Jonathan Gannon Addresses the Tackling Dilemma in the NFL
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has found himself at the forefront of a pressing issue that impacts defensive play across the NFL: the challenge of effective tackling. As discussions around player safety and fundamental skills evolve, Gannon’s insights reveal a complex landscape for defenders navigating the league’s stringent tackling rules.
Missed Tackles and Defensive Struggles
Through 14 games this season, the Cardinals rank 11th in missed tackles, with 85 recorded thus far, according to Pro Football Reference. While this figure places them in a relatively average category—compared to the league-leading Cincinnati Bengals at 146 missed tackles and the Philadelphia Eagles at a more favorable 82—it underscores a persistent struggle for the Arizona defense. Gannon’s team has faced difficulties in executing fundamental tackling techniques, a challenge echoed by many teams in the league.
The Complexity of Practicing Tackling
When probed on how to improve tackling during practice, Gannon shared a detailed perspective, emphasizing the inherent difficulty of replicating game scenarios.
“We were just talking about that,” he began, addressing the nuances of tackling improvement. “You can definitely practice that — in my opinion, it’s a skill. This is a long dissertation on that, so I’ll try to give you the cliff notes. How the rules are set up, it’s hard to get better as a tackler being in the NFL.”
Gannon elaborated that while the team drills tackling daily in various forms, no practice can truly mimic the chaos of a live game. “There’s no drill you can do that can mimic a game. It’s too chaotic of an environment to drill it,” he explained. The coach emphasized the importance of sticking to fundamental techniques, ensuring that players maintain clarity in their roles and responsibilities.
Navigating the Rules of the Game
The current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) stipulates that teams can conduct only 14 padded practices throughout the season, with 11 of those required to occur in the first 11 weeks. Additionally, contact is banned during the offseason. Gannon acknowledged these restrictions, stating, “The rules are the rules. I’m not going to lobby for anything. I just play by the rules.”
He expressed frustration at the limitations posed on skill development, likening it to a golfer being told not to practice with their wedge during the offseason. “To get better at a skill, you have to practice the skill. You practice skill. You can scale it. You can scale the tempo, and you can scale how you do it, but to practice a skill, you need to practice the skill.”
A Collective Conundrum for Defenses
Gannon’s reflections highlight a broader issue that confronts defensive players league-wide: the balancing act of risk versus reward when it comes to practicing tackling. He underscored the necessity for defenses to excel in tackling to be effective overall, stating, “It’s just a conundrum I think all defensive guys face.”
As the NFL’s current CBA extends through 2030, the outlook on tackling regulations remains uncertain. With the league’s ambitions for expanded regular-season games, the conversation surrounding tackling is likely to persist.
“It’s a topic that every year people are talking about,” Gannon noted. “Head coaches, defensive coaches, this and that. A lot of people think you can’t practice it. You better just acquire people that can tackle because you aren’t going to help them at all. That’s a thought process too. To each their own, but it’s a challenge.”
In a league where the stakes continue to rise, Gannon’s insights shed light on the evolving dynamics of tackling, a fundamental skill that remains as critical as ever yet increasingly difficult to master.
