An angle tackle is when the defender isn’t straight in front of the ball carrier but has to take a different angle to make contact. This requires reading the play and moving to the right spot. Cue: Profile, Sink, Near, Wrap.
What you need: Three cones. Mark a line of scrimmage and a boundary line 15 yards away.
Setup: The ball carrier starts at the line. The defender starts 5 yards to the side. Both start at the same cone.
How to run it:
- On the snap, the ball carrier runs forward and slightly toward the sideline.
- The defender reads the direction and runs an angle to intercept. They’re not trying to chase from behind; they’re trying to cut them off.
- When they meet, the defender gets into Profile, Sinks low, and drives the near shoulder.
- Do 5 reps with the ball carrier going right, then 5 reps going left.
What to watch: Does the defender run directly at the ball carrier or do they angle their path? If they run straight, the ball carrier gets past them. Angling the path cuts them off.
If they’re struggling: Have the ball carrier run in a straight line with no cutback. Make it easier for the defender to read the angle.
If they’ve got it: Have the ball carrier make a jump cut. Now the defender has to react and adjust their angle mid-run.
Based on the Hawk Tackle technique developed by Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks, adopted into USA Football’s Heads Up Football program. Head behind, never across the front. Eyes up through the chest, not into the chest.