Smothering

[95blues]

Is it just me or do a lot of our players make some really terrible half arsed attempts at smothering during games?

I swear Paul Bower could have easily covered Bradshaws snap on Saturday night.

Obviously thisnt isnt the only example i have seen, but after watching replays its quite frustrating.

 

[matt decat]

although i do agree somewhat about their halfassed smothering. its like they do it because they have to, not because they want to. they dont really committ to making the smother. however in bowers case on saturday night, he had no chance at smothering bradshaw's kick. in the contest about 20 seconds before it, bower hurt himself somehow and could barely run. as he was limping back to the goal square it was obvious that bower was going to struggle the next time the ball came into the 50 and when it did i thought he did a pretty good effort to get as close as he did to bradshaw.

 

[Sin City]

Players are not really encouraged to smother anymore unless they have other team mates around them for backup, as it's too easy to step around them and be out on your own. They're more encouraged to put pressure on the kicker or attempt a tackle.