Question regarding tackling stats

[Black]

So on NFL.com, Beason is credited with 142 tackles, but yesterday on the news, the story was about how he set the new Panther record with 169 tackles. I'm pretty sure tackles are not actually an official stat, but how could there be a 17 tackle difference?

Either way, monster Pro Bowl snub.

[Guild]

Tackles are an official stat since 2001 I think.

My off the cuff guess is that preseason and postseason are included in the Panthers.com numbers.

[Black]

Another example is Willis being credited with 227 tackles in 2007 by the 49ers, and only 174 by the NFL, I don't think the difference could be credited to the preseason.

[Guild]

It could well be in how the teams do their own calculations being different than the NFL's calculation.

Anyone really know? If not someone email the Panthers webmaster and get him to figure it out.

[Baschski]

Maybe NFL.com only counts solo tackles?

[Cpanthers5851]

from Sando's blog on ESPN

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/7028/beason-tackles-team-record-again

Now, a word about tackle totals. They’re kind of a difficult stat because the NFL doesn’t count tackles as an official statistic and you’ll probably see several different tackle totals out there for Beason. Some teams go off of game-day statistics and some teams rely on their coaches to provide numbers after they view film.

Neither way is perfect because the stat crews on game day don’t have the luxury of slowing down film. Assistant coaches, at times, can be a little too generous with crediting their players. One thing I’ll say about the Panthers during the John Fox regime is that their coaches have been pretty good about not inflating numbers.

That’s not always the case everywhere. The best example I can give you is from the Buccaneers back in the Sam Wyche days when it seemed like Hardy Nickerson was getting credited with about 400 tackles every year. The running joke in the local media back then was that Nickerson was so good he’d give you 12 tackles on Sunday and another dozen Monday.

[Guild]

Maybe NFL.com only counts solo tackles?

No.

Thanks Cpanthers5851.

I wonder why they track the stat and use it to determine top defenders if it isn't an official stat? My guess is because on many plays who actually creates the tackle can be difficult to determine. Or that blogger is wrong.

[Scrumtrilescent]

The blogger is right, teams and the league tally them independently and thus differences usually occur. Re: the Dan Morgan Super Bowl when the staff realized he had 356038350 tackles that game during postgame film breakdown.