Interesting how there is no football player in the history of the game to be able to advance the football without the use of his legs. Many players can and have advanced the football when they are hit or attempted to be tackled above the waist. If you wrap at knees and below, the offense cannot advance. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Yes. It’s very simple but you have to be coached. Also, who in the gosh darn hell teaches a player to fair catch on the 5 yard line?

The fundamentals of tackling hasn't changed in 100 years. Wrap up from the waist and below and bring them to the ground. There's an old Knute Rockne video I saw from the 1920s where he tells the legendary Irish players he coached that you can close your eyes and hear a good tackle.

As was mentioned by Billy, all too often today players want to see themselves on Sportscenter with some sort of headhunting tackle. Unfortunately, they end up doing the matador ole tackle, turning their head to see the player still running.

Last night I drove back to the site of last week's Ohio debacle - Infocision Stadium - to watch Steubenville/Shelby in a Div. IV state semi-final. Shelby fell behind 21-6 but came back to lead 22-21 at the half. In the second half, Steubenville's defensive quickness dominated and the Big Red won 35-22. In last year's playoffs, the same two teams met and the Big Red won that one 29-15.

BTW, the crowd was the largest I've yet seen in Infocision. I'm guessing about 8,000.

Shelby has a cornerback - wears #1 - who missed several tackles. They caused me to think back on how we were coached to tackle. To wit, focus on the ball carrier's belt buckle. As Coach said, "He can fake with his head and shoulders but not his belt buckle." If #1 was coached that way, he failed to remember the lesson. Then keep head up, drive low and wrap.

Actually, the donut has changed the fundamentals of tackling.