After watching several bowl games (and really the entire year of CFB in general) with most being lop-sided blowouts it amazes me how few defensive players know how to tackle. Seems like most are launching themselves like missiles with their arms to their sides making it impossible to wrap up. It's like all they want to do is blow somebody up leading with a shoulder pad (or helmet) while the majority of the time they miss, or bounce the player backwards but not off their feet, or even worse they cause self-destruction. Looks like for as long as these guys have played they would make tackling their first priority - if they can destroy someone in the process fine.

I think that the lack of tackling is due in large part to the new targeting rules. For years, players have been using shoulders as leverage in tackling instead of wrapping up. Now these new rules have defenders being tentative.

But it seems regardless of the new rules very few try to wrap up - they just want to try to hit and knock down the offensive man.

No one knows how to tackle anymore. Well, that’s not true. The Atlanta Falcons kicker is a pretty good tackler.