WILDCAT SPECIAL TEAMS RETURN GAME & KICKOFF PRESENTED BY RICK SUTTON rick.sutton@district196.org 2008 MINNEAPOLIS GLAZIER CLINIC

Philosophy George Allen: 1 out of 5 plays is a special teams play Something unusual happens Change of possession Sizable amount of field position change Specific attempt to score

Hopefully, nothing this unusual!

WILDCAT FOOTBALL KICKOFF RETURN

KICKOFF RETURN R/L Man Scheme Count off from call side Communicate assignments If opponent kicks from hash, we usually return to short side

KICKOFF RETURN R/L Technique Get as close to the ball as possible before making block “Ambush” blocks at POA Don’t have to crush opponent away from ball Stalk with back to call

KICKOFF RETURN R/L Technique T/E switch if #1 & #2 cross Do not block outside 2 away from call Backs must stem straight upfield No penalties! Stay in front and stay high

RETURN RIGHT 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 T G C G T E E 6 5 8 7 F 3 9 4 2 1 H H LEAD R

RETURN RIGHT RETURN RIGHT 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 T G C G T E E 6 5 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 T G C G T E E 6 5 8 7 F 3 9 4 1 2 H H LEAD R RETURN RIGHT

COACHING POINTS NO PENALTIES – STAY HIGH, DON’T BLOCK IN BACK COMMUNICATE ASSIGNMENTS MAKE BLOCK AS LATE AS POSSIBLE BACKS MUST STEM UPFIELD TO SET UP BLOCKS

WILDCAT FOOTBALL PUNT RETURN

Need 3 Things for Big Return Good kick One great block Returner make one man miss

Alignment vs. Tight Punt 0 0 0 0 0 C 0 0 0 E T B B T E B B S C C

Alignment vs. SPREAD Punt 0 0 0 0 0 C 0 0 0 E T B B T E B B S C C

PUNT RETURN Wall Scheme (the direction we are returning) Hold up front Bring wall to ball! Block gap upfield from return man (the direction we are returning)

PUNT RETURN Technique Wall players Ends Hold up linemen Step past Hustle to wall Ends Force punt Off side – join end of wall Play side – block punter

P 0 0 0 0 0 C 0 0 0 E T T E B B B B S C C

PUNT RETURN Technique OLBs Safety Deep Back Return Man Cover #1 Block in or out – use his technique Safety Block most dangerous release Usually snapper Deep Back Most dangerous Return Man Stem before breaking to wall

P 0 0 0 0 0 C 0 0 0 E T T E B B B B S C C

COACHING POINTS Catch all punts! Bring the wall to the ball - no landmarks Only one deep man talks “Me, me’ or “You, You” Non-returner decides fair catch Uncatchable punt – “Peter” call

WILDCAT FOOTBALL KICKOFF COVERAGE

LEFT HASH FORMATION MIDDLE FORMATION 3 2 1 2 1 K 1 2 1 2 3

BASIC COVERAGE SCHEME COVER IN 3 WAVES, NOT TRADITIONAL LANES

FIRST WAVE ATTACKS BALLCARRIER: OUTSIDE MEN ON SHOULDER, INSIDE MEN ON #

R 3 2 1 2 1 K 1 2 1 2 3

SECOND WAVE BREAKS DOWN 5-7 YARDS FROM THE BALL IN THE SAME RELATIVE POSITION

R 3 2 1 2 1 K 1 2 1 2 3

1ST PHASE SPEED ZONE 20 Yards Cover ground Avoid contact Get back on track

2ND PHASE Reaction Zone 10 Yards Adjust waves to close on ball Dip and rip with inside arm

3rd Phase Contact Zone Converge on ball Maintain proper leverage All blocks must be engaged with inside arm and shoulder Make sure tackle

40 50 30 20 10 G SPEED ZONE REACTION ZONE CONTACT ZONE

THIRD WAVE ARE SAFETIES - FAST, SURE TACKLERS: BREAKDOWN 10-12 YARDS FROM BALL

SPEED (GAME SPEED) DETERMINES WHO IS FIRST AND SECOND WAVE

R 3 2 1 2 1 K 1 2 1 2 3

EACH WAVE MUST ADJUST TO THE BALL AND MAINTAIN PROPER LEVERAGE

R 1 2 1 2 K 1 2 1 2 3 3

Coaching Points EACH MEMBER OF ALL WAVES MUST BE IN THE PROPER RELATIVE POSITION (i.e. OUTSIDE SHOULDER, OUTSIDE #) STRESS ATTACK ANGLES, LATERAL MOVEMENT AND BREAKDOWN ABILITY TO MOVE IN SPACE AND GET BACK ON TRACK IS KEY AVOID BLOCKS - ONLY TAKE ON BLOCKS WHEN IN A POSITION TO MAKE A TACKLE OR WHEN BUSTING A WEDGE ALL CONTACT WITH BLOCKERS MUST BE WITH INSIDE SHOULDER

WILDCAT SPECIAL TEAMS RETURN GAME & KICKOFF PRESENTED BY RICK SUTTON rick.sutton@district196.org 2008 MINNEAPOLIS GLAZIER CLINIC