IMO, a lot of the open-field arm tackling comes from the DB's/LB's taking bad angles to the ball carrier. This doesn't explain all of the arm tackling, but it does explain some. I've seen too many plays where the DB/LB arrives late because of a bad angle and ends up diving and coming up with air.
The most obvious example that comes to mind was that way-too-easy 66-yard waltz to the end zone by Pollard in the fourth quarter last weekend. That was embarrassing.
Chins didn't do a very good job, apparently, at covering this (shocker), because we obviously have a lot of raw talent on the defensive side. I'll bet coach Shannon knows all about proper angles. Hopefully he gets the chance to provide a refresher course on this (if he's allowed to) before the Peach. Kerryon Johnson will run all over us all day long unless some kind of fix is put in place.
(And then there's the part about the DB's, when covering capable opposing WR's, having their backs to the opposing QB a lot as the ball arrives -- Hughes is the best at not doing this, but even he had his back to the play on one of the Miller TD's in the 4th -- but that's another story. There is an awful lot of WR talent in the AAC...and I also freely admit that this particular middle-aged slug has an awfully nice freaking view from the cheap seats.)
The most obvious example that comes to mind was that way-too-easy 66-yard waltz to the end zone by Pollard in the fourth quarter last weekend. That was embarrassing.
Chins didn't do a very good job, apparently, at covering this (shocker), because we obviously have a lot of raw talent on the defensive side. I'll bet coach Shannon knows all about proper angles. Hopefully he gets the chance to provide a refresher course on this (if he's allowed to) before the Peach. Kerryon Johnson will run all over us all day long unless some kind of fix is put in place.
(And then there's the part about the DB's, when covering capable opposing WR's, having their backs to the opposing QB a lot as the ball arrives -- Hughes is the best at not doing this, but even he had his back to the play on one of the Miller TD's in the 4th -- but that's another story. There is an awful lot of WR talent in the AAC...and I also freely admit that this particular middle-aged slug has an awfully nice freaking view from the cheap seats.)