Last week we looked at offloading from the low tackle. Once the ball carrier attacks outside a shoulder of the defender and gets their mechanics right it is a relatively easy technique to execute. The fact that the tackle is made below the ball carrier’s waist means the ball carrier’s hands are free and this makes the offload much easier to execute.

But offloading from the ‘Smothert Tackle’ is much more difficult as the purpose of the smother tackle is not alone to tackle the ball carrier but also to ‘tag’ (tie up) the ball and specifically prevent the offload. For this reason the mechanics and technique of offloading from the smother tackle need to be very accurate in their execution.

The first action of the ball carrier is exactly the same as it is for passing before contact or offloading from the low tackle and that is to attack outside the shoulder of the defender. As already explained a number of times, this action is necessary to force the defender to turn their shoulders and in doing so move them out of their power position. Running straight into a defender who smother tackles, along with running the risk of losing the collision, it almost certainly guarantees the offload will not be an option.

Having dragged the defender slightly laterally, by running outside either of their shoulders, the next assessment the ball carrier has to make is establish the type of tackle the defender is trying to execute. If it is a low tackle then the technique described last week in offloading from the low tackle is the appropriate technique to use. But if the defender is attempting the smother tackle, a completely different technique is required to create an offload opportunity.

Once the ball carrier recognises the defender is attempting to execute a smother tackle they should adopt the following technique. Move the ball from carrying it in two hand and wrap it under the outside arm i.e. the arm furthest from the defender. This achieves three important goals: Firstly it ensures the ball will not dislodge on contact once it is wrapped up tight under the ball carrier’s arm. Secondly, it ensures the defender has very little opportunity to get at the ball and ‘tag’ it, which is their goal in using the smother tackle. Finally, it frees up the other arm which is the key to crating an offload opportunity.

The ball carrier can then use their free arm to stiff arm or fend the defender. The point of contact on the defender they should aim for is on the outside shoulder (shoulder nearest to them) of the defender. It is very important to target that outside shoulder. If the ball carrier targets the centre of the defenders chest it is very difficult to retain a stiff or extended arm on contact as the ball carrier is making contact with the strongest part of the defender’s upper body. Keeping that stiff/extended arm is crucial to the technique.

If the ball carrier targets the inside shoulder (shoulder furthest away) of the defender they merely turn the defender on themselves and that puts the defender in the perfect position to tag the ball. But if the ball carrier targets the defender’s outside shoulder as recommended, this action turns the defender away from the ball carrier. It keeps the ball protected from the defender and more importantly gives the ball carrier the leverage to create the offload. Once the ball carrier has made contact with the outside shoulder of the ball carrier it is often a good idea, if possible, to grab the jersey of the defender and hold on to their shoulder. This gives the ball carrier even more control over the defender.

Once the ball carrier has established control of the defender, by stiff-arming their outside shoulder, the ball carrier needs to retain a powerful body position. They achieve this in the same way as in the low tackle by keeping their hips square (parallel to the goal line) and driving hard with their legs. This action, combined with the extended stiff arm, will drive the ball carrier past the tackler and the offload now becomes a real possibility.

Once past the tackler, but still keeping the tackler at arms length, the ball carrier turns back to the space they dragged the tackler from. They are now in a position to offload the ball to the support player who has timed their run into the space the defender vacated. The support player runs the exact same line they would if taking a pass before contact or an offload from the low tackle. Nothing changes for the support player.

From the ball carrier’s point of view the offload from the smother tackle is a little more difficult that offloading from the low tackle. From the low tackle the ball is held in two hands by the ball carrier, but offloading from the smother tackle the ball is held in one hand. For that reason the ball carrier must not take the ball from under their arm until just before executing the offload. To do so just puts the ball at risk of being dislodged while in contact.

Once the ball carrier has made eye contact with the support player and is sure it is time to execute the offload they must “roll the ball” from their hand to create a ‘pop’ pass. From the support player’s point of view, it is exactly the same type of ‘pop’ pass they would receive if supporting an offload from the low tackle or a pass before contact. Offloading from one hand is more difficult than offloading from two hands. For that reason, as the ball is being passed from one hand, the “rolling” action to release the ball is important to control the flight of the pass. This method of passing may need to be practised separately in order to perfect the technique.

As with the offload from the low tackle or the pass before contact, if the pop pass is slightly inaccurate, it is better to pop pass the ball a little too high than a little too low. A support player running at pace has much better chance of catching a pass that is slightly too high than slightly too low.

If for some reason  there is no support player available to take the pop pass and the tackler takes the ball carrier to ground, the ball carrier will still be in position on the  ground to place the ball in preparation for setting up the ruck.

Key Factors of Offloading from Smother (Momentum) Tackle:

1.  
   • Ball Carrier – Drag the defender & turn their shoulders
   • Ball Carrier – Wrap the ball in the outside arm (away from defender)
   • Ball Carrier – Stiff arm fend on defender’s outside shoulder & grab
   • Ball Carrier – Keep arm extended after contact
   • Ball Carrier – Keep hips square (parallel to goal line)
   • Ball Carrier – Drive hard with legs (keep your legs alive!)
   • Ball Carrier – Drive through and past the defender still fending
   • Ball Carrier – Only turn when when past the defender
   • Ball Carrier – Turn in towards the space inside the defender
   • Support Player – Attack the space inside the defender
   • Ball Carrier – Make eye contact with the support player
   • Ball Carrier – Offload to support player inside the defender
   • Support Player – Accelerate onto offload

Next week we will look at the options available to the ball carrier and support players if the offload fails to materialise despite the ball carrier’s best efforts.

Eddie