Special Teams Play

Installing Punt Return and Block

Teams
James Vint
Iowa Wesleyan College

Special Teams Change Games!

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 “To Be Successful You Must Give
Your Special Teams Time
• Three A Days- One Practice Dedicated to
Special Teams
• Individual Period, Group Period, Team
Period
• Keep Things Simple-Don’t try to install too
much, do what you install well.
• Coach Up The Pride Aspect
 Unit Goals
• 23 Yard Net Change of Possession
• 8.5 Yards Per Return
• No Penalties!
• One Game Changing Play
• One Block Per Two Block Calls
 Personnel
 Jammers- Must be your best, most physical stalk
blockers with great feet
 Dogs- Must be able to contain on fake and get
pressure on punter
 Tackles and Ends- Must be able to play off
blocks and get pressure on punter-Must be able
to stand up offensive lineman
 Mac- Must be able to play fake and get back set
the wedge
 Safety-Must be able to read fake and cover hash
to hash and be a great blocker
 Return- Must be able to catch the football and
find the crease
While This Is A Great Time To Get
Kids Experience, You Must Use
athletes On Special Teams

• How many times have you had a backup

miss a tackle or a block on special teams?
• Use backups when they are legitimately
good enough to make plays
• Even if you have good backups keep one
or two starters in the game.
 Jamming Techniques
• Rule 1-Don’t give up the inside
• Rule 2- Must Keep From Getting a free release
• Align 1 x 1 with inside leverage
• Power step inside and then punch
• Keep your shoulders back on your punch
• Sit low and block with your feet
• Keep a wide base
• Drills: Punch and Move, Fit and Drive, Fit and
Recover, Back Turn Drill, First Step Drill
 Dog Techniques
• Align on the LOS 3 Yards Outside Slot
• Attack The outside shoulder of the slot
and make sure the ball is kicked
• On the return side, attack and drive
• DO NOT GIVE UP ON YOUR BlOCK
• Once the ball is kicked peel down the call
side and seal inside
 Return Techniques
• See the ball off the foot
• CATCH EVERYTHING! Don’t let the ball hit the
ground
• On a bad punt, circle behind the ball and play
shortstop
• Catch and field the ball moving forward
• Only signal a fair catch when absolutely
necessary
• Elbows in, pinkie’s together
• Catch the Punt out from the body
 Installation Procedures
• Install Base Return First
• Work each player in an individual period
• Work a group period with the Safety and
the Mac
• Keep things simple- Return Right, Return
Left, and Middle Return
• Go Over Special Situations and Rules
 Return Right
• The right side will block down and keep
the protector from releasing
• The backside will rush the punt and peel
down the call side
• NO ROUGHING PENALTIES
• Make sure the ball is kicked
• Keep hands inside
 Return Left
• The Left side will block down and keep the
protector from releasing
• The backside will rush the punt and peel
down the call side
• NO ROUGHING PENALTIES
• Make sure the ball is kicked
• Keep hands inside
 Return Right
R

C C
M
H E T T E $
 Return Middle
• We will MAN UP on our middle return
• Defensive Line Will Fan Out
• Mac Will Drop 5 Yards and Attack LS
• Stud Will Lead Return Man Into Middle
• Dogs Will Make Sure The Ball Is Kicked
• Return Man Goes Up The Chute
• Great vs. Wide Lane Pursuit
 Safe Punt
• Used from your own 30 to midfield
• Line up in your base defense
• Make sure everyone understands their
base assignments
• Make Sure All Fakes Our Covered
• Go Over Alignment Rules vs. Spread
Punts
• Don’t Let The Fake Happen
• Man up when the ball is kicked.
 Special Situations
• Opponent Pinning You
• Opponent Pinned
• 3rd Down Kick
• Quick Kick
• All Out Block
• Set Up Big Return
 Punt Block
 Looking to get 7, 8, and 9 men into the block
phases
 Must assign players to cover the fake if used
outside your opponents 40 yard line
 Change Your Block Each Week
 Teach Your Players How To Block Kick
 NO FUMBLES
 If no return, tell return man to fair catch.
 If the ball is kicked away, run away
Punt Block Illustrated

J $ E T T E H
J
R M S

This is our 83 Block- We are bringing 8 and playing 3 soft

zones to protect against a fake.
 Punt Block Described
• Left DT-2 Tech, Slam A Gap and Draw LS
• Right DT-2 Tech, Slam B Gap
• Ends- 5 Tech, Attack IS Shoulder of Slot
• Dogs-Wide Rush, Attack OS Shoulder of Slot
• Return -Pre Snap adjust to IS shoulder of left slot
at 4 yards, Rush Left B Gap
• Safety- Pre Snap adjust to 30 Tech on right side-
Rush Right A Gap
• Mac- Show Blitz, then drop 12 yards to check fake
• Jammers- Bail and Play Cover 2 with man
concepts
Punt Block Illustrated

J $ E T T E H J
M S

R
This is our 61 Block- We are bringing 6 and playing 3 soft
zones to protect against a fake. The Stud, the Sam, and
the two jammers play man. The returner is free. We are
bringing 4 from one side. We can exchange who is man
and who is coming.
 Game Planning For Your Punt
Return Team
• Opponent Punter- How Far?
• Punt Formation, Protection, Weakness
• Punt Team Coverage Scheme, Lanes
• Fakes Run
• Special Formations (Spread, Rugby,
Tight)
• Personnel- Do they change personnel for
fake or coverage?
 REMEMBER
• Use talent on special teams
• Give special teams time to prepare
• Prepare your kids for special situations
• Keep your punt return and block schemes
simple
• Give your kids a chance to be successful
• Put them into the best positions possible