Coach -
Year after year, Carnegie Mellon sits at the top of Division III football in blocked punts and kicks. They wasted no time in 2025, notching both in their opening game. For Special Teams Coordinator Jeff Simmons, that’s not luck—it’s the product of a system built on clarity, adaptability, and relentless pressure.
“We put our best players out there. We practice the skills. We change it up every week. Movement is key,” Simmons said
That philosophy has become the backbone of a unit that consistently tilts field position and creates game-changing moments.
Video: Punt Block - Basic Formations
Clear Roles Through Labeling
Simmons stresses that confusion kills execution. To combat that, Carnegie Mellon uses a simple but precise labeling system to assign coverage responsibilities.
- Eligibles: Players aligned to cover the punter’s potential receiving threats. They’re matched man-to-man—Right Eligible 1 covers the first eligible receiver to the right, Left Eligible 2 covers the second to the left, and so on.
- Ineligibles: Linemen or shield protectors. These are covered by defenders labeled Right Ineligible 1, Left Ineligible 2, etc.
- E: The defender responsible for the third eligible on either side or in the backfield.
- Star: The wildcard. This player moves around and applies the most pressure on the punter
This system ensures every fake is accounted for, while still giving Simmons the freedom to move pieces and design new pressures each week.
Weekly Variety, Daily Fundamentals
Opponents rarely see the same look twice. Simmons introduces fresh block schemes every week, shifting alignments and personnel to create hesitation in protection. That hesitation is all it takes to spring a rusher through a gap.
But variety is only effective because the fundamentals are drilled daily. Players learn not just where to align, but how to strike, avoid hands, and finish on the punter’s foot.
Movement as the Equalizer
The defining element of Carnegie Mellon’s approach is movement. Simmons builds his pressure packages around forcing the punt team to think. By disguising alignments and shifting defenders just before the snap, they create doubt in blocking assignments.
“Anytime you can throw off the punt team and their count on who they’re blocking, you give yourself an opportunity to shoot through a gap and make a play,” Simmons emphasized
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Takeaway
Carnegie Mellon’s success isn’t about exotic schemes or gambling on blocks. It’s about teaching with clarity, preparing for every look, and forcing the opponent to hesitate for just a split second. When those three pillars come together, game-changing plays follow.
Blocking kicks changes games. Carnegie Mellon shows it’s not magic—it’s movement, teaching, and a clear system.
-Coach Grabowski & the CoachesClinic Team
Entire Clinic Presentation from Coach Simmons
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