DURHAM WAR EAGLES

2-ON-1 TACKLING DRILL (Tee Time)Ball-Carrier is on his back. Tacklers stand behind their cone. On the signal, ball-carrier gets up and runs straight downfield. Tacklers must round their cone and come back to make tackle. Variations to this drill may allow Ball-

Carrier to juke, spin, cut or simply run straight ahead. Adjustments may include moving the ball-carrier’s cone forward or back, or moving the Tacklers’ cones forwards or back. Cones should be placed between 10-15 yards downfield.

Coaching Points - This is a drill that gets walked through until players are comfortable with their responsibility. The Runners are not allowed to cut, juke or spin on their first few attempts. We want contact and cut/juke/spin negates some of that. After the players are comfortable with this drill, we allow the cut/juke/spin. Shorten the distances all around initially. Not sure how you teach tackling but any technique should work here.

DURHAM WAR EAGLES

3-ON-3 BLOCKING / TACKLING DRILL (Snake Pit)Offensive and Defensive Linemen are in 3-point stance. Ball-Carrier is deep set and Linebacker is in gap. Variations

include adjusting splits of Linemen, depth of Ball-Carrier and/or Linebacker, or adding a Center.

DURHAM WAR EAGLES

1-ON-1 TACKLING DRILLBall-Carrier and Tackler lie on their back with helmets almost touching each other. On the signal, Ball-Carrier rises and

runs forward while Tackler rises and makes tackle. Variations include spacing between both players and/or allowing Ball-Carrier to juke, cut or run straight ahead.

DURHAM WAR EAGLES

2-ON-2 TACKLING DRILLSimilar to the 1-on-1 Tackling Drill, this drill has a Ball-Carrier, Offensive Lineman, Defensive Lineman and Linebacker. All four players start on their back. On the signal, all players rise and attack. The LB Coach monitors the Linebacker,

the D-Line Coach monitors his player, as does the O-Line Coach and the RB Coach.

DURHAM WAR EAGLES

SQUEEZE DRILLTwo Offensive Linemen (or dummies) are placed in front of the Defensive Lineman. Defensive Lineman must shoot

gap. Offensive Linemen set closer together on each successive attempt. Variations include adding Tackle Dummies (dummies can be used instead of O-Linemen. Defensive Lineman must shoot gap and tackle dummy. Dummies are

set closer together on each successive attempt. This drill is basically a “2-Man Gauntlet.”

DURHAM WAR EAGLES

RUNNING THE GAUNTLETDefensive Linemen run through the resistance of the gauntlet and tackle the dummy. Variations include dragging the

dummy away from the gauntlet so that the defensive lineman must pursue the dummy after getting through the gauntlet.

DURHAM WAR EAGLES

(THE GAUNTLET) STRIP DRILLBall-Carrier runs through gauntlet as players attempt to strip ball away. Ball-Carrier attempts to run over, or through two players

holding shields. Shield holders attack Ball-Carrier. Variations include adding a Center and Quarterback who practice the snap and hand off to ball-Carrier as he runs through gauntlet.

DURHAM WAR EAGLES

AGILE TACKLE DRILL

Ball-Carrier shuffles down the line and decides which lane to run through. Defensive player mirrors the ball-carrier and attacks through the lane to make the tackle.

Coaching Points – Coach Potter tells our smaller guys to tackle the ball-carrier as low as possible. We teach "between the ankle and knee" but we'll take the "cleats" if they can get that low. This allows a smaller player to go full speed without having to take on a bigger player at his core.

DURHAM WAR EAGLES

ANGLED AGILE TACKLE DRILL

Ball-Carrier runs at angle as Linebacker pursues “downhill.” Variations include changing the angle and which player runs “downhill.”

DURHAM WAR EAGLES

PASS COVERAGE DRILLDefensive Back jams Receiver coming off line off scrimmage and forces Receiver to sideline. One coach acts as the Quarterback and throws the ball. The Defensive Backs Coach points the Receiver in the direction he will be running,

so that the Defensive Back cannot see the direction indicated

DURHAM WAR EAGLES

ANGLE TACKLING DRILLCoach indicates direction of Ball-Carrier. Tackler must not let Ball-Carrier cross the “goal line.” Variations include

letting Ball-Carrier, juke, spin, cut or fake.

DURHAM WAR EAGLES

SWEEP TACKLING DRILLSDefensive player is to contain and not allow the Ball-Carrier to sweep past him.

Coaching Points - Money-makers for open-field tackling (this drill and next one). Walk, walk, walk these drills first. Also, start at shorter distances before increasing length. Have you heard of my "what's hard is easy and what's easy is hard" approach? If so, you would definitely use that here.We not only walk this drill, but more importantly "slo-mo" this drill. Meaning, the players do this drill in slo-motion so we can check their technique as they go. THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE is that he not allow the Runner to run outside of him. If he over pursues in any direction, it's better that he over pursue outside and force the ball-carrier to cut back inside where help will be. The final teaching point is that the tackler MUST NOT BREAK DOWN to perform this tackle. If he does, he is much more vulnerable to being blocked. He must act as if the blocker isn't there and even run through the blocker, if the blocker is in his path. If this happens, he has a chance to push the blocker into the path of the ball-carrier. Again, slo-mo is essential here. Players who are most comfortable playing in space should do well with this drill. Players less comfortable may struggle. If they do, add another tackler to the mix and have it be 2 tacklers vs. a blocker and runner.

DURHAM WAR EAGLES

SWEEP TACKLING DRILLSDefensive player is to contain and not allow the Ball-Carrier to sweep past him. Defensive player must not take his

eyes off the Ball-Carrier or be diverted by the Blocker.

Coaching Points - The MOST IMPORTANT TEACHING POINT is for the tackler NOT to look at the blocker. IF HE DOES, the Runner will go by him. The tackler must "look through" the blocker and only see the ball-carrier. This is why you must slo-mo the drill in order to WATCH THE EYES of the tackler. If he takes his eyes off the Runner, he will not make the tackle. NEVER TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE RUNNER.THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE is that he not allow the Runner to run outside of him. If he over pursues in any direction, it's better that he over pursue outside and force the ball-carrier to cut back inside where help will be. The final teaching point is that the tackler MUST NOT BREAK DOWN to perform this tackle. If he does, he is much more vulnerable to being blocked. He must act as if the blocker isn't there and even run through the blocker, if the blocker is in his path. If this happens, he has a chance to push the blocker into the path of the ball-carrier. Again, slo-mo is essential here. Players who are most comfortable playing in space should do well with this drill. Players less comfortable may struggle. If they do, add another tackler to the mix and have it be 2 tacklers vs. a blocker and runner.