Crush It This Week on Special Teams
Sep 28, 2022 2:25 pm
Coach ,
Are your special teams crushing it this season?
Whether they are or are not, as we hit the middle of the season, we share a few ideas to help you crush it on special teams this week.
#1) Create Belief
Coaching Special Teams is fun because it really is about attitude. For South Florida Bulls Special Teams Coordinator Dan Da Prato, it all starts with belief.
As he notes, there’s no magic potion for this. It has to be there all the time, and mid-season may be a time to remind yourself and your players that you can create it every day. It starts with the coach and his approach and how it brings energy and effort. That’s the fun part of the game - when players believe, things start to come together
Here’s coach DaPrato explaining it and showing how belief translated to breaking a big KOR, blocking a potential game-winning kick, and trying to steal possessions.
#2) Create Energy and Competition with the Crush Drill
For Kasey Teegardin, OLB/Special Teams Coordinator at Indiana, a favorite drill is the Crush Drill. It’s a drill that can be done in a small space, but it brings some energy to practice.
The Hoosiers make this a competitive drill and keep points to declare a winner and loser. Even in-season, playing on competitiveness can create an “iron sharpens iron” situation.
The players must use their technique and fundamentals to win in this drill. Coach Teegardin explains it here (click on image for video):
Of course, what’s being worked in any drill should show up on game film. Here’s how it translates (click on image for video):
#3) Crush Your Kickoffs
John Carney had a legendary NFL kicking career. And now he brings 23 years of NFL experience to a new generation of kicking specialists.
He knows the simple adjustments that can make a difference for a kicker, and having this knowledge as a special teams coach can help you set your kicker up for success.
Coach Carney’s approach is mental and physical, and that’s evident in this next video iin which he explains the correct way to warm up for a kick-off. It’s an area in which many kickers make a mistake (click on image for video):
Video: Warming up for Your Kickoffs
Those are a few simple ideas that can make a big difference for your special forces. Either re-energizing your teams this week with some belief and a little competition and looking for little details like the one shared by John Carney can enhance all you are doing to win the game this week and move forward.
Always be growing!
Keith Grabowski
P.S. Here’s a quick review of the tips we shared in the first half of the season. The link will take you to free video:
Week 0
Penalty Beater - The High Wall on PR
Week 1
Week 2
Kick Coverage - Contain Triangle
Week 3
Week 4