Defensive tackles can be the hidden factors on a football team.\u00a0 When they are dominant,\u00a0 offenses have a hard time operating but they can go unnoticed by fans watching the game.\u00a0 You know who does notice them?\u00a0 College football coaches do.\u00a0 They know that the key to being solid on defense is being strong up the middle and that starts with your defensive tackles.\u00a0 If you are are looking to impress college football programs as a defensive tackle to the point of being offered scholarships then there are five things that you will need to show on film.<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0 A Great Get Off<\/strong><\/p>\n There are few things more impressive when you are watching film of a defensive tackle than one who can explode out of his stance at the snap of the ball.\u00a0 I dare say that it’s the most disruptive thing in the game of football.\u00a0 A guy breathing over the football who can get to the quarterback or wreck the ball carrier in two seconds is something no offense wants to deal with.\u00a0 If you don’t have a great get off then find one asap.\u00a0 College coaches know that a guy that can penetrate the line of scrimmage snap after snap causes the offense to change their plans.\u00a0 When a college coach is out looking for defensive tackles,\u00a0 that’s the guy he is looking for.\u00a0 Get in the weight room and hit the explosive lifts.\u00a0 Also spend some time working on your timing.\u00a0 Studying centers and finding clues for when they are going to snap the ball will also help.\u00a0 If you already have a get off,\u00a0 show it on film even when you did not ultimately make the play.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0 Ability to Get Off Blocks<\/strong><\/p>\n Defensive tackles get blocked.\u00a0 There’s no way around that.\u00a0 They are the closest defenders to the quarterback.\u00a0 So if you don’t block the tackles then we simply don’t have a football game.\u00a0 However,\u00a0 just because you get blocked doesn’t mean you have to stay blocked.\u00a0 The best defensive tackles,\u00a0 shed blocks and find the ball carrier.\u00a0 This is something you must show on film.\u00a0 Perhaps you don’t have the explosive get off but if you are a guy that can’t get off of blocks you can’t play and you definitely won’t get scholarship offers.\u00a0 If you are lacking in this area,\u00a0 learn how to use your hands,\u00a0 use your leverage and develop your lower body strength.\u00a0 Being able to push the pocket on pass plays is a great thing to show up on your highlight video as well.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0 Handle Double Teams<\/strong><\/p>\n If you are good at points one and two then you already know what is coming.\u00a0 As I said before,\u00a0 defensive tackles have to get blocked if the offense is going to move the football.\u00a0 If your get off or ability to shed blocks is a great then the offense will honor that by devoting two men to block you.\u00a0 If you have the ability to stall two men at the line of scrimmage or better yet,\u00a0 split them then put that on your highlight video.\u00a0 You can even include plays on your film where you didn’t make the tackle but you defeated a double team block.\u00a0 Holding your ground against these types of blocks means other guys on the defense can operate at a high level and college coaches love that.<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0 Motor<\/strong><\/p>\n You want to see a coach throw a visor?\u00a0 Then have a defensive tackle cut off a big play near the sidelines.\u00a0 If the biggest guys on the defense also hustle on every play then the coach calling offensive plays knows that it’s going to be a long day.\u00a0 If you are a guy that can separate from a block to run to the sidelines to make a tackle on a sweep or stretch play,\u00a0 put that on your highlight video.\u00a0 If you are a guy that will rush the passer then turn around and go find the receiver when the ball is thrown,\u00a0 put that on film.\u00a0 Show your hustle on film even when you didn’t end up being the first guy on the tackle.\u00a0 Hustling is a mentality.\u00a0 If you don’t have that then go develop it.\u00a0 Not only will it catch a college’s attention but it will help your high school team have a bad ass defense.\u00a0 You have to love that.<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0 Pass Rush Moves<\/strong><\/p>\n Last but certainly not least,\u00a0 you have to get to the passer.\u00a0 Football has become very offensive and pass happy.\u00a0 Everything revolves around the quarterbacks so if you can make his operations difficult you bring tremendous value.\u00a0 Defensive tackles must stop the run first.\u00a0 However,\u00a0 if you can make the quarterback uncomfortable by landing on him or making him leave the pocket frequently you are a scholarship worthy player.\u00a0 The best way to accomplish this is by having a set of pass rush moves.\u00a0 I am not just talking about a bull rush.\u00a0 I am talking about martial arts type hand movement that makes you as slippery as an iPhone without the case.\u00a0 If you have that ability,\u00a0 display it.\u00a0 If you are missing that part of your game,\u00a0 start studying and acquire these special set of skills.\u00a0 Failing to do so may result in your scholarship offers staring in the next installment of the “Taken” movie series.<\/p>\n So,\u00a0 after reading this,\u00a0 do you have these skills?\u00a0 If so,\u00a0 strategically place them in your highlight video to capture the attention of defensive line coaches and coordinators hitting the recruiting trail.\u00a0 If you are lacking these things then you have stuff to work on.\u00a0 Get busy.\u00a0 Possessing all of these factors can aid you in getting on a school’s board even if you are undersized.\u00a0 Control what you can control and see what results you get.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Defensive tackles can be the hidden factors on a football team.\u00a0 When they are dominant,\u00a0 offenses have 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