Alan
Legend
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2013
- Messages
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HometownBoy thinking there's only one way to skin a cat:
If he had slowed to wrap him up it would have given Sanders just enough time to catch the ball. He had to explode through him or Sanders makes a huge catch and maybe the whole outlook of the game is changed.
Besides, like you said, it shouldn't have been a penalty anyways. So it shouldn't matter if he wrapped him up or not. In this instance it's okay. Now if your point is to learn when to wrap up and when to throw a shoulder then I agree. He needs to better learn when he should be textbook and when he should be going for the highlight reel, with textbook being the case 98% of the time. However I can't agree if you're saying that he shouldn't have done it at all. If he doesn't he gives away a huge catch and tons of momentum.
I'm not buying that leaving his feet and diving with both arms outstretched (aiming for a spot slightly above or below the waste) to wrap up would not have accomplished the same thing.
I commented about his tackling for two reasons, the first of which I've already stated concerning the penalty. That comment about his tackling technique causing the penalty was also made by one of the commentators BTW.
The second and main reason I brought this up was to again point out his tackling skills leave something to be desired and I'm pretty sure he uses that technique because of his diminutive stature. It's fine when it works but it often doesn't work and that's why they teach you to wrap up and they don't teach you to tackle like Gaines does.
Of course he should have made that play but he should have done it correctly. IMO it accomplishes the same thing except there's no penalty so in my mind it's a far superior play. With the emphasis on safety and reducing helmet to helmet hits that play will always be flagged in the new NFL when done at that speed. And that's knowing that he didn't make a helmet to helmet hit. It just looked like it was at game speed. Fisher said the same thing so...
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