One NFL stat you don't hear much about: missed tackles

[Auggie]

Five of the top ten teams with fewest misses made the playoffs. Three have made it to the Conference finals.

1. 49ers: 61
2. Texans: 65
3. Bills: 68
4. Steelers: 69
5. Cowboys: 70
T6. Browns: 75
T6. Giants: 75
T6. Chargers: 75
9. Raiders: 76
T10. Ravens: 77
T10. Seahawks: 77

49ers cornerback Carlos Rogers: "A lot of people will be there, but they'll just hit a guy... You're not going to bring too many guys down by just hitting them and not wrapping up."

49ers special teams coach Blake Costanzo: "I think tackling ... is all about want-to and effort and desire and toughness."

49ers secondary coach Ed Donatell: "There's no end to the tackling thing ... It's something that you've got to work on every week."

Nothing is more frustrating than to see a defender bounce off a ball handler without bringing him down. Kudos to all coaches who stress proper technique.

STORY/QUOTE LINK: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/19/SPNN1MRHP2.DTL

[Scuba]

1. Then you haven't been listening to Mike McCarthy.

[Auggie]

2. No ... is McCarthy complaining about his defense?

It's his responsibility they make tackles. He's not passing the buck is he?

[Scuba]

3. No, he takes ownership for everything....

... that goes wrong and gives credit to others for everything that goes well. That's one of the thing I like about him. However, he says tackling is a key area for improvement.

[joeybee12]

4. Wonder where the Pats are...it doesn't say...nt

[Auggie]

5. Try digging around here (cool website):

https://www.profootballfocus.com/

Congrats on 35,000

[joeybee12]

8. Thanks...

Although I'm not sure I want to know...I'm sure they had a lot, especially early in the season.

[trumad]

6. Bills, Browns, ? Kind of fucks up the list.

[Auggie]

7. How? The Browns were 10th overall in defense for 2011

Though with Cleveland's young offense it's possible the defense has been on the field more than other teams and thus has had more opportunities to make tackles.

Still, I think it's a good sign -- at least they're bringing ball handlers down.

STAT LINK: http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?archive=false&conference=null&role=OPP&offensiveStatisticCategory=null&defensiveStatisticCategory=TOTAL_YARDS&season=2011&seasonType=REG&tabSeq=2&qualified=true&Submit=Go