Special Teams

LENOIR-RHYNE FOOTBALL KICKOFF TEAM GOALS

NO RETURNS OVER 20 YARDS

FORCE A FUMBLE

BE THE FIRST TO THE 30

NEVER GIVE OUR OPPONENT THE BALL

ACROSS THE 50

NO PENALTIES

KICKOFF COVERAGE FAST & PHYSICAL

Our kickoff team is designed to play FAST andPHYSICAL. Our scheme will remain the samefrom week to week but we will react off the return. Just as a defense fits up a running play such as an ISO or POWER, our kickoff team will fit up returns. We will have KEYS to determine the returns and techniques for defeating blocks. We are looking for guys to go all out and make plays!

ALIGNMENTSOur vertical alignment has changed this year due to the new rule. Like the NFL, we must be touching the 30 yard line when the ball is put into play.

Note:We will be kicking off from the 35 and must be on the 30.

ALIGNMENTSOur horizontal alignment is a starting point of where we want to cross the 35 yard line. These landmarks are only a starting point and a landmark to stay on during the RUN & READ zone.

5’s – on the uprights4’s – on the hash3’s – split the #’s and hash2’s – top of the #’s1’s – 5 yards from sideline

ALIGNMENTS

3 AREAS OF KICKOFF COVERAGE

COVERAGE RULES1. We want to crowd the LOS (35yard

line) when the Kicker kicks the ball, we want to be at top speed to allow maximum coverage.

COVERAGE RULES2. Get your eyes on your KEY to

recognize the return (middle, right, left). Your KEY will tell you how to avoid front line blockers. The KEY we often use is the Fullback/TE to your side unless changed by game plan. If your key doesn’t give you a good read then you can use the butt side rules. Always avoid butt side.

GT G T

E E

TE

FB

TE

R R

L1-L5 would key the Left TE. Since he is going out to the left, indicates it is a return to the left and to avoid front line blocks to the left.

R1-R5 would key the Right TE. Since he is going out to the left, indicates it is a return to the middle or left and to avoid front line blocks to the left.

K R5 R4 R3 R2 R1L1 L2 L3 L4 L5

COVERAGE RULES3. Run by the first man in the avoid

zone.AVOID BUTT SIDE We will have a key that will signal which side to avoid

the blocker on, if we ever miss a key or don’t have one we can simply read the technique of the blocker.

The blocker will turn his butt to the side of the return. This is the side we want to avoid.

We must first set the blocker up with a fake to the face (don’t slow down on the fake).

Then we want to rip across, dropping our near shoulder (similar to blitz drill technique).

Careful not to avoid to wide, come tight off the blockers butt, and get vertical (step on his heels and get in STACK position).

 

GT

E

L3L4

L5

AVOIDING BUTT SIDE

COVERAGE RULES4. Avoid any trap blocks behind.

Help a team mate out by calling out “crack” and chipping (collision) the trapper if possible.

T

L5

DEFEATING BLOCKSTRAP BLOCKS

Trap blocks are used by the front line, often on a 5 or 4.

If you find yourself unblocked get your head on a swivel.

Once you find the trapper, defeat him by going behind.

T

L5

COVERAGE RULES5. Attack the second man, the

CONTACT Zone, using butt-n-press or pop off.

G

FB

BC

K R5

CONTACT ZONE

DEFEATING BLOCKSBUTT-N-PRESSButt-n-press is a technique we use in the attack zone or in close proximity to the ball carrier, usually on the second wave of blockers.To execute this technique we want to shock the blocker keeping our hands inside his frame and our head on ball side.We want to press the blocker right into the lap of the ball carrier. Lots of guys make the mistake of stopping their feet and not PRESSING the blocker. If the ball carrier continues on his path be ready to come off and make a play.If the ball carrier crosses over be ready to push-pull across the blockers face.

DEFEATING BLOCKSPOP OFF

Pop off is a technique similar to the butt-n-press with the exception we want to pop off the blocker after we make contact and deliver a shock.

You would want to use the pop off technique when the ball carrier is in close proximity to the blocker or already declared a side.

COVERAGE RULES6. Never run past the level of the ball. Keep the

ball in front of you.HAS PASSED THE

BALL CARRIER

BALL IS STILL IN FRONT

COVERAGE RULES

7. Never trail your teammate. (PLAYOFF IF NECESSARY)

G

L4

L5

COVERAGE RULES8. If you have a back line double team split it

making yourself skinny. Front line double team should always be avoided to the outside.

FB

TE

L4

TG

R3

DEFEATING BLOCKSDOUBLE TEAMS

We defeat a double team block by getting skinny and splitting the double team (also called fitting the window)

As you get skinny drop the shoulder. Be ready to come free, eyes up.

COVERAGE RULES9. Be ready to become a force/fold player

throttling down at 2X5 (could be a free or could be butt-n-pressing ready to force/fold)

FB

TE

L4L3

BC

2YDS OUTSIDE

5 YRD DEPTH

FORCE / FOLD TECHNIQUESSettle 2x5 off the coverage guy fitting

the double team.   

  

FORCE / FOLD TECHNIQUESF ORCE – if the ball declares to you, you

want to play force and tackle the outside leg

FB

TE

L4

L3

BC

FORCE / FOLD TECHNIQUESFOLD – if the ball declares to the other

side of the double team then you want to fold behind the double team

FB

TE

L4

L3

BC

HUB RULEHUB – if the ball carrier is more than 10

yards behind the double team you are free to go make the play

FB

TE

L4

L3

BC

MORE THAN 10 YRD DEPTH

CUTOFF TECHNIQUESCUTOFF – when a return is going the

other way and you try to cutoff the direction it is going. You can only cutoff if you have 2 coverage team mates outside of you.

L3

BC

COVERAGE RULES10. 1’s be ready to fold if return is away. If return

is to you play force.

G G T

E

FB T

E

BC

K R5 R4 R3 R2 R1L5

COVERAGE RULES11. Kicker is our Safety. No further than 20 yards

from the ball. The kicker must make the tackle before the ball carrier gets to the open field.

COVERAGE RULES12. Take KAMIKAZE shots tackling the far leg. Do

not break down.BC

L4

DESPERATION ONSIDE KICKS

Hopefully we will never need a desperation onside kick. But in the situation we do, it is extremely important we know our assignments as recovering the football is crucial. This may be a last chance to get the ball back to our offense to WIN the game. We will have three different calls for our onside kicks to take advantage of where the hands team aligns. We want to take advantage of where they give us numbers and kick to where we have more jerseys than our opponent. Our call will be Lucky (left), Ringo (right), and Mickey (middle).

RULES FOR RECOVERING AN ONSIDE KICK•The ball must travel 10 yards before the kicking team can recover.•Once the return team touches the ball, regardless the yard line, the kick team may recover.•If a member of the kick team is touching the sideline while touching the ball then the play is dead.

DESPERATION ONSIDE KICKLUCKY

DESPERATION ONSIDE KICKRINGO

DESPERATION ONSIDE KICKMICKEY