1. PUNT MENLO COLLEGE FRED GUIDICI HEAD COACH & SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR 650-543-3763 fguidici@menlo.edu “LOCK & LOAD!”

2. EXPECTATIONS 1.CONSISTENT & PROMPT SUBSTITUTION. 2.CONSISTENT SNAP, PROTECTION, GETAWAY (NO BLOCKS) 3.CONSISTENT COVERAGE 3 YARD AVERAGE LIMIT PER RETURN NO RETURNS 10 OVER YARDS PUNT NET AVERAGE OF 37 YARDS PLUS 4.100% SUCCESS ON FAKES/GADGETS 5.MAKE AT LEAST 1 BIG PLAY EVERY GAME KILL BALL INSIDE 10 YARD LINE FORCE AND RECOVER A FUMBLE NO PENALTIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3. PUNT PROTECTION PHILOSOPHY MAN IN ZONE WE ARE A “MAN IN ZONE” PROTECTION SCHEME, USING A MAN COUNTING SYSTEM WITH A ZONE DROP. WE WILL ALWAYS USE OUR “KICK SLIDE” TECHNIQUE AND THINK “MAN-ON-TO-OUTSIDE GAP” IN ORDER TO INSURE OUR VERTICAL SET AND CONSTANT SPLIT RELATIONSHIP (NO GAPS). THE OBJECTIVE OF PUNT PROTECTION IS TO PROTECT THE SPOT FROM WHICH OUR PUNTER IS PUNTING THE BALL (KICK POINT). PROTECT THE KICKPOINT GIVE GROUND TO GAIN GROUND WIDE, EXPANDED ALIGNMENTS, STACKS, STUNTS, LOADS, OVERLOADS, AND TWO MAN SIDES ALL HAVE ONE OBJECTIVE - TO REACH A SPOT 9 TO 9 1/2 YARDS BEHIND OUR TWO GUARDS. CONSEQUENTLY WE WILL GIVE GROUND IN ORDER TO SHORTENOUR DISTANCE TO PROTECT THE KICKPOINT. DEPTH OF DROP DEPENDS ON THE NUMBER OF RUSHERS AND THEIR ALIGNMENT. THE GREATER THE NUMBER OF RUSHERS THE MORE DEPTH WE MUST GIVE. ON THE L.O.S. COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER - LOOK FOR STAGGERED ALIGNMENTS (STUNT ALERT), RECOGNIZE STACKS (STACK ALERT), AND ADJUST TO FLOATERS AND SNEAKS. THE GREATER THE NUMBER OF RUSHERS THE MORE DEPTH WE MUST GIVE. MAN COUNTING IT IS NOT WHERE THEY LINE UP, BUT WHERE THEY WIND UP! USING OUR TECHNIQUE ALLOWS US TO PICK UP TWISTS, STUNTS, AND STACK RUSHES. OUR COUNT CAN AND WILL ADJUST DUE TO MOVEMENT BE THE PUNT RETURN TEAM. THE KEY TO PROTECTION IS PROTECTING THE KICKPOINT AND NOT CHASING A MAN.

8. A. HUDDLE: HUDDLE WILL BE EITHER ON THE SIDELINE OR ON THE FIELD. THE COACH WILL CALL OUT “PUNT ALERT” ON 3rd DOWN THE PUNT TEAM WILL HUDDLE ON HIM AND RECEIVE THE CALL. THE COACH WILL SEND THE PUNT TEAM ON 4TH DOWN. SPRINT TO THE L.O.S. AND GET ALIGNED AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. B.CADENCE: THIS PROTECTION IS BASED ON THE JACK GIVING A CALL AND DESIGNATING AN OVERLOAD OR CALL SIDE THIS WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE ALIGNMENT OF THE FRONT. THE CALL IS ALWAYS MADE TO THE CENTER, WHICH ALERTS HIM TO BLOCK IN THAT DIRECTION (“RIVER” TO THE RIGHT OR “LAKE” TO THE LEFT). ALWAYS BE ALERT FOR TWISTING AND MOVEMENT. IF THE FRONT SHIFTS FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER OR FROM ONE OVERLOAD TO ANOTHER, THE JACK WILL GIVE THE CENTER ANOTHER CALL TO THAT DIRECTION. C. BLOCKING RULES: CENTER: BLOCK IN THE DIRECTION OF THE CALL. (Ex. “LAKE” LEFT SIDE A-GAP TO RIGHT SIDE A-GAP) #5 or #6 CHECK FOR LOOPER AND COME BACK AND BLOCK HIM. (CALL SIDE): CONTAINER - BLOCK #2 TACKLE - BLOCK #3 GUARD - BLOCK #4 (FAR SIDE): CONTAINER- BLOCK #2 TACKLE – BLOCK #3 GUARD – BLOCK #4 JACK - BLOCK #5 OR #6

9. CENTER STANCE: NORMAL SNAPPING POSITION ALIGNMENT: OVER THE FOOTBALL ASSIGNMENT: #5 OR 6 TO CALL SIDE BLOCKING RULES: LISTEN FOR CALL FROM THE JACK (“RIVER” / “LAKE”) TAKE YOUR TIME (NON-RYTHMIC). CONCENTRATE ON MAKING ON THE PERFECT SNAP. BLOCK NO MORE THAN ONE MAN OVER TO EITHER SIDE (#5 OR #6), VS 64/46 WIDE IF #5 IS TOO WIDE, YOU WILL EXCHANGE RESPONSIBILITIES WITH JACK. AND BLOCK #6 ALERT 54 TWISTS. KEEP EYES UP AND LOOK OVER BACK OF #5. TWIST RULE: IF YOU SEE AN ASS, LOOK FOR A FACE, DON’T CHASE! “ZEKE” CALL: (GET READY AND PULL THE TRIGGER.NOW) “ZORRO” CALL PUTS YOU IN A-GAP AWAY FROM JACK. TECHNIQUE: AFTER YOU RELEASE THE BALL, EXPLODE THROUGH WITH HIPS STRAIGHT BACK, WITH YOUR HEAD UP, STAYING SQUARE TO THE L.O.S. WITH POSITIVE SHIN ANGLES (FEET WIDE WITH KNEES SLIGHTLY IN) SNAP THE EYES TO THE SIDE YOU WANT TO BLOCK, ALERT TWISTS AND PULLS. IF READING AN “I STACK” AND BOTH RUSHERS GO AWAY FROM YOU, POST ON YOUR OUTSIDE FOOT AND COME BACK TO PICK-OFF STACK MAN. PUNCH WHEN YOU CAN “SMELL HIS BREATH” PUNCH HIM FROM LOW TO HIGH WITH THE HEEL OF YOUR HANDS ELBOWS INSIDE THE KNIFE WITH A 90-DEGREE BREAK AND LATCH ON.PUNCH THRU HIM, NOT TO HIM! KEEP A 65% - 35% INSIDE OUT RATIO OF YOUR HIPS TO HIS HIPS. YOUR HEAD SHOULD HAVE 45-DEGREE TILT WITH YOUR EYES AT HIS THROAT. REDIRECT HIM LATERALLY. AFTER THE BALL IS KICKED. RELEASE INTO COVERAGE (BROOMS) AND MAKE THE TACKLE!

10. JACK STANCE: 2-POINT STANCE, SQUARE AT SHOULDER WIDTH. HANDS AT HIPS (HOLSTERS) FINGERS RELAXED ALIGNMENT: BEHIND GUARD TO PUNTER’S LEG SIDE (5 YDS). INSIDE LEG SPLITS THE GUARDS BUTT ASSIGNMENT: #5 OR 6 AWAY FROM CALL SIDE BLOCKING RULES: TAKE CHARGE OF THE UNIT. COUNT 11 MEN ON THE FIELD (COUNT YOURSELF) KEY DEEP FOR SAFETIES WHILE GETTING SET UP. READ FRONTALIGNMENT FOR EVEN OR OVERLOADS. MAKE YOUR CALL AND CHECK YOUR RESPONSIBILITY CATCH THE DEFENSE MOVING. BLOCK YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IF HE DOESN’T COME - CHECK STRONG TO WEAK FOR ANY LEAKAGE. BE ALERT FOR CREEP OFF VICE LOOK. IF EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT MAKE A ZONE CALL (ZORRO) AND BLOCK THE A-GAP TO YOUR SIDE OR MAKE AN “EASY” CALL CHANGE THE PROTECTION OR CALL THE HITMEN DOWN. TECHNIQUE: AFTER THE BALL IS SNAPPED, SNAP THE EYES TO THE SIDE YOU WANT TO BLOCK. SPRINT AND GATHER. CHECK #5 / #6 IF HE DOES NOT COME, HELP CENTER OR FIND ANY LEAKAGE AND STOP IT. PUNCH WHEN YOU CAN “SMELL HIS BREATH” PUNCH HIM FROM LOW TO HIGH WITH THE HEEL OF YOUR HANDS ELBOWS INSIDE THE KNIFE WITH A 90-DEGREE BREAK AND LATCH ON. PUNCH THRU HIM, NOT TO HIM! KEEP A 100% MID-LINE RATIO OF YOUR HIPS TO HIS HIPS. YOUR HEAD SHOULD HAVE 45-DEGREE TILT WITH YOUR EYES AT HIS THROAT. REDIRECT HIM LATERALLY. YOU ARE THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE! BLOCK UNTIL BALL IS KICKED ECHO DIRECTION CALL AND FIND THE BALL IN FLIGHT. RELEASE INSIDE THE GUARD BOX (BROOMS). GET OUTSIDE ANY WALLS OR FILL ANY LANES AND MAKE THE TACKLE!

11. GUARDS & TACKLES STANCE: 2-POINT STANCE. NO MORE THAN SHOULDER WIDTH. STAGGER OUTSIDE FOOT BACK. YOUR WEIGHT SHOULD BE ON THE BALL OF YOUR INSIDE FOOT. YOUR OUTSIDE FOOT HEEL SHOULD BE OFF THE GROUND. KNEES SHOULD BE BENT. HANDS AT YOUR HIPS (HOLSTERS). HEAD UP AND BENT OVER AT THE WAIST. ALIGNMENT: GUARDS - 3 TO 6 INCH SPLIT, LINE INSIDE TOE ON CENTERS HEELS WITH OUTSIDE FOOT BACK. TACKLES - 3 TO 6 INCH SPLIT, LINE INSIDE TOE ON THE HEAL OF THE GUARDS INSIDE FOOT WITH OUTSIDE FOOT BACK. * HEADS MUST BREAK THE WAIST OF THE CENTER TO BE ALIGNED LEGAL ON THE L.O.S. ASSIGNMENT: COUNT FROM THE OUTSIDE-IN AND FIND YOUR BLOCKING RESPONSIBILITY AND LOCATE YOUR SHOCK MAN. LISTEN FOR CALL AT THE L.O.S. (GUARDS ALERT PICK FROM CENTER) GUARDS – BLOCK #4 TACKLES - BLOCK #3 BLOCKING RULES: KEY THE BACK OF THE BALL FOR MOVEMENT. ON THE SNAP, USE CORRECT FOOTWORK (KICK SLIDE). KEY ALIGNMENT: WHEN YOUR MAN IS ALIGNED WIDE (GET DEPTH) WHEN YOUR MAN IS ALIGNED TIGHT (ALERT TWISTS) TECHNIQUE: PUNCH WHEN YOU CAN “SMELL HIS BREATH” PUNCH HIM FROM LOW TO HIGH WITH THE HEEL OF YOUR HANDS ELBOWS INSIDE THE KNIFE WITH A 90-DEGREE BREAK AND LATCH ON. PUNCH THRU HIM, NOT TO HIM! KEEP A 65% - 35% INSIDE OUT RATIO OF YOUR HIPS TO HIS HIPS.YOUR HEAD SHOULD HAVE 45-DEGREE TILT WITH YOUR EYES AT HIS THROAT.REDIRECT HIM LATERALLY. AFTER THE BALL IS KICKED. RELEASE INTO COVERAGE (BROOMS). GET TO 18-22 YARD LANDMARK AND MAKE THE TACKLE!

12. CONTAINERS STANCE: 2-POINT STANCE. NO MORE THAN SHOULDER WIDTH. STAGGER OUTSIDE FOOT BACK. YOUR WEIGHT SHOULD BE ON THE BALL OF YOUR INSIDE FOOT. YOUR OUTSIDE FOOT HEEL SHOULD BE OFF THE GROUND. KNEES SHOULD BE BENT. HANDS AT YOUR HIPS (HOLSTERS). HEAD UP AND BENT OVER AT THE WAIST. ALIGNMENT: ALIGN YOUR INSIDE FOOT TO THE INSIDE OF THE OUTSIDE FOOT OF THE TACKLE WITH INSIDE FOOT BACK ENOUGH NOT TO BE STEPPED ON. (YOU CAN BE FLEXIBLE WITH YOUR DEPTH) ASSIGNMENT: COUNT FROM THE OUTSIDE-IN AND FIND YOUR BLOCKING RESPONSIBILITY. (#2 FROM THE OUTSIDE) BLOCKING RULES: KEY THE BALL FOR MOVEMENT. ON THE SNAP, USE CORRECT FOOTWORK (KICK SLIDE). ALERT TWISTS. KEY ALIGNMENT: WHEN YOUR MAN IS ALIGNED WIDE (GET DEPTH) WHEN YOUR MAN IS ALIGNED TIGHT (ALERT TWISTS) TECHNIQUE: STAY SQUARE TO THE L.O.S., LET THE RUSH GET UPFIELD ON YOUR OUTSIDE SHOULDER. DON’T FALL FOR SPEED MOVE (3 STEPS) OR GO FOR ANY HEAD FAKES. ALERT FOR THE UP AND UNDER MOVE. BE PATIENT! PUNCH WHEN YOU CAN “SMELL HIS BREATH” PUNCH HIM FROM LOW TO HIGH WITH THE HEEL OF YOUR HANDS ELBOWS INSIDE THE KNIFE WITH A 90-DEGREE BREAK AND LATCH ON. PUNCH THRU HIM, NOT TO HIM! KEEP A 65% - 35% INSIDE OUT RATIO OF YOUR HIPS TO HIS HIPS. YOUR HEAD SHOULD HAVE 45-DEGREE TILT WITH YOUR EYES AT HIS THROAT. REDIRECT HIM LATERALLY. AFTER THE BALL IS KICKED. RELEASE INTO COVERAGE (BROOMS) GET TO 18-22 YARD LANDMARK AND MAKE THE TACKLE!

13. HITMEN “I AM ALWAYS GOING TO MAKE THE TACKLE” “BLOCKING ME WITH ONE JAMMER IS AN INSULT” STANCE: 2-POINT STANCE, FEET SLIGHTLY STAGGERED. FORWARD BODY LEAN 80% OF YOUR WEIGHT ON THE BALL OF THE FRONT FOOT. HANDS: VS OFF MAN – IN RUNNING POSITION WITH YOUR LEGS VS PRESS MAN – SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE HANDS OF THE JAMMER(S) ALIGNMENT: ON THE L.O.S., BUT OFF AS LEGAL AS POSSIBLE. SPLITS DEPEND ON THE SPOT OF THE BALL AND/OR THE DIRECTION OF KICK. ASSIGNMENT: DESTROY THE RETURNER! COVERAGE: AIMIING POINT IS THE NEAR PEC OF THE RETURNER. MAKE HIM BOUNCE OUTSIDE. NEVER LET HIM SPLIT YOU DOWN THE MIDDLE

14. “BEAT HIM WITH YOUR FEET” TECHNIQUE: EYE THE BACK TIP OF THE BALL. ON BALL MOVEMENT, DRIVE THE FRONT KNEE DOWN AND ROLL OVER THE TOE WHILE PUMPING THE ARMS. VS OFF MAN – ATTACK THE JAMMER. HEAD & EYE FIXATE INSIDE AND REDUCE YOUR HIP & SHOULDER OUTSIDE (BROOMS). LEAN ON HIM (SCRAPE PAINT) AND GET TO THE MIDLINE (STACK) BEHIND THE HIM SO HE CANNOT BLOCK YOU. VS PRESS MAN – SWAT THE JAMMERS NEAR WRIST WITH YOUR OUTSIDE HAND. REDUCE YOUR HIP & SHOULDER (BROOMS). TOMAHAWKS CHOP HIS OFF HAND, LEAN ON HIM (SCRAPE PAINT) AND GET TO THE MIDLINE (STACK) BEHIND THE HIM SO HE CANNOT BLOCK YOU. BLOCKING RULES: IF CALLED DOWN BY THE JACK, POSITION YOURSELF INSIDE YOUR MAN (#1) ON THE L.O.S. EXECUTE A PIVOT, PUNCH AND HIGH SLAM TECHNIQUE BEFORE RELEASING DOWN THE FIELD. GOLDEN RULES “NEVER BREAK DOWN YOUR STRIDE LENGTH” “KEEP YOUR HEAD TO THE LEVERAGE SIDE” ONCE YOU ARE PAST THE DEFENDER REGARDLESS OF TECHNIQUE USED, WORK HARD TO GET ON TOP OF HIM (STACK). DO NOT RUN SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH DEFENDERS, BUT CUT OFF HIS ABILITY TO BLOCK YOU AGAIN DOWNFIELD.

16. PUNT COVERAGE

17. PUNT COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES HITMEN (RH/LH) LEVERAGE POINT: NEAR PEC OF THE RETURNER. FORCE HIM TO BOUNCE OUTSIDE. JACK LANDMARK: MIDDLE OF THE GOAL POST LEVERAGE POINT: BETWEEN THE PECS OF THE RETURNER FORCING HIM TO BOUNCE OUTSIDE. TAKE AWAY ANY CUTBACK. INSIDE OUT PLAYER. FILL ANY GAPS. CENTER LANDMARK: MIDDLE OF THE GOAL POST LEVERAGE POINT: BETWEEN THE PECS OF THE RETURNER. TAKE AWAY ANY CUTBACK GUARDS (RG/LG) LANDMARK: INSIDE THE HASHMARKS LEVERAGE POINT: NEAR PEC OF THE RETURNER. TACKLES (RT/LT) LANDMARK: SPLIT THE MIDDLE BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS AND THE NUMBERS. LEVERAGE POINT: NEAR PEC OF THE RETURNER

18. CONTAINERS (RC/LC): NEVER GET OUT FLANKED BY RETURNER GUARANTEE YOUR AWARENESS OF IN RELATION TO HIS BLOCKERS. HE CANNOT BREAK CONTAIN. LANDMARK: ON THE NUMBERS LEVERAGE POINT: 8 TO 10 YARDS ABOVE AND OUTSIDE THE RETURNER. KEEP “21” INSIDE: BE AWARE OF ALL THROWBACK PASSES AND REVERSES! SAFETY (PUNTER): CALL OUT THE DIRECTION OF THE PUNT (RIGHT/LEFT/MIDDLE OR SHORT) SIDELINE WILL ECHO CALL LANDMARK: 20 YARDS FROM RETURNER. LEVERAGE POINT: MIRROR THE RETURN MAN. INSIDE OUT PLAYER.YOU ARE THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE. MAKE THE TACKLE AT ALL COST, BY ANY MEANS! ALL POSITIONS – SPRINT AFTER THE PUNT WE MUST STOP BLOCKING OR ESCAPE (BROOMS) FROM OUR HOLD UP MAN. HE CANNOT HOLD US UP. GET ON TOP OF HIM (STACK) AND READ THE FLIGHT OF THE BALL. FAN OUT TO OUR 18-22 YARD LANDMARK AND DIAGNOSE THE SET-UP OF THE RETURN. ADJUST OUR ANGLE AND KEEP LEVERAGE ON THE RETURNER. WE MUST SENSE THE BLOCKING PATTERN AT FULL SPEED NEVER BREAKING YOUR STRIDE LENGTH. KEEP YOUR HEAD ON A SWIVEL STAYING SQUARE, NEVER FOLLOW YOUR OWN MAN, GANG TACKLE AND FORCE A FUMBLE! KEEP YOUR HEAD TO THE LEVERAGE SIDE!

21. PUNT PROTECTION AND COVERAGE DRILLS