This really annoys me about the NFL..

[Radio_Bugtussle]

Most NFL football players have been playing tackle football since they were 8 or 9 years old.

From day 1, coaches were on them (I assume) about proper tackling form, yet we see so many defenders forget that they have arms and that arms are to be used to wrap up the ball carrier after you hit him. Either pull the guy down or hang on and wait for help.

This is the most basic of skills, yet many of the best football players in the world have a hard time with it.

This irritates me almost as much as seeing Kip Wells taking 12 minutes and 15 seconds between pitches for no apparent reason.

[Cronos]

One of the primary reasons that the Rams have been a bad team defensively for many years(even when they had the high flying offense that could make up for it) is that they either don't bother to teach form tackling or the team just can't or refuses to do it.

I think it's a widespread problem in the NFL, though, you're right. I think the TV and media coverage encourage the players just to slap the opposing player down as hard as they can so that they can get a highlight or appear on "Jacked up" and stuff like that, rather than tackle the ball carrier. The result? The ball carrier tends to elude the player rather easily. In '05, on one play against the Arizona Cardinals, Anquan Boldin ran through 8, count 'em, 8 defenders who all did the slap number for about 30 yards for a touchdown. It was the single worst defensive play I've ever witnessed in the NFL.

[longhornbaseball]

Frank Gore.

[Cronos]

Frank Gore.

Ah-ha, but Frank Gore only ran through 3 or 4 guys that time. Progress!