Defensive coaches across the country are charged with the difficult task of defending a wide variety of offenses. From triple option to spread to pro style, our game plans adjust and adapt to put our players in the best position to be successful. One could argue odd fronts, even fronts, man coverages, or zone coverages put you in the most advantageous position. However, none of that matters if your team cannot make tackles. Aside from fumble recoveries, incompletions, and interceptions all successful defensive plays end with a ball carrier on the ground. Schemes are necessary, but the fundamentals of effort and tackling are the most important components to playing defense.

Our defensive staff at Duke asks two main questions when discussing tackling. First, what are the most effective ways to get a ball carrier on the ground? Second, what are the safest ways to get a ball carrier on the ground? Our most important job as a football coach is to best ensure the safety of our players. Therefore, we must combine the most effective and safest ways to play defense. Our staff researched and worked hard to develop the best practices for a Duke defender making tackles. The result is known as “Devil Tackling” and will be outlined below.

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Why?

The first step to understanding our Devil Tackling progression is to comprehend the why behind it. As previously discussed, safety is our top concern. There are few opportunities in practice to tackle live. Therefore, we needed a way to work tackling without contact and made an effort to take the defender’s head out of the equation. Those two things will be displayed throughout the teaching progression.

The second reason why we teach Devil Tackling is a direct reflection of reviewing our game film. We used to preach “head across the bow” and practice drills to emphasize this concept. However, these drills were not showing up on film. If tackling defines your defense, and defense is based on leverage, then tackling begins with leverage. This will also be shown in the drill sequence below. Each of the drills you will watch is the first day they were implemented, so you will see some great technique and some we use to coach from. I will review the coaching points for each drill (which will also be show in a slide), but the details of the drills will be evident by watching the drill tape. Each drill will be backed up by game film to demonstrate how these techniques show up in games.

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Fit

The first drill in the Devil Tackling progression is called “Fit” and is exactly as it sounds. We are teaching the defender how to fit the ball carrier. There are three main coaching points.

The tackler must strike the ball carrier using his near leg and near shoulder. This concept is critical! We are not getting our head across the ball carrier’s body (you will see the player on the far right go back to old habits in the drill tape). Rather, we are tackling with our leverage-side shoulder. The visual we use for our players is that of a Raider’s fan with spikes on his shoulders. Those spikes are our weapon when we tackle, and the only side they exist on is our leverage side shoulder and leg. The tackler must make shoulder contact through the ball carrier’s thighs. We refer to this as “eyes through the thighs.” The tackler must “wrap and squeeze” in an attempt to put the ball carrier’s knees together.

In the drill tape, you will see three variations of the Fit drill. We begin the drill on partners to ensure players understand the feel of tackling a ball carrier. We will also use standup bags during the season and progress to moving targets. (See Video 1a)

Roll

The second drill in the Devil Tackling progression is called “Roll”. The progression is exactly the same as Fit, but adds a roll at the end. The most important part of executing a roll tackle is to violently roll AWAY from the contact. This keeps the head out of the tackle and limits any yards after contact, which accomplished both of our goals as coaches. (See Video 1b)

Drive for Five

The third drill in the Devil Tackling progression is called “Drive for Five.” If you do not execute a Roll tackle, then the tackler must Drive for Five on contact. This means the tackler must drive his feet for five hard steps. Rarely does a defender get five steps in before a ball carrier hits the ground, but this drill emphasizes driving one’s feet through contact. We coach the initial contact very closely in this drill. The tackler must create contact with his near shoulder while his near leg is in the ground. If not, the tackler’s hips are open and this becomes an arm tackle. In the game film, you will see the defender’s feet kick up into the air as he makes a tackle. This is a direct result of the Drive for Five drill as he continues moving his feet through the contact. (See Video 2)

Profile Tackle

The fourth drill in the Devil Tackling progression is called “Profile Tackle.” This type of tackle is used when you have the profile or side shot of a ball carrier. The coaching points are very similar, but now we will aim for the near pec of the ball carrier. The second example in the practice film shows a mistake by the tackler. He does not land his near leg while making the tackle, which creates an arm tackle as his body opens the gate for the ball carrier to run. While this may result in a missed tackle, we teach our defenders to go into a roll tackle at this time. (See Video 3)

Run the Angle

The fifth drill in the “Devil Tackling” progression is called “Run the Angle.” This drill teaches a defender how to properly close ground on a ball carrier. There are several coaching points to this drill. (See Video 4)

Track the near hip. We use images of cheetahs hunting prey to demonstrate the best example of near hip tracking. Close the distance while maintaining leverage. The defender cannot let the ball carrier cross his face, or else his angle, and in turn everyone else’s angle, will be inaccurate. “Scallop” as the ball carrier squares his shoulders to threaten a cutback. Scallop is defined as a shuffle while continuing to close on the ball carrier with your near leg and near shoulder.

Vice

The sixth and final drill in the Devil Tackling progression is called “Vice.” This drill teaches defenders how to work together in a tackling effort. The main coaching point for this drill is to “Own Your Hip.” If each defender wins on his leverage side, then the ball carrier has no escape lane. Devil Tackling techniques are still displayed when players are making a vice. The final clip of game film shows one defender executing a Devil Tackle while another defender executes a Profile Tackle. (See Video 5)

The Goal

The goal of coaching tackling is to get ball carriers on the ground in the safest way possible. Devil Tackling has given our defenders the tools to successfully complete those two objectives. Practicing football has changed in the modern era and we are charged as coaches to adjust our teaching methods to best fit today’s game.

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Matt Guerrieri joined the Blue Devils staff in July of 2012 and serves as a co-defensive coordinator, mentoring Duke’s defensive secondary. Guerrieri served as a graduate assistant coach with the Blue Devils for his first three seasons before being promoted to assistant coach in January of 2015. Following the 2017 season, he was named co-defensive coordinator and added recruiting coordinator duties for the defense.