CORVALLIS – With Arizona and Arizona State’s running games piling up mind-blowing numbers the past two weeks against Oregon State, the Beavers’ poor tackling has come into sharp focus.
There’s little doubt the Beavers can improve in this area. Coach Jonathan Smith says it’s a daily task in practice, the fundamental issue of tackling. At the forefront of the problem is confidence, Smith believes.
But there’s another issue at play. And that is, tackling isn’t a one-way street. The guy with the ball works just as much at breaking and avoiding tackles as Oregon State’s defenders do at trying to put him on the ground.