Tackling a big back

We tackle live Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. We most generally do the sideline tackling drill, which is very simple. We put partners 5 yards apart, about 5 yards from the sideline, and start the tackler about a 1/2 man behind the runner. The runner has a coach as a target to run at and has to run nearly straight up and down, with no cuts, as he is a tackling dummy. He must run full speed.

The tackler aims at the backside shoulder of the runner, come in with sunk hips, and at the last second slide his head across the runner and pop his hips. The tacklers feet should never stop, and should be a one-footed tackler. If he makes contact with his feet side by side, that means he stopped and is absorbing the blow instead of delivering it. If he keeps a half man behind the runner and aims for the backside shoulder, any runner who trys to stop or cutback should end up on his can.

This is all done full speed by both partners and should create a pretty violent collision. If they both do it right, they should end up going out of bounds straight sideways from the point of contact, if that makes sense. We don't allow them to brother-in-law, and have made a pair go many, many times in a row until it is right. The key is that they must go full speed or the drill is no good. We always tell them "it takes two to tango". We've been doing this drill since 1992, and have never had any serious injuries. Just a stinger or a headache here or there. That's not to say we won't have one when we do it tomorrow, but if they both go full speed, I think it's hard for them to get hurt. Joboo said it best, you play like you practice.