Defense needs to re-learn to tackle

[Mustang1991]

I already posted this under another topic, but did anyone else notice the bad habit our players had against UH of going for the ball (grabbing the offensive player's arm or the ball) rather than wrapping up the player? You aren't going to bring down a lot of offensive players going for the ball first.

The defensive performance in the second half was due more to fatigue I think (how long was our defense out there in the 2nd half?) but in the first half there was really no excuse for the poor tackling.

[J.T.supporta]

Yes, arm tackling won't get it done in any level of football these days. Its kind of hard for coaches to use tackling drills in college/nfl practices because players should already have the basics down, form tackling. I know most schools do not imcorporate tackling drills in their practices and I am pretty sure for a fact that SMU does not have tackling drills in practice. It is mainly "wrap up" tackling.

[westexSMU]

We have had a great run defense this year. Our 1st Team D-Line tackles hard including alot of sacks and tackles for losses this year but I guess you guys missed the fact our best two tackles got hurt in the 1st half. In the 2nd half because of the injuries, Houston decided to come out running and were obviously very successful...

[mustangfan01]

All of those runs were broken from the outside except for Battle's big run up the middle at the end.

It would seem to me that they would've had 300 yards rushing if we had had both tackles -- also remember that Bonds played after he got hurt...we were just missing Haywood and had a slower than usual Bonds.

It wasn't like they pounded Iso's up the middle for 70 yard touchdowns. I remember watching Aldridge turn a corner to the sideline and breaking back to the field and watching Bryce Hudman literally fall on himself.

[mr. pony]

UH's first TD was right up the middle.

[PonySnob]

Where were our linebackers????? We have not had solid tackling during most of PB's tenure on the Hilltop.

[2112]

Poor tackling has been a problem all year.