Possibly the most common mistake I see when deadlifts get heavy is the bar drifting away from the body.
Many lifters assume that a deadlift is just picking the bar straight up, but this isn't effective. As you pile on the plates, you need to think about actively engaging the lats and pulling the bar back into your body so that your weight shifts backward slightly.
Keeping the bar in tight helps ensure every pull is smooth and efficient.
Those guys who think planks and Bosu Ball triceps kickbacks are giving their core a good workout are poor, pathetic slobs. If you really want to work the core, you've got to raise the weight over your head.