Manny Diaz changed HOW we tackle

[BeastMan]

According to OOB, Diaz has implement Pete Carroll's "Seahawk tackling". It's a shoulder tackling fundamental where you don't use your head as I understand. The thinking is that it's safer. Mario Hagan says he does not agree with it.

So if anyone is wondering why MSU's tackling has been bad, thank Manny Diaz for changing the way guys have tackled their whole like this offseason.

[jumbo]

to be fair our tackling was awful at the end of last year also.

[DistrictDawg92]

The coaches can teach safer tackling during the offseason and that is good, but in the middle of the game instincts kick in and I promise our players are not thinking "hawk tackle". It's not like our players will give up a sure tackle bc they are trying to "hawk tackle". I'm sure every coach teaches a form of the "hawk tackle", it's just safer tackling. All I'm saying is all our missed tackles are not due to "unsuccessful hawk tackling".

[BrunswickDawg]

Does that technique involve swatting at the opposing player and then falling at their feet - because if it does, we are doing it to perfection.

[ShotgunDawg]

I think it will be fine.

We'll tackle well when need to. We only gave up 21 points against LSU & that's the only game that's mattered thus far. We'll tackle well this weekend.

IMO, tackling is an attitude & against crappy team, you just aren't going to play with the same emotion

[BeastMan]

I think it will be fine.

We'll tackle well when need to. We only gave up 21 points against LSU & that's the only game that's mattered thus far. We'll tackle well this weekend.

IMO, tackling is an attitude & against crappy team, you just aren't going to play with the same emotion

See I'm not buying that. Tackling isnt dependent on the opponent. That's like saying Dak's accuracy is only great when he's amped for a big game. Execution is execution.

This is what it comes down to for me: Bad tackling is either (A) a talent issue or (B) A technique issue which is coaching.


I like MSU defensive talent so what does that leave me with? A new Pete Carroll tackling fundamental...

[chef dixon]

This is the "Dak leaner = more pass-centric offense" thread version number 2.

[DistrictDawg92]

See I'm not buying that. Tackling isnt dependent on the opponent. That's like saying Dak's accuracy is only great when he's amped for a big game. Execution is execution.

This is what it comes down to for me: Bad tackling is either (A) a talent issue or (B) A technique issue which is coaching.


I like MSU defensive talent so what does that leave me with? A new Pete Carroll tackling fundamental...

Tackling should be like breathing for a starting SEC defensive player. I'm just not buying the "technique" issue

[smootness]

See I'm not buying that. Tackling isnt dependent on the opponent. That's like saying Dak's accuracy is only great when he's amped for a big game. Execution is execution.

This is what it comes down to for me: Bad tackling is either (A) a talent issue or (B) A technique issue which is coaching.


I like MSU defensive talent so what does that leave me with? A new Pete Carroll tackling fundamental...

Calling this tackling technique an appeal to only safety is not true; it's also designed to be more effective as well. I would argue the Seahawks are the best tackling team in the NFL, and I think the technique absolutely has merit.

There may be an issue in guys not being used to the technique enough to do it effectively yet, and there may be an issue in guys reverting to old techniques in games, as someone else suggested.

But once this becomes second nature, we should be a better tackling team.

[Prediction? Pain.]

There was a thread about hawk tackling a month or so ago where I posted Pete Carroll's video on the subject. It was interesting stuff. If you missed that, here's an article (http://www.fieldgulls.com/football-breakdowns/2015/4/4/8344983/ohio-state-buckeyes-pete-carroll-seahawks-tackle-techniques) about the technique from the Seattle Seahawks' SBNation site that also talks about how Ohio State adopted the technique last season. They interviewed OSU's co-DC about it and he has some good input about their transition during their first year of the change. Apparently they had some issues with tackling in 2013 that helped spur the move in 2014.

[MrKotter]

See I'm not buying that. Tackling isnt dependent on the opponent. That's like saying Dak's accuracy is only great when he's amped for a big game. Execution is execution.

This is what it comes down to for me: Bad tackling is either (A) a talent issue or (B) A technique issue which is coaching.


I like MSU defensive talent so what does that leave me with? A new Pete Carroll tackling fundamental...

They had as good, if not better, talent last year and tackling was an issue then too.

[drummerdawg]

I could be wrong but I think we did the "Hawk tackling" last year as well.

[BeastMan]

This is the "Dak leaner = more pass-centric offense" thread version number 2.

We've been more pass centric so far so I feel good about everything I've said regarding that.

[MSUDawg99]

We've been more pass centric so far so I feel good about everything I've said regarding that.

Check your Twitter DM's, Beast.

[DistrictDawg92]

We've been more pass centric so far so I feel good about everything I've said regarding that.

It is true up to now, but do you honestly believe we are throwing more because Dak is slimmer? No, it's because our run game has struggled.

You have both of the effects right, yes we are throwing more and are struggling with tackling, but you're causes are off. Poor run game>>>more passing; bad tacklers>>>bad tackling. It's obvious our two biggest issues are tackling and running the football. Scheme around your weaknesses, it's called coaching. I have faith in Mullen though, as should everyone. Just need to see some adjustments.

[Interpolation_Dawg_EX]

It is true up to now, but do you honestly believe we are throwing more because Dak is slimmer? No, it's because our run game has struggled.

You have both of the effects right, yes we are throwing more and are struggling with tackling, but you're causes are off. Poor run game>>>more passing; bad tacklers>>>bad tackling. It's obvious our two biggest issues are tackling and running the football. Scheme around your weaknesses, it's called coaching. I have faith in Mullen though, as should everyone. Just need to see some adjustments.

Do you think the bad tackling has anything to do with going against an offense with a poor run game in practice? It seems in some cases when a team has lack of physicality on offense it carries over to the defense.

[BeastMan]

It is true up to now, but do you honestly believe we are throwing more because Dak is slimmer? No, it's because our run game has struggled.

You have both of the effects right, yes we are throwing more and are struggling with tackling, but you're causes are off. Poor run game>>>more passing; bad tacklers>>>bad tackling. It's obvious our two biggest issues are tackling and running the football. Scheme around your weaknesses, it's called coaching. I have faith in Mullen though, as should everyone. Just need to see some adjustments.

No. As I explained in an article and in that thread, everyone at MSU anticipated this w/the OL & departure of JRob and Dak did everything to prepare himself to throw the ball more and more accurately. It's about playing to your strengths.

[Swagger Vance]

To quote the great Bill Parcells....."Stupid loses more games, than smart wins".

[HSVDawg]

It is true up to now, but do you honestly believe we are throwing more because Dak is slimmer? No, it's because our run game has struggled.

You have both of the effects right, yes we are throwing more and are struggling with tackling, but you're causes are off. Poor run game>>>more passing; bad tacklers>>>bad tackling. It's obvious our two biggest issues are tackling and running the football. Scheme around your weaknesses, it's called coaching. I have faith in Mullen though, as should everyone. Just need to see some adjustments.

We are throwing more because all of our biggest playmakers on offense are our receivers. For the first time maybe ever, our personnel is more suited to pass to open up the run instead of the other way around.

Teams have stacked the box against Dak since the middle of last season (around the Arkansas game) and kept a spy on Dak in most cases to contain him in the running game. People think this just started this year, but Dak has largely been a nonfactor in the running game against SEC opponents for a while. Other than Vandy, name a time starting with Arkansas last year and going all the way through the LSU game this year where Dak has had a run longer than 7 or 8 yards.

Dan is doing the logical thing and trying to throw teams out of the box. Until someone emerges at RB or our OL gets much better at run blocking, that needs to be our gameplan. Its the only way we've been able to move the ball against any decent defenses in the past 11 months.

[DistrictDawg92]

No. As I explained in an article and in that thread, everyone at MSU anticipated this w/the OL & departure of JRob and Dak did everything to prepare himself to throw the ball more and more accurately. It's about playing to your strengths.

So you're saying from as far back as last spring Mullen knew that we would not be able to run the ball? I understand playing to your strengths, but if you already know your weaknesses a year in advance, why not do something about it? I hate to use this example, but Freeze recognized he had a major weakness at QB for 2015, so he went out and did something about it. Why did we not recruit a JUCO RB if we saw this weakness coming from a year away? I would love to have Vick Ballard in there right now. I do have confidence that the OL will gel, and maybe Shump has been in there so much to kinda shadow Warren at LT to protect Dak's blindside, but on running downs we need our best ball carrier out there, period.

[Hypnodawg]

There is nothing wrong with our defense. We held LSU to 21 points with our offense repeatedly giving them the ball on the 50. We gave up 14 of the 21 points because our offense gave them the ball on the M48 and the M46 and y'all think Diaz is the problem. Drugs are bad mmmkay.

[Really Clark?]

We are throwing more because all of our biggest playmakers on offense are our receivers. For the first time maybe ever, our personnel is more suited to pass to open up the run instead of the other way around.

Teams have stacked the box against Dak since the middle of last season (around the Arkansas game) and kept a spy on Dak in most cases to contain him in the running game. People think this just started this year, but Dak has largely been a nonfactor in the running game against SEC opponents for a while. Other than Vandy, name a time starting with Arkansas last year and going all the way through the LSU game this year where Dak has had a run longer than 7 or 8 yards.

Dan is doing the logical thing and trying to throw teams out of the box. Until someone emerges at RB or our OL gets much better at run blocking, that needs to be our gameplan. Its the only way we've been able to move the ball against any decent defenses in the past 11 months.

Arkansas his longest run 12 yards, Bama 22 yards and 82 total, UNM 14 and gained 72 the 3 sacks for 24 hurt his numbers, GT 15 yard long. LSU is the only one you can point to and say they have kept him below 7 to 8 yard runs. I didn't look up the Vandy or OOC games.

[Coach34]

This is the "Dak leaner = more pass-centric offense" thread version number 2.

well, so far- the results seem to lean that way

[Dawgtini]

There is nothing wrong with our defense. We held LSU to 21 points with our offense repeatedly giving them the ball on the 50. We gave up 14 of the 21 points because our offense gave them the ball on the M48 and the M46 and y'all think Diaz is the problem. Drugs are bad mmmkay.

Nothing to add. Just thought some of you needed to read it again.

[BeastMan]

There is nothing wrong with our defense. We held LSU to 21 points with our offense repeatedly giving them the ball on the 50. We gave up 14 of the 21 points because our offense gave them the ball on the M48 and the M46 and y'all think Diaz is the problem. Drugs are bad mmmkay.

Matt Wyatt ‏@MaroonWyatt 7h7 hours ago
re: improvement, #HailState defense has to get off blocks more and tackle better.

So we have Matt Wyatt on twitter and Mario Hagan on OOB both saying MSU needs to tackle better... That means it's a problem. You can say I'm some irrational internet poster all you want but 2 former Bulldogs are seeing the same thing I am. Now is the "hawk tackling" the sole cause? Maybe not but it certainly is worth discussing being that they aren't tackling well.

[Percho]

We are throwing more because all of our biggest playmakers on offense are our receivers. For the first time maybe ever, our personnel is more suited to pass to open up the run instead of the other way around.

Teams have stacked the box against Dak since the middle of last season (around the Arkansas game) and kept a spy on Dak in most cases to contain him in the running game. People think this just started this year, but Dak has largely been a nonfactor in the running game against SEC opponents for a while. Other than Vandy, name a time starting with Arkansas last year and going all the way through the LSU game this year where Dak has had a run longer than 7 or 8 yards.

Dan is doing the logical thing and trying to throw teams out of the box. Until someone emerges at RB or our OL gets much better at run blocking, that needs to be our gameplan. Its the only way we've been able to move the ball against any decent defenses in the past 11 months.

Maybe someone could block the spy.

[BeastMan]

So you're saying from as far back as last spring Mullen knew that we would not be able to run the ball? I understand playing to your strengths, but if you already know your weaknesses a year in advance, why not do something about it? I hate to use this example, but Freeze recognized he had a major weakness at QB for 2015, so he went out and did something about it. Why did we not recruit a JUCO RB if we saw this weakness coming from a year away? I would love to have Vick Ballard in there right now. I do have confidence that the OL will gel, and maybe Shump has been in there so much to kinda shadow Warren at LT to protect Dak's blindside, but on running downs we need our best ball carrier out there, period.

There are a few things wrong with your timeline of how this went down. Everyone knew at the beginning of last year that this was a transitional year for the OL. 2 years ago had a senior/experience laden group graduate. Nothing you can do about that. Mullen and staff went and got the top juco tackle in the country. The fact that he isn't playing doesn't diminish the fact that they acted to smooth over that transition. With RB, no one knew JROB was going pro until late last fall. It was unexpected. After that news broke you're looking at just a couple months to evaluate a juco RB. I don't think Mullen likes the idea of offering guys we've never seen play live so he passed on that.

There really wasn't much Mullen could do to "do something about it". Mullen's offense has been different every single year depending on the strengths of the collective unit and this year is no different.