Special Teams playbooks

If you go to our online on the home page store you will see that Lyle Lansdell and Myself coathured a Kicking manual that is very thourgh touching on every phase of the kicking game. Coach Campbell

VA TECH has great special teams play.

Here are a few thoughts I gleaned from Va. Tech Film on Special Teams for my use. This does not constiutute a COMPLETE Special Teams Notebook - but it IS a GOOD START!

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FRANK BEAMER SPECIAL TEAMS GOALS

PUNTING TEAM – Allow no more than six yards per return. Down punt inside 10 yard line.

KICKOFF COVERAGE TEAM – Average starting the opponent at the 20 yard line or less.

PUNT RETURN TEAM – Average 10 yards per punt return.

PUNT RUSH/FG/PAT RUSH TEAMS – Block a punt, FG, PAT or force a bad kick every game.

KICKOFF RETURN TEAM – Start drive at the 28 yard line or beyond 66 percent of the time.

FG/PAT TEAMS – One hundred percent on PAT attempts. Sixty-six percent (2 of 3) on FG attempts.

OVERALL: No penalties or mental errors. Hidden yardage +20.

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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)



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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.


VIRGINIA TECH PUNT BLOCK (FULL RUSH)

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#2 & # 9 = aim for 1 step outside where Slot can get his hand on you and bend hard to your landmark.

#3 & #8 = work upfield until Tackle can no longer block you then bend inside to your landmark (run away from Slot).

#4 & #7 = work straight upfield and redirect to your landmark.

#5 & #6 = work your way behind the Center – get as far upfield as you can and work to your landmark.

NOTE: Landmark = 2 yds. in front of where punter kicks the ball – USUALLY about 8 yds. deep for a punter who lines up 13 yards deep.

#1 & #10 = block the headhunters to your left.

Punt Returner = automatic right return. Take a few steps straight upfield to draw the coverage in before breaking to the right.


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VIRGINIA TECH PUNT PROTECTION


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ZONE PROTECTION: (LIKE 2 OFFENSIVE LINEMEN SWITCH ON PASS PROTECTION).

GUARDS-TACKLE: OUTSIDE FOOT BACK. HELMET SPLITS NUMBER OF CENTER. GUARD SPLITS 6” & TACKLE SPLITS 12”. EVERYBODY SETS STRAIGHT BACK OR VERTICAL, KEEPING TAIL DOWN. RESPONSIBLE FOR OUTSIDE GAP. GIVE GROUND GRUDGINGLY LOOKING & PUNCHING THRU OUTSIDE GAP BUT FEEL WITH INSIDE HAND FOR ANY THREAT IN INSIDE GAP.

WINGS: OUTSIDE FOOT BACK & INSIDE FOOT BEHIND OUTSIDE FOOT OF TACKLE – 4 YDS DEEP. SAME TECHNIQUE AND RULES AS GUARDS & TACKLES.

CENTER: SNAP ON COMMAND. GET BIG AND GET OUT INTO THE ZONE.

PERSONAL PROTECTOR: 5 YDS DEEP. EYEBALL BOTH A GAPS & HUNKER DOWN ON ANYTHING INSIDE.

HEADHUNTERS: 2 YDS. ABOVE #’S ON LOS.

PUNTER: 13 YDS DEEP.


OPERATION: TOTAL OPERATION = 2.1 OR BETTER. THIS INCLIDES SNAPPER = .8 OR BETTER; PUNTER = 1.3 OR BETTER. HANG TIME 4.0 OR BETTER.

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P.A.T. & F.G. PROTECTION:


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LINEMEN: 6” SPLIT. THE LINE IS BOWED, WITH INSIDE FOOT BACK (& A LITTLE BEHIND TEAMMATE’S OUTSIDE FOOT), & OUTSIDE FOOT AT HEEL OF MAN INSIDE (GET INTO HIS INSTEP). KEY SNAP OF BALL OUT OF THE CORNER OF YOUR EYE. ON SNAP, STEP INSIDE WITH INSIDE FOOT BEHIND THE HEEL OF INSIDE TEAMMATE – KEEP OUTSIDE LEG WELDED TO THE GROUND. KEEP SHOULDERS SQUARE (BOTH HANDS UP TO PUNCH) AND KEEP YOUR CENTER LINE OF GRAVITY. YOU HAVE INSIDE GAP CONTROL BUT CAN HELP YOUR BUDDY OUTSIDE WHILE CONTROLLING YOUR GAP.

WING: INSIDE FOOT IN MIDLINE OF TIGHT END. DON’T MOVE INSIDE FOOT. PUNCH INSIDE & RICOCHET BACK OUTSIDE ONE STEP & MAKE OUTSIDE RUSHER CHANGE HIS LINE OF RUSH.

HOLDER: 6 OR 7 YDS DEEP. LEFT KNEE UP. BALL PLACED WITH LEFT HAND.

AN EXCELLENT TIME IS 1.25 SECONDS FROM SNAP TO KICK!