Why has tackling become a struggle?

[UKBillFan]

As much as Leslie Frasier has been criticised for play calling on defense, I think our biggest issue is YAC - we seem to be missing a disproportionate number of tackles this year. Is it a case of reserves struggling to execute? Players on offense knowing how we tackle so being able to skip round them? Players not being coached probably to wrap up and hold? It feels like we’re putting ourselves under additional pressure due to not being able to stop the YAC, and I cannot recall us being so porous in previous years.

[KDIGGZ]

They don't tackle at all in practice. It forms bad habits for when they actually do need to get the guy on the ground. Although every team is in the same position so I don't know if it's a league-wide problem or just our team but I can imagine other fanbases feel the same way about their team too

[SydneyBillsFan]

The open field tackles in particular are a problem.

 

 

[Buffalosouth]

I wonder if people practice breaking tackles. Maybe they should just play flag or soccer or just get some sidewalk chalk and play hopscotch. Milano did have a bad miss and Poyer shouldve went to put his guy on the ground instead of going for the strip at the goal line. All in all teams don't hit like the mid 90s and prior anymore but I think the Bills do a good job with the wrap and twist.

[LeGOATski]

The notable open field tackles I remember were missed by the two backup safeties (they're backups for a reason) and Milano, who's had a consistently poor missed tackle percentage throughout his career. I'm not too surprised by those.

 

The DT's missing tackles, I couldn't tell ya. They need to do better getting the runner down when they get their hands on him.

[TH3]

14 minutes ago, UKBillFan said:

As much as Leslie Frasier has been criticised for play calling on defense, I think our biggest issue is YAC - we seem to be missing a disproportionate number of tackles this year. Is it a case of reserves struggling to execute? Players on offense knowing how we tackle so being able to skip round them? Players not being coached probably to wrap up and hold? It feels like we’re putting ourselves under additional pressure due to not being able to stop the YAC, and I cannot recall us being so porous in previous years.

when will we run out of things to criticize about an 8-3 team gutting out wins with half its starting defense, half its oline and its possession receiver out? 

[Billzgobowlin]

Not having Hyde for the season has been a huge issue.  We had injuries last year but Edmunds and Poyer missing multiple games has exposed our lack of high quality depth.  I think with those guys out it has exposed Taron more too.

[UKBillFan]

3 minutes ago, TH3 said:

when will we run out of things to criticize about an 8-3 team gutting out wins with half its starting defense, half its oline and its possession receiver out? 

So you’re saying it’s reserve players struggling to execute. Thank you for your input.

[Solomon Grundy]

I'm going to chalk it up to conditioning, mental and physical. 

[LeGOATski]

1 minute ago, Solomon Grundy said:

I'm going to chalk it up to conditioning, mental and physical. 

fire the conditioning team

[Captain_Quint]

I think that's a strong point for the Bills, after watching the rest of the league. So I think it's more of a league wide issue, due to teams being more injury conscience and nobody wanting to draw a penalty for leading with the head. I rewatched the Lions game last night and was surprised how many TFL and 1 on 1 tackles we made.

 

So I think it's undue criticism on the Bills. Also, if you want to see a tackling clinic, rewatch the games when teams try and throw a screen or a pass in the flat. Our defense blows that up almost everytime. 

[freddyjj]

Given the challenges post Vikings game there has likely been zero time available to do some fundamental drills. In his Presser Frazier mentioned they would have time this week to cover some fundamentals.  Might have to because Pats RB Stevenson is a load. 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

43 minutes ago, UKBillFan said:

As much as Leslie Frasier has been criticised for play calling on defense, I think our biggest issue is YAC - we seem to be missing a disproportionate number of tackles this year. Is it a case of reserves struggling to execute? Players on offense knowing how we tackle so being able to skip round them? Players not being coached probably to wrap up and hold? It feels like we’re putting ourselves under additional pressure due to not being able to stop the YAC, and I cannot recall us being so porous in previous years.

sort of wonder if there are advanced stats out there on missed tackles. Not doubting you, but I haven’t gotten the same impression as you (ie, that this is a problem).  
 

I also don’t think YAC always correlates to missed tackles. Sometimes it is due to bad coverage, or being out of coverage position. 

[UKBillFan]

1 minute ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

sort of wonder if there are advanced stats out there on missed tackles. Not doubting you, but I haven’t gotten the same impression as you (ie, that this is a problem).  
 

I also don’t think YAC always correlates to missed tackles. Sometimes it is due to bad coverage, or being out of coverage position. 

When referring to YAC I’m meaning when one of our players is their to stop the run and misses the opportunity to do so, rather than general. Unless you mean you feel, due to bad coverage, they’re not in the right place to do so?

[Coach Tuesday]

Practice habits.

[bmur66]

Dick Vermeil said the difference today is that coach’s don’t have the practice time to spend with players. In his day they would practice hard to get better.

There isn’t an app for that.

Edited November 26, 2022 by bmur66

[GolfandBills]

Bills have always been one of the worst tackling teams under McDermott 

[Lothar]

We have always been one of the worst tackling teams in the McBeane tenure. It might be the type of linebackers we get or the emphasis we place on scheme and coverage over basics like sound tackling. It's usually hard to find fault with a defense that has been among the top 5 but that is definitely a thing and since the first 2 games this year, it had become a team wide phenomenon.

 

Joe Marino listed the percent missed tackles of every player - he said we should average about 10-12%. Some like Epenesa are over 50% and most of the team is well over that threshold. 

 

 

[TampaBillsJunkie]

It's a concern for sure. I hope we go into a 4-3 or a 5-2 instead of the 4-2-5 and get more beef on the field vs NE. Klein is a good tackler and having him over a DB would be preferable or just load up the front 5 with Jones, Oliver, Phillips, Rousseau and Lawson and let the other guys rotate in as needed. 

[Boatdrinks]

Less talented players being forced into starting roles.