Wrap Up!

No, I am now referring to the bedroom (although you should do it there too); I am referring to defenders in the NFL. Every week we see a defender come up to make a tackle and try to knock the ball carriers head off with the hit, only to have the ball carrier bounce off and run for more yards. It is hard to understand why they don't just make the proper tackle and get back up for the next play; especially when they miss and the ball carrier takes it to the house.

Having played football my entire life I can tell you that when you have, what you think is a clean shot on a ball carrier it is hard to pass up. The allure of hearing your teammates and all the fans erupt into cheers is very enticing. But, when you are a paid professional you should know better! You are paid to make the play, just make it. You can still hit them hard and wrap up.

Wrapping up gives training defenders a chance to come and clean up as well. If the ball carrier is still fighting for yards when they get there, they will have a shot at a knockout punch or even a strip ball opportunity! Play smart, play as one unit; there are too many individuals.

Now there is a time and place for the knock out hits! The NFL has made a BIG rule change this year and it basically sets the table for receivers to get knock out. The new rule is a player can no longer be forced out when making a catch along the sidelines or back of the end zones. What this means is if a player is airborne when making a catch, hit him hard enough to put him in the stands! It is no longer at the judgment of the officials to say whether or not he may have landed in play... if the receiver does not get both feet in bounds, he is out and it is an incomplete pass.

With the new rule in place for the 2008 season, defenders should be looking to tee off on any receiver that leaps for a pass. I would even say that they should go as far as carrying the receivers out of bounds in close enough to do so. But you can see that the players are not yet use to this rule as they are not taking advantage of it yet. As the season plays out I would not be surprised to see a few of these plays change a game.

In general though, coaches spend countless hours teaching players how to tackle properly. This starts at the lowest level of football to the NFL Hall of Fame! Every player knows that they were wrong as soon as they miss... they actually know mid flight and just pray they get the ball carrier to go down.

I am not saying I am not jumping out of my seat every time I see a big hit, I just think that professional players should have more discipline and wrap up!