Tackling tackling

Not a whole lot of news this week. This article from Thursday's Herald did get my attention. The article at one point says "The Eagles may be failing at some of the basics, like tackling, because they are young on the defensive side." I don't know if that is the writer, Steve Conroy's thoughts, or if he is listing a criticism he has heard from players and coaches. Regardless of the source of the analysis, tackling, unfortunately, is not the problem.

BC hasn't been a great tackling team for a few years. Henderson and Toal ole'd a bunch of tackles last year. If anything, aside from the numerous blown plays on Spiller's great run in the Clemson game, the tackling has been improved. Tribble is doing a much better job at bringing his men down. Pruitt and Francois are very good at wrapping people up. The only real bad form tacklers who regularly see the field are Anam and Silva. And Silva is brutal head hunter who doesn't let many guys get buy him. The real problem has been scheme and speed. Our schemes have played to the other team's strengths and we are not getting to the ball carriers and QB fast enough. We are just not getting to the guys or getting to the right zone/hole/assignment fast enough.

So good news: tackling has improved. Bad news: we aren't getting close enough to tackle.