Post by Coach Campbell on Apr 25, 2009 20:48:10 GMT
Special teams strategy
"Special team" is the term used to describe the specialized group of players who take the field during kickoffs, free kicks, punts, and field goal attempts. Most football teams' special teams include one or more kickers, a long snapper (who specializes in accurate snaps over long distances), kick returners who catch and carry the ball after it is kicked by the opposing team, and blockers who defend during kicks and returns.
Some players may take the field as members of the starting offense or defense as well as the special teams; a few notable examples are Ellis Hobbs, cornerback for the NFL's New England Patriots, who returns kick as well as plays in almost all defensive packages, Josh Wilson, starting cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks, and Devin Hester, who returns kicks and punts as well as is a starting wide receiver for the Chicago Bears. However, because of the risk of injury, it is uncommon for a starting offensive or defensive player to also play on a special teams unit. Specialty and depth positions (such as a third wide receiver, like Buffalo's Roscoe Parrish or Arizona's Steve Breaston) will often fill special teams roles instead.
Although these are risky, there are a variety of strategic plays which can be attempted during kickoffs, punts, and field goals which can be used to surprise the opposition and (hopefully) score points, gain yardage or first downs, or recover possession of the kicked ball.
Kickoff strategy
A kickoff occurs at the beginning of each half, overtime period (not in college), and following each touchdown, successful field goal, or safety. At the beginning of the game and in overtime periods, a coin toss determines which team kicks off and which team receives. At the beginning of the second half, the team that kicked off in the first half receives it instead. After a field goal or a touchdown, the team which scored kicks off. After a safety, the team which did not score kicks a safety punt.
Strategically, the coach of the other team may choose to have his players kick the ball in one of several ways:
Standard kickoff: The kicker attempts a high kick meant to travel the greatest possible distance upfield. Ideally, the ball will travel through the endzone, resulting in a touchback and eliminating the possibility of a large return. A touchback results in the ball being placed on the 20 yard line where the receiving team will take over on offense. However, even NFL kickers cannot consistently kick farther than the goal line. Thus, a high kick is just as important as a long kick. A high kick, with a long "hang time" in the air allows the kickoff team time to run down the field and tackle the player catching the ball before he gets very far up field. A low, line-drive kick allows the kick returner to catch the ball and start running upfield before running into the kickoff team.
Possible outcomes: In case of a return, the primary goal is to stop the opposing team's returner as close as possible to the end zone, thus forcing that team to advance the ball a longer distance in order to score. Stopping the returner inside the 20 yard line is considered a "net gain" for the kickoff team. The return team tries as a minimum to at least get out to the 20 yrd line, the farther downfield the better. Running back the kickoff for a touchdown is the ultimate objective.
Onside kick: This is usually attempted in the closing minutes of play when a team needs to score again quickly in order to have a chance of winning the game.
"Squib kick" or "pooch kick": The squib kick is a low kick that may hit the ground and bounce kickoff; it is thus less predictable. A squib kick is generally used when trying to avoid a run-back, although this outcome is not guaranteed. A pooch kick is used for a similar purpose, except is a short, high kick that the Kick-Off team can get to before there is a return. Because the kick does not travel nearly as far as a standard kickoff, this strategy gives the opposing team better average field position, but the advantage is that a long kick return is less likely.
Kickoff out-of-bounds: If a kickoff travels over the sidelines either in the air, or bounces in the field of play, then rolls out-of-bounds without being touched by a player on the receiving team, the play results in an illegal procedure penalty. The ball is then spotted 30 yards from the spot of the kickoff (usually in NFL, the receiving team's 40 yard line, in college the 35), resulting in a first down (and beginning of offensive series) for the receiving team. Sometimes, although very rare, the kicking team will purposely kick the ball out of bounds if they're facing an excellent returner. Examples include Chicago's Devin Hester and formerly Kansas City Chief Dante Hall.
Field goal strategy
Field goals are often viewed as a way for teams to turn a disappointing drive into a small victory. However, many football games are decided by field goals in the final minutes or seconds of play, making the ability to kick an accurate field goal vital for any football team.
The strategy for a field goal is fairly straightforward. The team on offense forms a protective semicircle behind the line of scrimmage on either side of the center, who snaps the ball to the holder. The holder positions the ball so that the kicker - moving from a short distance away - can quickly get into position and accurately kick the ball through the goalposts. The remaining players block the opposing team, whose members will be trying to break through the protective circle in order to block the kick or bat it aside for a chance to intercept the ball. If a team misses the field goal, the opposing team takes possession of the ball without a kickoff from the spot where the ball was kicked (as opposed to the line of scrimmage).
Distance, the amounts of wind and noise within the stadium, and the amount of experience the kicker has are all determining factors in the success or failure of a field goal attempt. The majority of successful field goal attempts are kicked within 50 yards of the goalpost. However, some kickers can - and often do - make good kicks from farther away. The current NFL record for the longest successful field goal was set in 1970 by Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints, who kicked from 63 yards out. It should be noted that Dempsey had an unusually shaped foot due to a birth defect; his kicking foot had no toes, and he wore a special shoe in the shape of that foot (now illegal by NFL rules). Jason Elam of the Denver Broncos tied this record in 1998. Matt Bryant of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicked the third longest field goal (62 yards) on October 22, 2006. Only four other times has a NFL field goal of 60 yards or more been completed.
Modern kickers use a soccer style kick, which involves taking a diagonal approach to the ball and kicking with the inside of the foot. Many kickers in the 1950s and earlier kicked the ball by lining up directly behind it and approaching straight ahead. This is still seen today in a limited capacity in high school and college football. Tom Dempsey used a similar approach, which benefitted from his clublike kicking foot.
In some situations, a coach may choose to have his team fake a field goal attempt. The players line up as normal, but instead of holding the ball for a kick, the player receiving the snap may run with the ball, hand it off to another player, or attempt to throw it downfield. This play is quite risky and therefore not used often.
It is possible for the defensive team to return a missed field goal, although this is attempted very rarely. If a field goal attempt is short of the goal posts a player may return the ball just as on a punt. Teams usually try a return only when a very long field goal is attempted at the end of the first half, since in all other cases it is more advantageous for the defense to just let the ball fall short. Players who have done this in recent years include Chris McAlister of the Baltimore Ravens (in 2002, 107 yards versus the Denver Broncos), and Chicago Bears players Nathan Vasher (in 2005, for 108 yards versus the San Francisco 49ers) and Devin Hester (in 2006, also for 108 yards versus the New York Giants). On November 4, 2007, San Diego's Antonio Cromartie returned a 57-yard Ryan Longwell field goal attempt 109 yards for the longest touchdown in NFL history in a game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Punting strategy
Most teams punt on fourth down when the chances of gaining enough yards for a first down are slim and when the ball is too far from the goalpost to allow a field goal try. Generally, a member of the opposing team moves into position to catch the ball. He may try to gain yards by running the ball downfield, or he may signal a fair catch by waving one arm above his head, thus agreeing that he will not attempt to return the ball downfield. A player who has signalled a fair catch may not be tackled after catching the ball, else the player who tackled him will be penalized for kick-catching interference.
In some cases, a coach may attempt trickery by switching between his offense and special teams players between plays. A coach may call a time-out, send the kicking team onto the field, and then when the play clock resumes quickly run his offense back on and his kicking team off, hopefully disorienting the defending team enough to advance on the ensuing play or cause a penalty if the defending team cannot switch personnel quickly enough. However, this trickery can also result in penalties against the offense if the play takes too long (delay of game) or if too many players remain on the field when the ball is snapped.
Occasionally a coach will line his team up in a shotgun formation and have the quarterback "quick kick" or "pooch punt" -- using the element of surprise to cause the defense not to have a receiver ready. Some teams will even do this from a field goal formation, having the ball snapped directly to the placekicker who then punts the ball downfield instead of trying a field goal that has a low percentage of success.
Downing the ball
If, for whatever reason, the receiving team does not catch the ball, the kicking team may move into position and try to down it as close as possible to the opposing team's end zone. This is achieved by surrounding the ball and allowing it to roll or bounce, without touching it, as close as possible to the end zone. If the ball appears to be rolling or bouncing into the end zone, a player may run in front of the goal line and attempt to bat it down or catch it. If a member of the kicking team touches or catches the ball before a member of the receiving team does so, the ball is blown dead by the official when he has judged that the returner is not going to pick up the ball and return it, or the kicking team picks the ball up and hands it to the official. Once the whistle is blown the play is over and the receiving team takes possession at the spot the ball was spotted by the official.
Thus it is strategically important for kicking teams to get as close to the ball as possible after a punt, so that they may quickly tackle a returner, down the ball as close to the opposing team's end zone as possible, and (if possible) recover the ball after a fumble and regain possession of the ball.
Fake punts
In much the same way as a fake field goal (described above), a fake punt is an effort to trick the opposition and either score or gain enough yards for a first down. Fake punts are risky for the same reasons as fake field goals and are thus rarely attempted.
In 2005 the opposite of this play has become increasingly popular, with teams lining up in a shotgun offensive alignment or field goal attempt alignment. The ball is snapped to the QB/holder/kicker, who immediately punts the ball. This is done in situations where a full length punt would simply result in a touchback and allows the punting team a better chance of getting downfield to prevent the punt from entering the endzone (the reasoning being that the defensive backs will not jam the receivers off the line as they would the gunners in a punting alignment).
Punts out-of-bounds
Skilled punters may try to punt a ball past the return team so that the ball touches the playing field in bounds, then rolls out of bounds close to the opposing team's end zone. The drawback to such a punt is that the ball may roll into the end zone (touchback), giving the receiving team normal starting position. Or, if the kick is angled too sharply, it will go out of bounds too early and result in an unusually short, or botched, punt. The best punters are highly regarded for their ability to put the ball out of bounds within five yards of the goal line. These punts are also known as "coffin corner punters" due to their ability to pin an opposing offense inside its own five-yard line, thus increasing the chances for the opposing defense to score a safety or a defensive touchdown.
Receiving kicks
The biggest choice facing a kick returner is whether or not to attempt to run the ball back. Generally, a returner who catches a kickoff or punt in the "red zone" between the receiving team's own end zone and 20 yard line will attempt some sort of return, if only to gain a few yards. If the receiving team's players can get into position quickly, they may be able to allow the returner to gain further yardage or break away from the pack entirely and score a touchdown.
In extreme cases - generally during kickoff returns in the closing seconds of play - the returner may attempt a lateral pass to avoid the ball being downed in a tackle. The return team may throw as many lateral passes as they choose, and this is normally done in a desperate attempt to keep the ball alive. Perhaps the most resounding use of lateral passes during a kickoff return came in the closing seconds of the 1982 Stanford vs. Cal game, in which five laterals during a kickoff return allowed the California Golden Bears to score a winning touchdown. The lateral was also the prominent play in the 2000 AFC Wild Card playoff game between the Tennessee Titans and the Buffalo Bills, now known as the Music City Miracle. After Steve Christie kicked a 51-yard field goal to give Buffalo a 16-15 lead with 16 seconds remaining, the Titans’ Kevin Dyson returned a Frank Wycheck lateral on the ensuing kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown, scoring with three seconds left in the game. Controversy ensued over whether the pass was a lateral, or a forward pass, but after review, the play stood; Tennessee won the game and went on to play in Super Bowl XXXIV.
If a punted ball is touched after passing the line of scrimmage, even inadvertently, by a member of the receiving team it becomes a live ball and may be recovered as if a fumble by the kicking team. Conversely if the receiving team doesn't touch the ball and a member of the kicking team touches it, the ball is ruled down where it is touched and play is dead. All place-kicked balls--kick-offs, field goal attempts, and the like--are live balls which may be played in one way or another by either team (subject to restrictions in the case of any "free" kick: see onside kick).
A kick returner may signal a fair catch if the ball will be caught with good field position, or if the kicking team's members are advancing so quickly that a return is impossible. However, he will be penalized if he attempts a return after signaling a fair catch; likewise, players who tackle a returner who has signaled a fair catch will be penalized. If a player waves for a fair catch and then fails to touch the ball, it may be downed as normal by the kicking team, but if recovered by the receiving team, may not be advanced. However, if any member of the receiving team catches a ball and then drops it, it becomes a live ball and may be recovered by either side.
A rarely employed and somewhat unknown strategy is where the kickoff returner takes advantage of an NFL rule that states if the returner's foot is out of bounds when he catches the kicked ball, the kickoff is also considered out of bounds and thus the offense would take over 30 yards from the spot of the kickoff (almost always the receiving team's 40-yard line.) The returner must have his foot out of bounds before making contact with the ball, otherwise the offense starts at the out-of-bounds spot. Leon Washington of the New York Jets successfully performed this play during Week 9 of the 2008 season versus the Buffalo Bills.
"Special team" is the term used to describe the specialized group of players who take the field during kickoffs, free kicks, punts, and field goal attempts. Most football teams' special teams include one or more kickers, a long snapper (who specializes in accurate snaps over long distances), kick returners who catch and carry the ball after it is kicked by the opposing team, and blockers who defend during kicks and returns.
Some players may take the field as members of the starting offense or defense as well as the special teams; a few notable examples are Ellis Hobbs, cornerback for the NFL's New England Patriots, who returns kick as well as plays in almost all defensive packages, Josh Wilson, starting cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks, and Devin Hester, who returns kicks and punts as well as is a starting wide receiver for the Chicago Bears. However, because of the risk of injury, it is uncommon for a starting offensive or defensive player to also play on a special teams unit. Specialty and depth positions (such as a third wide receiver, like Buffalo's Roscoe Parrish or Arizona's Steve Breaston) will often fill special teams roles instead.
Although these are risky, there are a variety of strategic plays which can be attempted during kickoffs, punts, and field goals which can be used to surprise the opposition and (hopefully) score points, gain yardage or first downs, or recover possession of the kicked ball.
Kickoff strategy
A kickoff occurs at the beginning of each half, overtime period (not in college), and following each touchdown, successful field goal, or safety. At the beginning of the game and in overtime periods, a coin toss determines which team kicks off and which team receives. At the beginning of the second half, the team that kicked off in the first half receives it instead. After a field goal or a touchdown, the team which scored kicks off. After a safety, the team which did not score kicks a safety punt.
Strategically, the coach of the other team may choose to have his players kick the ball in one of several ways:
Standard kickoff: The kicker attempts a high kick meant to travel the greatest possible distance upfield. Ideally, the ball will travel through the endzone, resulting in a touchback and eliminating the possibility of a large return. A touchback results in the ball being placed on the 20 yard line where the receiving team will take over on offense. However, even NFL kickers cannot consistently kick farther than the goal line. Thus, a high kick is just as important as a long kick. A high kick, with a long "hang time" in the air allows the kickoff team time to run down the field and tackle the player catching the ball before he gets very far up field. A low, line-drive kick allows the kick returner to catch the ball and start running upfield before running into the kickoff team.
Possible outcomes: In case of a return, the primary goal is to stop the opposing team's returner as close as possible to the end zone, thus forcing that team to advance the ball a longer distance in order to score. Stopping the returner inside the 20 yard line is considered a "net gain" for the kickoff team. The return team tries as a minimum to at least get out to the 20 yrd line, the farther downfield the better. Running back the kickoff for a touchdown is the ultimate objective.
Onside kick: This is usually attempted in the closing minutes of play when a team needs to score again quickly in order to have a chance of winning the game.
"Squib kick" or "pooch kick": The squib kick is a low kick that may hit the ground and bounce kickoff; it is thus less predictable. A squib kick is generally used when trying to avoid a run-back, although this outcome is not guaranteed. A pooch kick is used for a similar purpose, except is a short, high kick that the Kick-Off team can get to before there is a return. Because the kick does not travel nearly as far as a standard kickoff, this strategy gives the opposing team better average field position, but the advantage is that a long kick return is less likely.
Kickoff out-of-bounds: If a kickoff travels over the sidelines either in the air, or bounces in the field of play, then rolls out-of-bounds without being touched by a player on the receiving team, the play results in an illegal procedure penalty. The ball is then spotted 30 yards from the spot of the kickoff (usually in NFL, the receiving team's 40 yard line, in college the 35), resulting in a first down (and beginning of offensive series) for the receiving team. Sometimes, although very rare, the kicking team will purposely kick the ball out of bounds if they're facing an excellent returner. Examples include Chicago's Devin Hester and formerly Kansas City Chief Dante Hall.
Field goal strategy
Field goals are often viewed as a way for teams to turn a disappointing drive into a small victory. However, many football games are decided by field goals in the final minutes or seconds of play, making the ability to kick an accurate field goal vital for any football team.
The strategy for a field goal is fairly straightforward. The team on offense forms a protective semicircle behind the line of scrimmage on either side of the center, who snaps the ball to the holder. The holder positions the ball so that the kicker - moving from a short distance away - can quickly get into position and accurately kick the ball through the goalposts. The remaining players block the opposing team, whose members will be trying to break through the protective circle in order to block the kick or bat it aside for a chance to intercept the ball. If a team misses the field goal, the opposing team takes possession of the ball without a kickoff from the spot where the ball was kicked (as opposed to the line of scrimmage).
Distance, the amounts of wind and noise within the stadium, and the amount of experience the kicker has are all determining factors in the success or failure of a field goal attempt. The majority of successful field goal attempts are kicked within 50 yards of the goalpost. However, some kickers can - and often do - make good kicks from farther away. The current NFL record for the longest successful field goal was set in 1970 by Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints, who kicked from 63 yards out. It should be noted that Dempsey had an unusually shaped foot due to a birth defect; his kicking foot had no toes, and he wore a special shoe in the shape of that foot (now illegal by NFL rules). Jason Elam of the Denver Broncos tied this record in 1998. Matt Bryant of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicked the third longest field goal (62 yards) on October 22, 2006. Only four other times has a NFL field goal of 60 yards or more been completed.
Modern kickers use a soccer style kick, which involves taking a diagonal approach to the ball and kicking with the inside of the foot. Many kickers in the 1950s and earlier kicked the ball by lining up directly behind it and approaching straight ahead. This is still seen today in a limited capacity in high school and college football. Tom Dempsey used a similar approach, which benefitted from his clublike kicking foot.
In some situations, a coach may choose to have his team fake a field goal attempt. The players line up as normal, but instead of holding the ball for a kick, the player receiving the snap may run with the ball, hand it off to another player, or attempt to throw it downfield. This play is quite risky and therefore not used often.
It is possible for the defensive team to return a missed field goal, although this is attempted very rarely. If a field goal attempt is short of the goal posts a player may return the ball just as on a punt. Teams usually try a return only when a very long field goal is attempted at the end of the first half, since in all other cases it is more advantageous for the defense to just let the ball fall short. Players who have done this in recent years include Chris McAlister of the Baltimore Ravens (in 2002, 107 yards versus the Denver Broncos), and Chicago Bears players Nathan Vasher (in 2005, for 108 yards versus the San Francisco 49ers) and Devin Hester (in 2006, also for 108 yards versus the New York Giants). On November 4, 2007, San Diego's Antonio Cromartie returned a 57-yard Ryan Longwell field goal attempt 109 yards for the longest touchdown in NFL history in a game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Punting strategy
Most teams punt on fourth down when the chances of gaining enough yards for a first down are slim and when the ball is too far from the goalpost to allow a field goal try. Generally, a member of the opposing team moves into position to catch the ball. He may try to gain yards by running the ball downfield, or he may signal a fair catch by waving one arm above his head, thus agreeing that he will not attempt to return the ball downfield. A player who has signalled a fair catch may not be tackled after catching the ball, else the player who tackled him will be penalized for kick-catching interference.
In some cases, a coach may attempt trickery by switching between his offense and special teams players between plays. A coach may call a time-out, send the kicking team onto the field, and then when the play clock resumes quickly run his offense back on and his kicking team off, hopefully disorienting the defending team enough to advance on the ensuing play or cause a penalty if the defending team cannot switch personnel quickly enough. However, this trickery can also result in penalties against the offense if the play takes too long (delay of game) or if too many players remain on the field when the ball is snapped.
Occasionally a coach will line his team up in a shotgun formation and have the quarterback "quick kick" or "pooch punt" -- using the element of surprise to cause the defense not to have a receiver ready. Some teams will even do this from a field goal formation, having the ball snapped directly to the placekicker who then punts the ball downfield instead of trying a field goal that has a low percentage of success.
Downing the ball
If, for whatever reason, the receiving team does not catch the ball, the kicking team may move into position and try to down it as close as possible to the opposing team's end zone. This is achieved by surrounding the ball and allowing it to roll or bounce, without touching it, as close as possible to the end zone. If the ball appears to be rolling or bouncing into the end zone, a player may run in front of the goal line and attempt to bat it down or catch it. If a member of the kicking team touches or catches the ball before a member of the receiving team does so, the ball is blown dead by the official when he has judged that the returner is not going to pick up the ball and return it, or the kicking team picks the ball up and hands it to the official. Once the whistle is blown the play is over and the receiving team takes possession at the spot the ball was spotted by the official.
Thus it is strategically important for kicking teams to get as close to the ball as possible after a punt, so that they may quickly tackle a returner, down the ball as close to the opposing team's end zone as possible, and (if possible) recover the ball after a fumble and regain possession of the ball.
Fake punts
In much the same way as a fake field goal (described above), a fake punt is an effort to trick the opposition and either score or gain enough yards for a first down. Fake punts are risky for the same reasons as fake field goals and are thus rarely attempted.
In 2005 the opposite of this play has become increasingly popular, with teams lining up in a shotgun offensive alignment or field goal attempt alignment. The ball is snapped to the QB/holder/kicker, who immediately punts the ball. This is done in situations where a full length punt would simply result in a touchback and allows the punting team a better chance of getting downfield to prevent the punt from entering the endzone (the reasoning being that the defensive backs will not jam the receivers off the line as they would the gunners in a punting alignment).
Punts out-of-bounds
Skilled punters may try to punt a ball past the return team so that the ball touches the playing field in bounds, then rolls out of bounds close to the opposing team's end zone. The drawback to such a punt is that the ball may roll into the end zone (touchback), giving the receiving team normal starting position. Or, if the kick is angled too sharply, it will go out of bounds too early and result in an unusually short, or botched, punt. The best punters are highly regarded for their ability to put the ball out of bounds within five yards of the goal line. These punts are also known as "coffin corner punters" due to their ability to pin an opposing offense inside its own five-yard line, thus increasing the chances for the opposing defense to score a safety or a defensive touchdown.
Receiving kicks
The biggest choice facing a kick returner is whether or not to attempt to run the ball back. Generally, a returner who catches a kickoff or punt in the "red zone" between the receiving team's own end zone and 20 yard line will attempt some sort of return, if only to gain a few yards. If the receiving team's players can get into position quickly, they may be able to allow the returner to gain further yardage or break away from the pack entirely and score a touchdown.
In extreme cases - generally during kickoff returns in the closing seconds of play - the returner may attempt a lateral pass to avoid the ball being downed in a tackle. The return team may throw as many lateral passes as they choose, and this is normally done in a desperate attempt to keep the ball alive. Perhaps the most resounding use of lateral passes during a kickoff return came in the closing seconds of the 1982 Stanford vs. Cal game, in which five laterals during a kickoff return allowed the California Golden Bears to score a winning touchdown. The lateral was also the prominent play in the 2000 AFC Wild Card playoff game between the Tennessee Titans and the Buffalo Bills, now known as the Music City Miracle. After Steve Christie kicked a 51-yard field goal to give Buffalo a 16-15 lead with 16 seconds remaining, the Titans’ Kevin Dyson returned a Frank Wycheck lateral on the ensuing kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown, scoring with three seconds left in the game. Controversy ensued over whether the pass was a lateral, or a forward pass, but after review, the play stood; Tennessee won the game and went on to play in Super Bowl XXXIV.
If a punted ball is touched after passing the line of scrimmage, even inadvertently, by a member of the receiving team it becomes a live ball and may be recovered as if a fumble by the kicking team. Conversely if the receiving team doesn't touch the ball and a member of the kicking team touches it, the ball is ruled down where it is touched and play is dead. All place-kicked balls--kick-offs, field goal attempts, and the like--are live balls which may be played in one way or another by either team (subject to restrictions in the case of any "free" kick: see onside kick).
A kick returner may signal a fair catch if the ball will be caught with good field position, or if the kicking team's members are advancing so quickly that a return is impossible. However, he will be penalized if he attempts a return after signaling a fair catch; likewise, players who tackle a returner who has signaled a fair catch will be penalized. If a player waves for a fair catch and then fails to touch the ball, it may be downed as normal by the kicking team, but if recovered by the receiving team, may not be advanced. However, if any member of the receiving team catches a ball and then drops it, it becomes a live ball and may be recovered by either side.
A rarely employed and somewhat unknown strategy is where the kickoff returner takes advantage of an NFL rule that states if the returner's foot is out of bounds when he catches the kicked ball, the kickoff is also considered out of bounds and thus the offense would take over 30 yards from the spot of the kickoff (almost always the receiving team's 40-yard line.) The returner must have his foot out of bounds before making contact with the ball, otherwise the offense starts at the out-of-bounds spot. Leon Washington of the New York Jets successfully performed this play during Week 9 of the 2008 season versus the Buffalo Bills.