Kendricks' Fierce Tackle Was One for the Textbooks

John Crumpacker

Good team man that he is, Mike Mohamed didn't sound at all jealous when talking about the textbook hit Mychal Kendricks delivered to the midsection of UCLA running back Derrick Coleman.  Excited, yes; jealous, no.  "Coach (Clancy) Pendergast, on that particular play, stopped the tape and said, 'That is probably the best form tackle I've ever seen,' " Mohamed said. "It was awesome. It was a clinic-type tackle."  Indeed, any defensive player watching Kendricks' perfect form tackle would have cause to be at least a little envious of this example of preparation and technique intersecting with opportunity.

"It got everybody excited," said Pendergast, Cal's defensive coordinator who spent the previous 15 seasons in the NFL. "It brought some energy on the field when it happened."  UCLA had a 2nd-and-4 from its 35-yard line in the second quarter at Memorial Stadium when Kendricks quickly came up from his outside-linebacker spot and planted his facemask in Coleman's chest while staying low and keeping his legs churning.

Link to rest of article.