PHOENIX – Speak to a handful of NFL fans long enough, and eventually one will bemoan the lost art of tackling, and specifically the lack of proper tackling fundamentals in the pro game.
Tackling in the NFL is insanely hard. You try bringing down LeSean McCoy or Jamaal Charles in the open field. But the Seattle Seahawks have seemingly figured it out.
It’s a topic that coach Pete Carroll takes very seriously. This past summer he put out an instructional video "Hawk Tackling" on the fundamentals of tackling. The Seahawks have used various other sports to learn techniques, like baseball and steer wrestling. They’ve taken a big cue from rugby. Carroll’s main message is for players to not use their head in tackling, using the shoulder instead.
Maybe it’s a coincidence that the Seahawks preach tackling fundamentals constantly and also have been the best defense in the league by a mile each of the last two years. But there’s likely some correlation.
“We talk about in non-stop,” Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith said. “You see some teams that don’t tackle well, but it’s a big emphasis for us. We’re working on technique even if we’re not in pads, just getting in position to make plays.”
You don’t think about NFL players practicing tackling fundamentals, but the Seahawks take pride in it. Earl Thomas is an All-Pro safety, one of the best defensive players in the NFL. And he’ll focus on fundamentals like he’s just learning to play.
“It’s vital, and it keeps your game maturing,” Thomas said. “Within those fundamentals, you see new areas you can attack.”
Thomas talked about possibly trying to tackle Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount in the open field in Sunday's Super Bowl, which is a tough task, but it’s something he looks forward to because he has drilled so much in tackling.
“You’re excited for those opportunities, because when you master that side of it, it gives you confidence to try more and more stuff,” Thomas said.
It helps the Seahawks that they have great players like Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, Bobby Wagner and others to carry out those fundamentals. Whatever the reason, they don’t miss many tackles. The 10-yard catches against them don’t turn into 20-yard gains because of missed tackles, and that’s a reason you lead the NFL in yards allowed two straight seasons.
“Those little leaky yards can affect you,” Smith said.
Carroll has worked on teaching proper tackling technique for years, back to his days at USC, but the video was a big step. He made it with Seahawks defensive passing game coordinator Rocky Seto. It was distributed to 14,000 high school football programs and 8,000 youth football programs through the Hudl video network, according to Seahawks.com.
“Let’s see if we throw something together with our thoughts, let’s share it with whomever wants to see it and see if we can’t help the game a little bit,” Carroll said. “It’s a culmination of myself, personally making the transition of not fighting the old way and giving in to that we’ve got to take care of our players in a better way.”
Carroll said after the video was released he got a call from legendary coach John Madden, who said, “Where has this been? We’ve needed this.” (Carroll also had one of the best lines of Super Bowl week when he joked about his conversation with Madden, “First off, it was like talking to Frank Caliendo on the phone.”)
Carroll uses the term "get the head out of football" by emphasizing shoulder tackling, which is safer. It's a great technique for youth football players to learn. It’s even pretty good for the Seahawks, who are establishing themselves as one of the all-time great defenses.
“You get your fundamentals tight, the other stuff will fall into place,” Smith said.
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
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