The most critical moment in tackling happens during the strike phase, where defenders can dictate the outcome by altering the ball carrier's physical shape and momentum.
In this video, UTEP DC JJ Clark breaks down proven techniques and practical drills that teach defenders to dominate this crucial point of contact, ensuring more successful tackles and fewer broken plays.
Glazier Drive is the only place you can find his complete lesson (along with over 2000 other football coaching videos) on the UTEP Tackling Progression: Tackling & Impact.
Key Teaching Components:
- Leverage Foot Placement
- Critical to get the leverage foot down through the ball carrier's center of mass
- Proper foot placement enables force generation and tackle completion
- Tackling Plate Technique
- Strike with the breastplate of shoulder pad rather than top of shoulder
- Promotes better hip level and head-up position
- Creates larger surface area contact for "thick tackles"
- Demonstrated using med ball drill for practice
- Strike Zone Definition
- Target area: bottom of ball carrier's thigh boards to diaphragm/base of pecs
- Emphasis on safety and penalty avoidance
- Maintains effectiveness while staying within rules
- Uses Detroit Lions game footage as example
- Force Transfer Principles
- Maintaining "isometric shape" through contact
- Importance of body stiffness at point of contact
- Connection to strength and conditioning program
- Uses "baseball bat vs. pool noodle" analogy for force transfer
- Hard Shoulder/Hard Hip Concept
- Throwing a "punch" with leverage shoulder
- Keeping leverage hip square through contact
- Prevents forward lean and "leaky yards"
- Addresses concerns about leverage-based tackling while maintaining knockback power
The video emphasizes practical application through game footage examples and includes specific drills (like med ball strikes) to practice these concepts. It bridges fundamental technique with real-game application while maintaining focus on both effectiveness and player safety.