Shin angles and stripping the ball
After watching the Kovacs fumble on Sat, I was left wondering where has shin angles (better tackling) and stripping ball gone? I would think after two years of drills brought by the GERG we would be better on both accounts since they were to be stressed. What seems strange to me is the regression outside of certain contributors on tackling and ripping the ball. I can forgive the latter since you need to tackle first before ripping the ball out, but I am sort of surprised with this being year 2 in the quest to have one of the better tackling teams that also creates turnovers. We seem to do a lot of reaching, but that could be due to poor angles. Some people are naturally better than others (David Harris), but it can also be taught hence the GERG's comments when he first joined the team.
September 21st, 2010 at 7:04 PM ^
some of these angles of pursuit are atrocious. our d cant seem to get something that should have been taught in grade school :/
September 21st, 2010 at 7:44 PM ^
With Mouton following suit, it often seems to be the taller, faster, too-athletic-for-their-own-good linebackers. Though Obi does his best to belie that theory....
September 22nd, 2010 at 12:02 AM ^
I wouldn't be surprised if the faster and more athletic linebackers do have more of a problem. In high school, they'd be so much faster and athletic than most running backs they can get away at gunning straight for them. Not so much at this level...
September 21st, 2010 at 7:07 PM ^
Well like you sort of pointed out, Kovacs is always going for the strip, but he seems to do it pretty wisely. From what I've seen he only strips when the ball carrier is wrapped up so there's no chance of blowing the tackle.
September 21st, 2010 at 7:23 PM ^
Except when Kovacs went in for the strip instead of helping with the tackle and the UMass ball-carrier got an extra 5 yards out of it.
September 21st, 2010 at 8:06 PM ^
...but I am sort of surprised with this being year 2 in the quest to have one of the better tackling teams that also creates turnovers.
I'd assume that the desire to tackle well and force turnovers is not unique to our defense.
September 21st, 2010 at 8:22 PM ^
Our tackling has been less than stellar, but you can't really fault the D in the turnover department. They've gotten six takeaways (4 INTs, two fumble recoveries) in three games, compared to just 16 all of last year.