If you happen to watch some football games this weekend. Take note of the defenders. How many of them do you see you running to meet the ball carrier vs how many stand flat foot waiting for the ball carrier to come to them.

Make sure to stock up on alcohol and then take note of this same thing Packers vs Raiders.

When you watch defenses like 49ers or Steelers or most of the time the Jets ... they are attacking the ball carrier.

I think this is one of the main reasons we do not have a successful defense. We are passive tacklers rather than aggressive tacklers.

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I've noticed this too - and it isn't new to our defense either. It mostly annoys me because it is taught at every level of tackle football. I haven't played at any level above HS ball, but I lived for the moments I got to blow someone up - why don't these guys? I have seen it with other teams, though the Packers more than others... of course that may be because I watch them on the regular?

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Absolutely seen it in DBs, but seems like an entire league issues almost, as I believe CB Douglas has said, they don't get paid to tackle (and Douglas at times has been one of the better DB tacklers).

Also you have the guys like Alexander, whom has been an extremely over aggressive tackler at times, whom the Packers didn't want in the slot, as they didn't want his small frame to get injured after losing him for a stretch, and not has a back injury.

If the guys want to maximize their money and careers (which is their goal at the end of the day) then take/give less hits makes sense.

How does one change that mindset? Also coaches want to keep their DBs healthy too.

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You ever see the movie Major League where 3B Roger Dorn doesn't lay out to snag a grounder? I think it's the same thing for tackling in the NFL. Dorn didn't lay out because he didn't want to get hurt. I think part of it was his face was also used for advertising.

Yes, the passive tackling happens with other teams, not just the Packers. I have seen numerous players (mainly LB and S) go aggressive with tackling but CB's are pretty unanimously passive tacklers regardless of the team. You'll get a thumper here and there, but it's rare.

It's hard for a Zebra or Tiger or whatever animal to change it's stripes.

Here's how I would do it.

I would get the defense together and ask them to identify the top three defenses in the NFL. Then I would show cut ups of how those teams are tackling. When the players see most of the teams they mentioned in the clips, it should hit home a little bit. Then I play tackle cut ups of the current Packers defenders tackling in their passive nature.

To drive home the point, I would challenge them as men to be aggressive. If not for themselves, for the guy on their left, for the guy on the right and they'll respect the guy in the mirror the next morning.

Then I would get cut ups ready for every Wednesday morning meeting and call out each aggressive tackle in a manner that encourages the men watching to want to be in the next Wednesday cut up.

And if that starts to stale, I then put some money where my mouth is. I would start ponying up $100 for every aggressive tackle.

This is just off the cuff here and not much thought. The point here is it is a mindset and our minds can be changed with the right leadership. The players have to ask themselves, do you want to be great?

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I have to ask do any secondary guys actually tackle anymore? I was always taught to wrap up the runner, but I guess for guys in the secondary you just throw a shoulder and hop the guy trips over you. I brought this up a few weeks ago but I wonder how many yards after contact we give us as a whole, I am willing to bet we are top 5 for the most. I really don't remember the last time I saw a Packer defensive player light someone up but you seem to always see it once a game when you get the Steelers or Ravens defense play.

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Juxtaposing two threads.....tackling is not what it used to be.

When you look at many of the Butkus' tackles, today they would be called spearing or targeting. That is simply how tackling used to be taught. It is not longer taught that way for a couple of reasons:
- Leading with your head, especially if the tackler dips his head leads to increased concussions and neck and spine injuries.
- If you teach the 'old' ways of tackling, and you are a coach, you will get sued, lose your job, etc..

Further, most of the concussion studies of late would seem to indicate that the number of hits is equally important in leading to CTE as the big hits. As a consequence, coaches are discouraged from tackling drills in practice.

When teaching tackling techniques, this video https://www.seahawks.com/video/2016-seahawks-tackling  used to be prevalent. I would have to check with my son to see if it still is, but I would imagine it still is...or something close.

In regard to the passivity of CB tackling, I think it boils down to physics. Unless they commit to having a reasonably high rate of speed/acceleration in the attack, they are going to get run over. You are either the windshield or the bug and most CBs would rather try to punch the ball out, push someone out of bounds, or otherwise avoid a head-on (shoulder on) hit.

Butkus, Nitschke, and most other of the players from the glory days would be kicked out of the game and penalized if they used the old methods of tackling.

Or you could just read the post previous to yours. 🤦‍♂️

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Martha.I love everyone one of your topics......you need to be a consultant

Thank so much PFOW, I appreciate the enthusiasm and encouragement!!!

Although to give credit where it is due Zero2Cool started the thought provoking topic.

Nixon with some aggressive tackles in first half.

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