Blocking A Punt

COACH,

In my experience, the BEST answer has always been STACKED PRESSURE ( by this I mean overload one side or the other) from off the edges, or bring PRESSURE straight up the middle. Find yourself a "rabbit" who has the natural ability to get to the ball (every team has one), coach him up on the proper technique and bring him off one edge or the other. Just my way and a suggestion as always.

Coach Easton-TIGER ONE

COACH,

THE VERY BEST PUNT BLOCKER I EVER COACHED WAS ON MY PROFESSIONAL MINOR LEAGUE TEAM. HE BLOCKED 6 PUNTS IN A SINGLE SEASON, AND HE WAS A WISP OF A MAN AT 5'11 AND 170 LBS. HE ALSO WAS OUR STARTING FREE SAFETY ON OUR 1994 AFL SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM, AND WENT ON TO BE THE STARTING PRO BOWL FS THE SAME YEAR.

HE JUST WAS SUPER QUICK AND WE WOULD ALIGN HIM IN THE PSL AS AN EMOL ON THE STACKED SIDE AND TURN HIM LOOSE!!! HE FULLY UNDERSTOOD THAT HIS AIMING POINT WAS 3 FEET IN FRONT OF THE KICKERS LEG, NOT THE KICKER!!! HE WOULD LEAVE HIS FEET AT EXACTLY THE RIGHT INSTANT AND THROW HIMSELF WITH ARMS CROSSED IN FRONT OF HIS FACE AT THE BALL.

THE KICKING TEAM WAS DEAD IF THE OUTSIDE MAN ON THEIR PUNT PROTECTION EVEN HINTED HE WAS GOING TO BLOCK THE INSIDE THREAT FIRST, BECAUSE MY GUY WAS BY HIM IN A FLASH!!!
JUST A NATURAL FEEL FOR DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY AFTER ACCEPTING THE COACHING POINTS AND THEN APPLYING THEM TO HIS GAME!!!

Coach Easton-TIGER ONE

HEY ZUCK,

WHEN YOU GET ONE LIKE THAT, THEY SURE ARE FUN TO WATCH AT WORK AREN'T THEY??? I used to just stand in awe of what this guy could do, and he reveled in getting the job done. He came close so many other times it was just a pleasure to watch him put everything into making the block!!!

Coach Easton-TIGER ONE

Coach you might try the "Complete Guide to Special Teams", put out by the American Football Coaches Association, with a foreward by Frank Beamer. It is a very good book and you might be able to get it at a Borders bookstore.

VIRGINIA TECH PUNT BLOCK PRINCIPLES

TO PREVENT ROUGHING THE KICKER:
1. Landmark is 2 yds. in front of where punter usually kicks the ball (if he lines up at 13 & kicks at 10 — the landmark is 8 yds deep). Adjust to the kicker from there. If you get past the landmark, pull off.
2. Angle to kicker — never put your body on a collision course with the kicker — run thru block area full speed. Come ACROSS kicker's foot.
3. Stay on your feet (so you can adjust).
4. If you're blocked — stop and work outside (in case kicker runs, or ball is blocked). We WANT 7 blocked and the 8th man coming free (if two come free they may collide).

TECHNIQUE:
1. Sprinter's stance.
2. Hand close to ball.
3. Head turned looking at ball.
4. Get off (move on ball).
5. First 5 yds. most critical (stay low, turn shoulders making yourself small, & expect to go free).
6. Never get hands up till last second (hands come from hips quick and fast to ball level). If you put your hands up too soon, it slows you down.
7. Where are your eyes? Don't turn your head or close your eyes — look at his foot, keep your eyes open — put your hands on his foot at the last second.

DRILL: (ONLY ONE)
Snapper snaps a ball (about half deflated) to punter , & blocker takes his zone approach — go upfield (making body small) then redirect to landmark.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN PERSONNEL TO BLOCK PUNT:
1. Explosive get off.
2. Speed.
3. Long arms.

ZONE APPROACH TO BLOCKING A PUNT (STRETCHING ZONES)


--------------------O
------O----------------O-O-C
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#5 = work your way behind Center — get as far upfield as you can & work to your landmark.
#4 = line up outside & jump back inside, OR line up inside and work straight up the field and redirect to your landmark.
#3 = work upfield until Tackle can no longer block you then bend inside to your landmark (run away from slot).
#2 = take a step and try to go 1 step outside where slot can get his hand on you and bend hard to your landmark.