Dominant, Lost his Legs

[MarkInTheStands]

Arrgghhh, This call has got to be the most infuriating ever, and I always seem to hear it at Eels games.

These tackles are supposedly called when a player surrenders in the tackle of the opposition, and it is used to allow the defence to negate any advantage a player would have had by dropping to get a fast play the ball.

The Problem is our forwards and some selected other players seem to do it all the time. As soon as we have the football, we run forward, hit someone and stop. Trying to get a quicker play the ball, but 60% of the time or more we hear the call. So what to do.

Well that is easy lets ensure we don't drop in a tackle, we have to go into a tackle, and keep pumping our legs or else we will be accused of submitting, once we start pumping legs once in the tackle, some other things might change, we might actually stand in a tackle and that could mean we would be able to get a fast play the ball.

Players like Vella, Pearson and some of the other forwards seem to run and launch themselves into the tackle, making a partial leap with their legs just before the point of contact. In the modem game though, these contacts are easily absorbed and at best mean to don't go any further than where the defence was standing. The worst case is you are caught and driven back and all the time has no chance of second phase play.

I think this small change with the speed of McKinnon, along some of the other faster blokes, might allow us to be a more dominant attacking machine.

Your Thoughts.

 

[Pazza]

Great topic!

I think it just comes down to how the team has been coached to play. Parramatta has the players to hit the line hard and leg drive. But if Smith tells them to hit the line and be as quick as possible then the problem is in the coach's mind set. I am also a big fan of bringing back the skill sessions we had in 2001. Sure play a power game in the opening exchanges but when the game opens up we need something like forwards passing to forwards or Back rowers putting in grubbers to really crack open the defencive line.

 

[True EEL]

Chris Armit stuggles and keeps going forward in tackles

maybe that was his problem, he wasn't following BS's grand plan of how to lose games

 

[stuke]

i agree....would also be good to get our forwards to take the ball straight off the play ball so they can get over the advantage line instead of having the ball passed back 5 metres before we try to gain any metres. would result in far better field position and would help for us to get a roll on.... something that has been lacking in recent years.

 

[Pazza]

I think that will improve with new players in the hooking position. Riddell and Marsh provide great service out of dummy half. I love Riddells half darts that draws the markers and lets the front rowers gain more ground. I also think we lack work ethic in the front row. I knew Vella wasnt playing well but dear lord, Vella over the last 5 games has been averaging less metres than Fuifui MoiMoi per match. Considering that Moimoi only plays 15 mins a game comparied to Vella's 40 - 50 minutes a game. I know alot of people like to bag Moimoi but atleast when he is on the field you can tell he is on, half the time you can't even tell where Vella is!

 

[Utey]

Vella goes missing far to often. I would like to see him play from the bench. Thats where he platys best. MoiMoi will come good with some offseason conditioning. Lately he has beenplaying 40 minutes per game but bnecomes ineffective after around 30-35. Always fancied his ability.

 

[bartman]

We've got to make up our minds which runs are going to be barging meter-making runs, and which ones are going to be "soft runs" for the quick play-the-ball to set up the following attacking play.

You need several barging runs in your set of six, and really the quick play-the-ball should be the surprise rather than the expectation. It's not like we have done much in attack after quick play the balls anyway. And too many of them risk that stupid dominant tackle call, which eats away at your team momentum.

Maybe it's a matter of selecting particular forwards as bargers, others as soft runners, and others still as offloaders? Or designating the runs on particlaur tackles (eg 1st, 3rd, 4th barges)? Or getting someone at dummy-half or halfback (or fullback?) reading the game and barking the orders at the runners in each set of six.

 

[Eelementary]

This is why I have been very disappointed with Tsoulos' late season form.

He's huge and has tremendous leg drive - why couldn't he break tackles? At the beginning of the year he did exactly that - then he somewhat lost from.

I hope it was due to an injury.

Anyway, I think being a forward in attack is not hard - catch the ball and run like hell.

Problem this year was Pearson's poor old legs just couldn't handle it and Vella - well, he just doesn't run properly. He is tall, strong and athletic - he should charge into the defensive line. He's probably fall flat on his arse, but at least we'd make progress. I think maybe he's afraid of falling on his behind?

I just don't know why our forwards - Hindmarsh excepted, on most occassions - especially our props don't hit the ball at pace looking to break tackles and/or get over the advantage line.

And on the dominant tackle topic - I agree with you 100% Mark. It's frustrating, and I think it is also largely due to the fact that the referees tend to not have a very good idea about dominant tackles.

 

[Eelementary]

I think that will improve with new players in the hooking position. Riddell and Marsh provide great service out of dummy half. I love Riddells half darts that draws the markers and lets the front rowers gain more ground. I also think we lack work ethic in the front row. I knew Vella wasnt playing well but dear lord, Vella over the last 5 games has been averaging less metres than Fuifui MoiMoi per match. Considering that Moimoi only plays 15 mins a game comparied to Vella's 40 - 50 minutes a game. I know alot of people like to bag Moimoi but atleast when he is on the field you can tell he is on, half the time you can't even tell where Vella is!

Mate I agree - if Moi Moi can develop his fitness to play at least 20 minutes a half, then we might have a winner. A prop who goes forward and hits hard in defence.

 

[Eelementary]

We've got to make up our minds which runs are going to be barging meter-making runs, and which ones are going to be "soft runs" for the quick play-the-ball to set up the following attacking play.

You need several barging runs in your set of six, and really the quick play-the-ball should be the surprise rather than the expectation. It's not like we have done much in attack after quick play the balls anyway. And too many of them risk that stupid dominant tackle call, which eats away at your team momentum.

Maybe it's a matter of selecting particular forwards as bargers, others as soft runners, and others still as offloaders? Or designating the runs on particlaur tackles (eg 1st, 3rd, 4th barges)? Or getting someone at dummy-half or halfback (or fullback?) reading the game and barking the orders at the runners in each set of six.

That's a great idea, and with Riddell at hooker we'll probably be able to make it work. Plus Pig is very efficient at making line breaks from dummy half - yet another facet of our attacking game which was found somewhat lacking this year.

 

[Pazza]

i am excited about Morrison, he has that Work ethic we are looking for. If Parra has Hindmarsh, Cayless and Morrison fit all season long then they are going to lay a solid foundation in attack and defence. It's just up to our front rowers to take rise to the challenge.