Obviously it is the player who is responsible for making tackles. However, PR, it is very clear when the defense as a whole struggles with making tackles, breaking down, over pursuing, and over all poor pass coverage technique ( ie. swiveling your hips, positioning, and turning to face the ball) that fundamentals are lacking. I don't care if you are playing pop warner or in the nfl, if you don't focus on fundamentals and technique, you won't be successful. This whole blame game that Division I players should already know how to tackle, therefore we shouldn't have to work on it is a bunch of bs. Fundamental are the name of the game at all levels. Without them, you will have an average team at best. I coach different levels of youth basketball, baseball, and football. Yo can never underestimate fundamentals. When I have a player make a mistake or are fundamentally weak, I don't blame the player, I blame myself, the coach. And by the way PR, I have played the game. Players are going to make mistakes, it is part of the game. It is the coaches job to teach that player proper technique and skills to make that player better and to limit the mistakes. I am guessing that you are ( were) one of those athletes that felt you didn't need to work on fundamentals and already "knew" it alll. It is pretty easy to spot a team that is fundamentally weak, that is.l a coaching issue.
