Mar. 11—Rugby-style tackling came to Ohio State in 2014 with Chris Ash, who was hired as co-defensive coordinator that year. The new-yet-old-school approach has remained a part of the way the Buckeyes play defense even through multiple coordinator changes, and new coordinator Jim Knowles said that will continue under his watch. “For sure,” he said on the first day of spring practice this week. That means continuing to work to keep the head out of tackling by teaching players to initiate contact at the nearest leg, hip or shoulder instead of trying to cut the ball-carrier off across his entire body. “What we all taught going back to Woody Hayes was head across the bow, head across the bow,” Knowles said, referencing the Hall of Fame Ohio State coach born in Clifton. “When you’re making a tackle we don’t use the head anymore, so you don’t teach that. So now…
Continue Reading: Ohio State Buckeyes: Tackling in focus for new defensive coordinator
