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Special Teams
Kickoffs You Can
Count On
Derek A. “Coach” Wade
Syllabus
• Why I like Kickoffs
• Basic Kickoff
–Formations
–Responsibilities
–Player types
• T-A-C-K-L-I-N-G!
• Squibs vs. Kicking Deep
Syllabus
• Onside Kicks
– Traditional (3x7)
• Making it more effective
– The Mob Kick
• Formation
• Responsibilities
Syllabus
• Game Day Thoughts
– When to squib
– When to kick deep
– When to onside kick
– Adjusting the game plan
Why I like Kicking Off
• Not terribly complex
–We’re about to hand someone an
ass-whoopin’
–We just scored
I find both of these to be enjoyable.
Why I HATE Kicking Off
• By rule, you must give the other
team a chance to possess the
ball.
• Coach Wade’s Rule:
Come and get it if you can!
Why I HATE Kicking Off
• We must structure our kickoff to:
–Regain/retain possession
–Negate athletic advantages
–Attack the return scheme
–Trap the ball
–Prevent the momentum change of a
big return
Basic Kickoffs
• Three waves of coverage
–Gunners
–Lane tacklers
–Safety
Basic Kickoffs
• Formation
• Cover the field! Seven yard spacing.
Basic Kickoffs
• Responsibilities/athletes
• 1. Speed 2. Tackling Ability
Basic Kickoffs
• Responsibilities/athletes
• Should be excellent tacklers!
Basic Kickoffs
• Responsibilities/athletes
• Most disciplined players available
Basic Kickoffs
• Responsibilities/athletes
• Fastest players available
Basic Kickoffs
• Responsibilities/athletes
• Clinically insane
Basic Kickoffs
• Responsibilities/athletes
• Gunners - Straight to ball
Basic Kickoffs
• Responsibilities/athletes
• Gunners - Must make 1:3 tackles!
Basic Kickoffs
• Responsibilities/athletes
• Outside Contain - Eyes open!
Basic Kickoffs
• Responsibilities/athletes
• Lane Tacklers - Discipline
Basic Kickoffs
• Responsibilities/athletes
• Kicker - Kicking ability, tackling
Basic Kickoffs
• Fit, Fill, and Force
• Gunner
–Disrupts blocking
–Forces runner into other waves
Basic Kickoffs
• Fit, Fill, and Force
• Fill
–Breaks up blocking scheme
–Takes away running lanes
Basic Kickoffs
• Fit, Fill, and Force
• Force
–Maintains outside leverage
–Must be surest tacklers
Basic Kickoffs
• Fit, Fill, and Force
• Outside contain
–Nothing outside - ever!
–Pay attention
Basic Kickoffs
Basic Kickoffs
Basic Kickoffs
• Fit, Fill, and Force
• Fitting to the wedge
– Attack the gaps
– Get skinny
– Power through
Basic Kickoffs
• Points of
coverage
• 1- Stance/Start
– Am I onside?
– How will I be
blocked?
Basic Kickoffs
• Points of
coverage
• 2 - Scheme
– Where is the
ball?
– Where are my
teammates?
– Who is trying
to block me?
Basic Kickoffs
• Points of
coverage
• 3 - Piercing
– Break the
scheme
– Proper fit
Basic Kickoffs
• Points of
coverage
• 4 - Tackle
– Breakdown
– Creep
Basic Kickoffs
• “Perfect 5”
Squibs v. Deep Kicks
• How do we set up our returns?
–We spend weeks in research
–We spend days in evaluation of
players
–We spend hours in practice
It is reasonable to assume our
opponent does these things, too!
Squibs v. Deep Kicks
• Kicking deep
– Sets up the return
– Places the ball in the best athlete’s
hands
– Puts him in the open field
– Puts a screen of blockers in front of him
– Outkicks the coverage
Squibs v. Deep Kicks
• Squib kicks
– Negate good athletes
– Reduce the effect of blocking schemes
– Pin the ball to the sideline
– Offer a chance of recovery
– Can be easily turned into a surprise
onside kick
Squibs v. Deep Kicks
• Coverage is
closer to the
returner
Squibs v. Deep Kicks
• Returner is
outside his
screen
• Seven
tacklers have
a shot at him!
• Get the
bouncing ball!
Onside Kicking
• Traditional
Onside Kicking
• Traditional
Onside Kicking
• Traditional
Onside Kicking
• Traditional
Onside Kicking
• Traditional
Onside Kicking
• The Mob Squad
Onside Kicking
• The Mob Squad
Onside Kicking
• The Mob Squad
Onside Kicking
• The Mob Squad
Game Day
• When to squib
– “Default setting”
– Opening kick
– Superior athletes
– Tricky returns
– Late in a close game
Game Day
• When to kick deep
– Return team up to the twenty or more
– You have athletic superiority
– Blowout win
– Coverage > Scheme
Game Day
• When to onside kick
– Early in the season against a weak
opponent
• “Live fire” training
– Early in the game against a tough
opponent
– Avoid kicking when expected
Kickoffs As A Weapon
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Kickoffs As A Weapon
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Kickoffs As A Weapon
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.