How to Break More Tackles Like Derrick Henry
To break more tackles like Derrick Henry, you train contact balance, leg drive, and the lower-body power that keeps your feet churning through a hit. Henry does not avoid defenders, he runs through them, staying upright on contact and driving his knees so one arm can never bring him down. The good news is that breaking tackles is built in the weight room and on the field, not just handed out by genetics. This guide covers the mechanics, the drills, and the resistance training that turns an arm tackle into a missed tackle.
What makes Derrick Henry so hard to tackle?
Henry is a big back, but plenty of big players go down on first contact. What sets him apart is contact balance, the ability to absorb a hit and keep his body over his feet instead of falling. He runs behind his pads, keeps a wide base, and never stops driving his legs. When a defender grabs high, Henry is already moving forward with so much force that an arm tackle just slides off.
Every piece of that is trainable for a running back of any size. Lower-body power gives you the drive to push through a hit. A strong core and a low pad level keep you balanced when you are off center. And finishing every run, meaning you keep your feet moving until the whistle, is a habit you build in practice. Break tackles by combining power, balance, and effort, not by being the biggest player on the field. Watch Henry on tape and you will see he almost never takes a hit standing straight up. He sinks his hips, shortens his stride into contact, and explodes back out the other side, so the first defender rarely finishes the play on his own.
What are the keys to breaking a tackle?
Most broken tackles come down to four habits. Train each one and you turn runs that used to end at first contact into extra yards after it.
| Key | Why it matters | How to train it |
|---|---|---|
| Pad level | The lower man wins contact | Running behind your pads, chute drills |
| Leg drive | Keeps you moving forward through a hit | Resisted runs, sled and band work |
| Contact balance | Keeps your body over your feet | Bag crashes, single-leg strength |
| Finish | Turns a stalemate into extra yards | Run every rep through the whistle |
Henry is elite at all four, but any back can improve each one with focused reps. Power and balance beat raw size when the hit comes.
Do resistance bands help you break tackles?
They do, because resisted running trains the exact drive you need to push through contact. When a band pulls you back, your body is forced to lean forward and churn your legs hard to keep moving, which is the same position and effort a defender forces on you when he grabs hold. Step out of the band and your normal run feels powerful and light. Loop bands also build the glutes, hips, and hamstrings that power every stride and keep you balanced when you are hit off center.
P.R.O. Bands Resistance Training Bands
Use them for resisted runs and hip strength work that builds the leg drive and contact balance you need to run through tackles.
What drills help you break more tackles?
Run these two or three times a week. The theme is simple: stay low, keep your legs driving, and finish every rep moving forward.
Tackle-breaking questions players ask
Do you have to be big to break tackles?
No. Contact balance and leg drive let smaller backs run through arm tackles all the time. Staying low and keeping your feet moving beats size on most hits.
What is contact balance?
It is the ability to take a hit and keep your body over your feet instead of falling. You build it with single-leg strength, a wide base, and reps running through bags.
Do resistance bands actually help running backs?
Yes. Resisted runs train the forward lean and leg drive you need to push through a tackle, and band strength work builds the hips that keep you balanced on contact.
How do I stop going down on first contact?
Lower your pad level, widen your base, and never stop driving your legs. Finishing every practice rep through the whistle turns that effort into a habit.
How long until I see a difference?
Leg drive and balance respond quickly. Many backs feel stronger through contact in 4 to 6 weeks of consistent resisted running and lower-body strength work.
Run through the tackle, not into it.
Add resisted runs and hip strength work to your week and turn arm tackles into missed tackles.
Tags: football, running back, break tackles, Derrick Henry, contact balance, leg drive
