• Gleason's Sporting World: Ending kickoffs won't solve tackling issues

  • Points to ponder while wondering to what extent head injuries can be reduced no matter how many more NFL rules change.
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    The latest discussion involves eliminating kickoffs altogether, which would remove another piece of the game tenuously known as football. But removing kickoffs would ignore the main cause of head injuries, other than the blazing speed of the game itself. Players continue to use their helmets and face masks as weapons while tackling.
    The league already has moved kickoffs from the 30 to the 35-yard line in an effort to reduce violent collisions. But kickoffs are a minute part of the game. The NFL should focus on trying to eliminate head-to-head or head-first collisions in the other 110 or so plays during a game.
    The most important part of the game that must be changed is poor tackling technique often resulting in players hitting each other head-first and face-mask first. Players claim that it's often impossible to avoid head-to-head hitting because of the very speed of the game. They move so fast on offense and defense that the slightest movement just before impact can cause head-on collisions.
    That certainly is the case in some situations. But head injuries would be considerably reduced if defenders consistently kept their heads up while tackling ballcarriers from the waist down and to the side of the player's body, with both arms wrapped around the player. Not sticking your helmet in the player's chest or above the chest. Not dropping your head and keeping your arms to the side.
    Only so much can be done to prevent head injuries with players hitting the ground hard on every play. But cutting down on bad tackling is the best way to cut down on head injuries. Players must be the ones to change their style. And coaches at every level must continually hammer home the importance of proper tackling.
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    Twitter: @th_KevinGleason
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