The Lost Art of Form-Tackling

Well, it looks like there's no getting away from the topic of dangerous hitting this week, especially since it involves one of our own...

So Dunta Robinson has been assessed a $50,000 fine for his vicious hit on DeSean Jackson.  Brandon Meriweather was given the same for his hit on Todd Heap, and James Harrison was fined $75K for his hit on Mohammed Massaquoi (he also gave Josh Cribbs a concussion, but the league ruled the hit permissible).

Whether you agree with the league's decisions or not, it is clear that helmet-to-helmet hits are not going to be tolerated anymore.  Of course, they are nothing new.  Anquan Boldin once had his sinus cavity fractured from a vicious head hit by Charles Martin.  Peyton Manning once had his teeth shattered during such a hit, and thereafter began wearing a different helmet, which he wears to this day.  Hines Ward once famously earholed Keith Rivers, breaking his jaw and ending his season.  And of course, the most famous helmet shot of all time, Jack Tatum's monstrous hit on Darryl Stingley; as we all know, Stingley was paralyzed and forced to retire; he died years later of complications directly related to the injury.

Now, I love a huge hit as much as any fan.  Hell, the Eagles are a team with a long history of 'em.  But at some point, we have to wonder when enough is enough.  The league has had far too many concussions this season already; the Eagles alone have had six confirmed cases (Kolb, Bradley, Jackson, Cooper, Samuel, Dixon).  Concussions have long-term effects that we can't foresee (remember, Andre Waters committed suicide due to depression brought on by brain trauma).  The helmet-to-helmet shit has to be done away with, pure and simple.

Now before you accuse me of being naive (i.e. a pussy), I'm well aware that many helmet hits are incidental and can't always be monitored.  But when a player goes to tackle another and leads with his helmet, there are very few other consequences that result.  This is what the NFL needs to make clear to players and coaches: leading with the helmet greatly increases the chance of a helmet-to-helmet hit.  Many players (and fans) are objecting to the league's crackdown, arguing that the league is contradicting itself by demanding that players give their very best effort, but telling them to tone down the intensity.  In essence, players are disgruntled that the league is attempting to prevent them "from doing their jobs."

First of all, this is utter nonsense.  To hear the players talk, you'd think that they wouldn't be able to tackle players without helmet-to-helmet contact.  Well, some of them might not.  Form tackling has gone grievously by the wayside in this league.  It's almost as though coaches are not teaching the fundamentals anymore.  What happened to wrapping and driving?  I realize that spearing makes for more violent and highlight-worthy hits, which brings in the fans and the ratings, but how many head injuries will the league allow before appropriate action is taken?  Everyone, from the players to the coaches to the fans is in thrall to the devastating highlight reel hit, and the result is that such methods of tackling are leading to a higher injury rate.

The remedy, then, is to teach players how to tackle properly.  Matt Mosley wrote an article today covering Tom Coughlin's determination to teach his players proper tackling form, and his tendency to punish players that do not comply.  His position is that fines levied for helmet-to-helmet hits don't drive home the point:

"I know that one of the recommendations or the strongest one has been that since the money does not seem to be a deterrent, then it has to be more than that,” said Coughlin on Monday. “Always, it is quite frustrating, to be honest with you, if a player is forced to leave a game because of an illegal hit and the other player continues… that doesn’t really seem right. I’m sure there will be stronger measures taken."

Proper tackling form is to keep the head up and eyes forward, bend at the knees, get low, wrap your opponent up, and drive him to the ground.  This is considerably difficult to execute in a league where players become bigger, faster, and stronger every year.  Perhaps players are worried that this method carries a higher risk of injury.  Maybe some are worried that they simply don't have the physicality to do it.  Maybe some are just plain lazy and they don't feel like learning how to do things the right way because it's too much work.  But Coughlin is definitely taking the right approach, and maybe other coaches will follow his example.  Lord knows some of the Eagles could use it, what with their tackling woes. 

I agree with Coughlin that fines aren't enough.  It seems to me that the only way to get the message across is to suspend those who deliberately level dangerous hits.  It made me laugh to hear Tedy Bruschi complaining on ESPN that the players were being fined unfairly, that they were just trying to do their jobs, that violence is just a part of the game, and that being fined such amounts is detrimental to players who have families to support.  What a fuckin' joke.  And the players who get severely injured as a result of dirty hits, what if they have families to support, Tedy with one "D?"  What if they wind up like Earl Campbell, punch-drunk and unable to care for themselves or provide for their loved ones?  Or worse yet, what if someone winds up completely paralyzed or dead like Darryl Stingley?  These players can afford the fines, Tedy.  Here, I'll prove it:

James Harrison signed a $51 million deal last year; Brandon Meriweather's contract includes a $3.72 million option bonus and $6 million guaranteed; Dunta Robinson's deal is worth $57 million.  Take that bullshit somewhere else, Tedy.

Football is an inherently violent sport, and it is stupid to suggest that it should be otherwise.  Punishing players for delivering helmet-to-helmet hits will not prevent most of the injuries sustained in this game.  But I refuse to believe that earholing a defenseless player, or spearing them up under the facemask, or drilling them head-on with the crown of the helmet "just comes with the territory."  Hard hitting is an indelible part of this game, but players deliberately trying to injure others is not, was not, and never will be.