On defense it's better to cut off than ''pursue''..

[HeulenHund2]

Thomas Davis made a play against Seattle a couple of weeks ago that can be found on Youtube. It is as perfect an example of how to play the run as I've ever seen. It also shows everything to like about TD.
The play was an outside run. TD kept his head up and on the ball carrier as he moved laterally along the line while keeping his hips almost parallel to the LOS. He was hit hard and a finger was dislocated, he never took his eyes off the ball or stopped moving along the line. He reached over and pulled the finger back in place, got to the perfect point in front of the ball carrier and executed a form perfect tackle.

I know we can't expect such great form from these kids, but that is what We need to demand IMO. This ''just run to the ball'' stuff shows up on the field in the bad form of chasing ball carriers from behind or reaching for them from the side as they run by you far too often.
I think staying in front of the ball carrier and tackling him square on will win this game for Us, and many more as well.
Now for the hard part..doing it.

 

[dieharddawg62]

Far to often we allow the runner to get around the corner. The edge is often not set. If the corner gets blocked, he has to at least turn the play in. I don't understand why we allow this to happen. Its poor discipline in my opinion. Everybody to trying to make a highlights tackle instead of a good tackle. We don't wrap up well.

They just want to knock the shat out of somebody.

 

[FeralDawg]

In agreeance. I know I'm not a professional 'in the arena coach'
and only coached for Pop Warner football while my boys played,
but I see some atrocious mistakes on the D side of the ball that
drives me crazy. We have the bodies but lack the discipline.
BTW, TD looked effin GREAT in that play, but even in the NFL
he can be a man among boys sometimes.

 

[dieharddawg62]

But, you are correct, also when rushing the passer that don't breakdown before they get to the passer and they miss. Once again, they are trying to kill the QB rather than get the sack. It drives me crazy.

Pursuit angles are awful. I hate to say it, but I think it's an intelligence thing. They are constantly over or under pursuing.

 

[HeulenHund2]

But, you are correct, also when rushing the passer that don't breakdown before they get to the passer and they miss. Once again, they are trying to kill the QB rather than get the sack. It drives me crazy.

Pursuit angles are awful. I hate to say it, but I think it's an intelligence thing. They are constantly over or under pursuing.

You're saying our players are not smart ? they're as smart as the next bunch. I think it begins and ends with coaching.
We have to get to a point We stop putting kids in games before they've had time to learn how to play correctly.
This is where I'm hopeful. Once, that is IF We get these young pups trained up maybe We can rely only on players who are truly prepared to play the right way.
What makes me less hopeful is how our coaches apparently are ok with Dom Sanders and others playing street ball, just very undisciplined stuff. If We don't demand correct play, We'll never achieve it.

 

[dieharddawg62]

You can't coach common sense. It has to be there.

I think it's more discipline than anything else. They don't sit players down when they don't do what they are taught.