Are NFL players forgetting how to tackle?

Bee News Services

E-Mail

reprint or license

Comments (0)

Text Size:

tool goes here

Frank Gore runs right up the gut of the Indianapolis defense.

Defensive back Jerraud Powers delivers a big body-blow, but Gore just bounces off and keeps on running, one of two broken tackles on the way to a 64-yard 49er TD.

Baltimore's Ray Rice catches a screen pass and is surrounded by four would-be Bengal tacklers. Rice's just keeps on running right for a 48-yard score.

With the game on the line, Brandon Marshall outmaneuvers Ken Hamlin, Terence Newman and a few other Cowboys for a winning Denver touchdown in Dallas.

What's the deal? Doesn't the NFL practice tackling anymore? Well, no, not really.

In practice, passers pass, receivers catch, punters punting and blockers block. Yet tackling — an essential skill — is neglected.

"We teach tackling fundamentals," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said. "But there's no reason to tackle our own guys."

Instead, defensive players are taught to let up or to just a little bump. Make full contact, and coaches get upset. Sometimes very upset.

That keeps everyone healthy, but come Sunday they're still doing it.

"A lot of people don't tackle now because of the salary cap," Redskins safeties coach Steve Jackson said. "You lose a guy because of a tackling drill, you're the dumbest guy on the planet."

Some coaches remain aggressive. Jets coach Rex Ryan had a handful of drills with live tackling late in camp. Josh McDaniels also had a physical, tackle-heavy camp.

But Ryan and McDaniels are both first-year coaches and have yet to have a team decimated by injuries.

Meanwhile, scoring is up in the offense-minded NFL, which doesn't even count tackles as a statistic.

Offense remains the side of the ball that sells. Where would the wildcat be, for example, if the Dolphins were pounding their running backs into the turf in practice? That's not even a consideration for coach Tony Sparano.

"I would have to do a lot of explaining to (owner Stephen Ross) ... I wouldn't want that conversation."

• 49ERS MOVES — The 49ers have signed cornerback Keith Smith to a one-year contract, boosting their secondary a day after learning Nate Clements would be sidelined up to eight weeks with a broken shoulder blade. The 49ers (3-4) also released receiver Micheal Spurlock and tight end Carson Butler.

• JAMES JETTISONED — Edgerrin James was cut on Tuesday, two days after moving up to 10th on the NFL's all-time rushing list. James, 31, gained just 125 yards on 46 carries with no scores.