Coaching the Biggest Offensive Play in the Game
Jul 07, 2022 3:23 pm
Coach ,
The Punt is such an important part of the game. Long ago a coach told me that the punt is the biggest offensive play in that it moves the ball farther down the field than any other play.
We certainly don’t want our punter out on the field an inordinate amount of time, but I always told my offense something I learned in “end each series in a kick.”
With that being said, beyond the strong leg of a punter and the skill of the long snapper, how a punt is covered will make or break the play.
Coverage Considerations
Like any other play, it starts with personnel and building your scheme and technique on what you players can do well, then developing it from there.
Jay Harbaugh, the 2021 Football Scoop Special Teams Coordinator of the Year starts with people, not scheme. He wants to ensure that the people on his unit are the best fit for the job that they are being asked to do. He explains the considerations for personnel here (click on image for video):
Video: Coverage Considerations
Blocking - Emphasize the Correct Footwork
Mike Rizzuto, the special teams coordinator at Bloomsburg University teaches his players the different footwork they most used based on the alignment of the player they must block, then works it over and over in drills. A key for this to be effective is simply naming that footwork, defining it, and teaching it that way to the players. Coach explains the Huskies footwork which he calls “Jet” and “Giant” in this video (click on image for video):
Cover the Field - Get in your Lanes
San Francisco 49ers Special Teams Assistant Austin Mangin believes that great coverage starts with the proper release. He likes having all of his players get an outside release in order to get in their lanes and provide coverage across the field. He shows the outside release and explains it here (click on image for video):
Contain the Ball
Contain starts with the Gunners. Allowing the ball to the outside can spell disaster for the coverage team and certainly allows the return team to get back yards. Coach Ron Zook teaches this with Cage Drills which are used to teach the Gunners to maintain contain on the ball. He explains the Cage Drill and gives coaching points on contain here (click on image for video):
Finish!
Of course it’s not over until the whistle and for the coverage team, that means the returner is on the ground. Oregon State Special Teams Coordinator Jake Cookus teaches “wrap and roll” and “knife” as the primary tackles utilized on punt return. HE explains “wrap and roll” with drill film and game tape here (click on image for video):
Coaching the details of any play greatly enhances the chance of success for that play. That holds true for the Punt Team as well. Understanding who you have and applying the approach that these coaches use can make this play a game-changer for your team this fall.
Always be growing!
Coach Grabowski