1. Installing Punt Return and Block Teams
Special Teams Play
Installing Punt Return and Block Teams
James Vint
Iowa Wesleyan College
Special Teams Change Games!
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2. “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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Return Right R S C C M H E T T E $

13. 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

14. 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.

15. Special Situations Opponent Pinning You Opponent Pinned 3rd Down Kick
Quick Kick
All Out Block
Set Up Big Return

16. 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

17. Punt Block Illustrated$ E T T E H J J R M S
This is our 83 Block- We are bringing 8 and playing 3 soft zones to protect against a fake.

18. 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

19. Punt Block Illustrated$ E T T E H J 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.

20. 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?

21. 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