turns in mass
Snap turn to fit on BC
DL VARIATIONS
SNAP TURN, PROFILE – SEE BC’S HIP


Eyes – See BC’s hip
FW - Chop shed to snap
turn
Track the hip
Think Brooms
Snap turn to avoid
1 Arm Tackle – OL is in contact
× On shield holder
× On sled
× On partner
PROFILE, LATE SHIMMY – BC LATE CB


Footwork – walk tracking
the hip, 3 steps away,
shimmy
Jog, Run
Time & Distance
Vision Decision
Eyes – get to ball level on
shimmy
OTHER SITUATIONAL TACKLES
 Strain
Tackle –BC continues to drive his
legs and there is a stalemate
 Stiff Arm Tackle – BC uses stiff arm to
facemask, or sternum
 2nd Man in Strip – BC is being held up by
a defender
VISION DECISION - TACKLING
BC
BC
BC
Tackler
Tackler
Tackler
TOP 10 MISTAKES IN THE HIT UP
10. Tackler is too high  Must sink hips and get eyes at ball level
9.
Hitting up too soon  Don’t hit up until you can step on the
ball carriers feet or smell his breath
8.
Feet stop after contact  Must emphasize knee drive and
accelerating the feet until the echo of the whistle. “Feet Feet
Feet!”
7.
Waiting for the ball carrier instead of attacking and
initiating contact.  Attack mentality, no free yards. “Be the
HAMMER, not the nail”
6.
Not clamping down / grabbing cloth  Must secure the
tackle. “No shame in getting run over, but there is shame in
letting go”
TOP 10 MISTAKES IN THE HIT UP
5.
Tackler doesn’t thrust his hips through the ball carrier 
Sky the eyes and rip up to bring the hips. Must develop hip explosion in the
weight room.
4.
Tackler turns sideways or isn’t squared up  Can’t rip up and
grab cloth if sideways...leads to missed tackles
3.
Not sinking the uppercuts and clamp deep enough (T-Rex
arms or catching the ball carrier)  Must attempt to get pinkies to
touch behind ball carrier.
2.
Wrapping instead of ripping up with the arms  Two opposite
forces working against each other. Wrapping leads to head down posture.
Buzz words “Violent double uppercuts”, “ARMS!”
1.
Head not up  MUST SEE WHAT YOU HIT for safety and
performance
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Bill & Kyle Williams – Football Coaches Professional
Growth Association
www.billwilliamsfcpga.com
Tom Annett - Sault Sabercats OVFL
Bobby Hosea – Train ‘em Up Academy,
www.trainemupacademy.org