Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

After Wednesday’s practice concluded, and the rest of the Saints were back in the locker room showering and getting dressed, cornerback Keenan Lewis walked out to a side field and began putting in work on a blocking sled.

No, he wasn’t worried about tuning up his blocking technique. He was using the sled to practice his tackling form. The image said everything you need to know about the Saints’ mentality this week after missing at least a dozen tackles during Sunday’s overtime loss to the Falcons.

“That’s something I want to emphasize on,” Lewis said. “In practice sometimes you don’t get enough of it. Just wrapping up is something I’m trying to work on this week.”

Even though the team has moved on to preparing for this week’s opponent, the Cleveland Browns, many members of the defense still have a bad taste in their mouth after letting last week’s game slip away.

The defense some time working on tackling during Wednesday’s practice, which is not entirely out of the ordinary, but coach Sean Payton said there is added emphasis on fundamentals this week.

Still, even though the defense believes they can clean up the mistakes and improve, it will take a clean performance before the players can move beyond the issue.

“I had a hard time sleeping this week because of the film we put out there,” safety Kenny Vaccaro said.


Read more: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

Every member of the defense should be doing that rather than spending the whole offseason tweeting about how good they are

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

Nite nite Cleveland....

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

If there's any justice in the football world Cleveland won't get 200 yards against us.

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

I really hope we get back to basics on D, what worked for us last year

On obvious passing downs, man coverage on the outside receivers, Byrd playing around where the first down marker is and reacting rather than 20 yards downfield
Vaccaro in the slot due to the 3 safety set we have on the field

As horrible as it was to watch the game vs falcons, I think it showed us two things that led to our downfall

Scheme and tackling - both can be corrected

we had the falcons pinned at their own 6 yard line, we played zone and byrd was about 20 yards back, julio jones ran a 10 yard corner route and picked up 23 yards
If someone gets a better jam at the line or at least is close to him, that doesn't happen and the falcons punt

If we had tackled better, I don't think the falcons break 20 points

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

The more I read, the more I realize this was first game mistakes for our defense.

No more, no less.

Except for Robinson and Hawthorne whom I believe will continue to plague us

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

face mask in the middle of the numbers. wrap up and drive through. what is so hard about it? snot knocker hits are great at causing turnovers

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

True, but at some point maybe before Atlanta hit the 400 yard mark, you would think they would make some type of adjustments. The defense has some serious cleaning up to do.
Not sure if they just underestimated Atlanta, bought into the hype, or just had a terrible first game. Guess we'll see this week.

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

All above

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

Tackling is not like riding a bike, players seem to lose the skill for some reason. Hoping others follow Lewis's lead and get some extra work in.

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

Its so ironic our best defense on paper in a long time and this is what we get the first game. I think they can turn it around, but if not this will be a very long season.

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

The perfect, true, and pure form tackle is one of the hardest things to accomplish on the field. The form tackle is meant for to people heading for a head to head collision. It doesn't really accommodate angles, runners changing pad level, strength and momentum disparities, amongst other things. Just wrap up and bring him down as best you can. As long as he goes down. If you can't, hold him until someone gets there who can.

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

I agree. Why didn't we just play our regular defense. If we had gotten beat then so be it. Well maybe this is the kick in the butt the defense needs. God, I hope so.

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

Completely agree
That's what my old football coach used to preach when I was playing safety
Teams used to try to run screens on us because we had small cornerbacks but even though the guy was outsized nearly every time he'd do his best to hold onto the player and one of us would fly over to complete the tackle, it became second nature

I don't know how we suddenly got so bad at tackling as a defense but it needs to be corrected

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

none of you could tackle a professional football player.
not even the kickers. you might have a chance with the cheerleaders.

i trust our staff to make corrections.

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

We aren't getting paid millions of dollars to do it
we are fans so we have the right to be critical of our team when we aren't happy with the performance

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

In rugby we use the slide tackle when coming at a player from the side. Hit them at the waist and wrap them up and simply slide down to his ankles as he goes forward. We also use the dump tackle when we are facing the ball carrier.

Actually, I wish the NFL would make the players at least make an attempt to wrap up. In rugby if you don't wrap up a players that you tackle it's a penalty.

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

lmao :broccoli:

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

No. You don't have a chance even with Gumbo.

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

Basics, it doesn't get any easier than what you just said. I wonder what coach is teaching them not to wrap up? If I were Payton that coach would be on a extreamly short leash, period.

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

I know all of our players work hard... but Lewis.... When other players are fishing, spending time with family, posting pictures of their new shoes... This guy is working and sharing pictures of himself working.

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

You are wrong, as always; I can and have tackled players that have been in the NFL and NFL Europe. The ex Patriots FB was the toughest to bring down.

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

it aint hard to throw yourself at the feet of a player and pray you flip him. hmmm that maybe one problem right there.

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

Tackle but don't hit them too hard. **** Goddell.

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

+1. No doubt. Always looking for ways to get better at his craft.

Re: Keenan Lewis working overtime on tackling techique
 

That's an interesting fact. I'm surprised no one brought attention to what you just said. While the NFL doesn't need anymore reasons to throw flags on defenders, that is pretty smart of the Rugby officials.