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Coach and Athletic Director

Punt Returns By The "100s"

By Kevin Halburian

One of our major convictions as a football coach is that our punt-block team can make a difference. We call that team the "100s". It applies pressure on every snap with a 10-man front, but we do not try to block every punt. We just want the threat to be there.

The goal of the "100s" remains the same. "Block every punt, field goal, or extra point."

We want our players to be fast and quick. We look for linebackers and fullbacks for the four and five positions and secondary types for the one, two, and three positions. Our best people cover people are the twos.

Ball-hawking, hungry, aggressive players who will sell out to block a kick are a must. There is no room for heroes who are just looking for a little playing time.

A mistake or a big play on a punt can mean the difference between a win and loss. It is considered an honor and a privilege to make the "100s".

Diag. 1:

Diag. 1 shows our lineup vs a spread formation. As you can see, our 10 linemen are set up in three-point stances with their inside hand down and the inside foot back. All of them are shaded on the outside shoulders of the blockers in front of them and all of them are totally focused on the ball.

The first three steps of the get-off are the most important. Once the ball is snapped, we want them to drive hard with the back foot and split his man's feet.

The second step is in the outside gap. We call it the "skinny" step. We want them to get perpendicular to the LOS by turning their hips into the gap and facing the center.

The third step is the "through" move, with the rusher clearing the blocker with a swim technique and then accelerating on a straight path to the punter.

Every day we practice punt returns, we go through five drills involving all the coaches. Each one focuses on an assigned group. The more eyes we have on a drill, the better the result.

Three-Step Drill vs a Full Punt Team:

All the players assume their stances.

On "1", called by a coach, every player will take his first step, splitting his shade's feet.

On "2", all players will take their skinny step into their gap.

On "3" through, the 10 players will swim and clear the blockers. This will be repeated five times. During all steps, coaches will check each player for proper technique. Caution: Do not rush the steps.

Diag. 2, Solo Blocking vs. a Full Punt Team:

With every player in a proper stance, the center simulates 10 snaps. Starting with L1, the block team will go at full speed through the line, one at a time, using proper technique and blocking a punt kicked by a coach.

If at all possible, the punter/coach should have 10 footballs so that each player can get the feel of a block. We have a manager or another player hand the coach the football after every block. This drill is repeated twice, left to right, then right to left.

We emphasize four coaching points:

1. Run through the block point, one yard in front of the kickers foot. Do not dive. It will make you lose control of your body.

2. Arms are crossed at the wrists at waist level, straight out. I've often seen kicks that should have been blocked missed because the rusher's arms were up near their head and shoulders and the ball went underneath.

3. Once the ball is blocked, scoop and score it. Do not fall on the ball if it stays behind the LOS. If the ball does go beyond the LOS, don't touch it!

4. Do not rush the drill; let each player complete the block and recovery before proceeding with the next player. Throughout this drill, have the punt team will stay in their stances and do not block

Diag. 3 L's and R's:

In this drill, the center simulates two snaps. The punt team will again stay in their stance and not block the "100s" team. On the first snap, L1 through L5 will go full speed to block a punt kicked by a coach. On the second snap, R1 through R5 will go full speed to block a punt kicked by a coach.

The two important coaching points for this drill:

1. Make all L's cross the punter's kicking foot and end up to the right side of the punter. All R's must cross over and end up on the left side of the punter

2. Once the kick is blocked and recovered, the player who recovered it will yell, "peel" to alert his teammates to turn and block.

Diag. 4, All at Once:

The center will simulate one snap and the punt team will again stay in their stance and not block. On ball movement, the "100s" team will go all together with proper technique and block a punt kicked by a coach. Once the ball is blocked, we want to scoop and score.

Diag. 5 Full Tilt:

Live blocking by the punt team and a full speed rush by the "100s". There are five live punts. The goal for the drill is to block three out of the five.

During all of these drills, our punter will be kicking to our main returner on a side field. The later will fair-catch the first five punt, and then simulate a return with the next five. After those are completed, he will alternate fair catch and return.

Return Calls:

As stated earlier, we will show a 10-man front in every punt-return situation. From that 10-man front, we can drop into several different schemes. If we want to set up a return, our call would be "Hold-up". The front will attack their shade's outside shoulder and drive him to the center. We want to create a "pile" in the middle.

L2 and R2 will shade the inside shoulder of the gunners and force them to an outside release. They will continue to stay on the inside and force the gunners to the sideline.

L5 and R5 will drop and help kick out the gunners. The returner will attack the middle of the field after the catch and then dart up the sideline. (See Diag. 3.)

The second return is called "Bracket hold-up". For the 1's, 3's and 4's, it is the same technique as hold-up. They will attack the outside shoulder of their shade and create a pile.

The bracket comes from the 5's and 2's bracketing the gunners on the outside. The 5's will be on the outside shoulder of the gunners, and the 2's will be on the inside shoulder. Their job is to jam the gunner and not let him off of the LOS.

The returner's job is to catch the ball and avoid the first tackler, usually the long snapper, and then attack the sideline. Some of the best battles in practice have come when we isolate the bracket and gunners to see if the gunners can get off of the line and down field. A lot of pride in one's self comes out in those battles. (See Diag. 4.)

From the bracket formation, we have another block call " Bracket-creep-block". The bracket applies to the 5's. They use the same technique as in bracket hold-up. The creep applies to the 2's. During the cadence, the 2's will slowly shuffle toward the center and attack the corner of the LOS and go for the block. The block applies to the 1's, 3's and 4's. They will use block technique to attack the ball. (See Diag. 5.)

In short-yardage situations or if we think a fake might take place, the call would be "115". The 1's and 5's will drop back (on first sound) to approximately three yards from the LOS. The 1's play man-to-man with the tight ends, while the 5's are keying the up-back playing a LB position. The 3's and 4's play the hold-up technique. See Diag. 6:

The last call we use is called "twist", a two-man game that can be used anywhere along the line. Against a spread-punt formation, our call would be an inside twist. Examples: 154 or 143.

Against a tight-punt formation, our call would be an outside twist. Examples: 121 or 132. The technique used is the same for each call.

Let's use the example of 154 twist. The second number, 5, tells the 5's that they must attack the guards instead of swimming the center. They adjust their alignment slightly by moving to the guard/center gap.

The third number, 4, tells the 4's that they are the twist. They must adjust their alignment to head-up on the guards and a step back off line of scrimmage. On the snap, the 5's kick out the guards, and the 4's come off of the 5's hip into the guard/center gap. The 3's, 2's, and 1's use the same technique as in the block. See Diag. 7:

About the Author

Kevin Halburian is Special Teams Coordinator at Colonie High School, Albany, NY.

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