Post by Coach Campbell on Oct 18, 2020 16:27:11 GMT
Kevin Tonak
Canadian Football
Last year I took on a different role and had the benefit of working alongside our Special Teams Coordinator as the special teams assistant for the season. For me, this was the first time that I had devoted that much time and energy towards Special Teams and organizing and creating depth charts for our "scout" Special Teams each practice, watching a lot of film, and coming up with a philosophy for each phase of the game each week, in terms of our kicking game. We took Teams seriously and invested a significant amount of time and energy in our kicking game.
In 2016, despite having a potent offensive attack and a solid veteran team, we lost in the National Championship game, yet again to Univeresite Laval, as a result of a blocked punt in the 4th quarter and a subsequent touchdown by Laval. That play turned the momentum and was one of a handful of plays that determined the outcome of that game. In reviewing the film, our quarterback (who was forced to punt that game) was a yard or so closer to the line than he should have been and a missed assignment on the line led to a hand (block) on the punt that led to excellent filed position and a subsequent touchdown late in the 4th quarter.
On the flip side, in 2018, on the last play of the Hardy Cup, our kicker made an unbelievable 59 yard field goal to win the game and propel us into the Mitchell Bowl. Speclal teams can be a huge deciding factor in big games and throughout the season. Saying that there are a number of things I learned and priorities that we focused on last year:
1. Players who dress for games MUST be able to contribute and be effective on Special Teams. In many cases, they must be able to back up at a given position (LB, DB, RB, HB, SB, WR, DL) and to start and contribute on at least two "teams".
2. Each practice evening and walk through day (4 nites per week) we have a Special Teams meeting at 3:30 or 3:45 to review our game film and to review our opponents' looks and what they have done this year and in previous seasons. Typically, we review Punt and Punt Return one nite, Kickoff Return one nite, and Kick off one nite. We then go through all personnel and review practice looks and any corrections or questions on the last practice evening and on walk through day. Scout players attend all meetings as well...one never knows when he may have to dress when a player goes down in practice on Day Three. Depth carts are posted for Special Teams and for Scout Special Teams every afternoon at 3:30.
3. Players have a Special Teams play book and the importance placed on Special Teams meetings, film, and expectations is no different than the importance of knowing your play book and assignments on O or D.
4. We want our best athletes on "teams". The Canadian field is a big field and the "want to" is huge. We must use our speed and be aggressive and determined to execute our assignment to the best of our ability. Scout special teams players' can use scout teams as an audition for the big stage. Effort, execution, and enthusiasm goes a long way to dressing for a game.
5. During the course of practice, every 20 or 25 minutes, we go into a teams period. This starts with FG or PAT team (OL coach and kicking coach). Our kicker both place kicks and punts. We have a designated long snapper. Our holder is arguably our best athlete and a starting receiver. We run a #1 and #2 FG team on different hash marks and work our way back starting from the 20. We use a returner in the end zone and he must catch and return the ball at full speed out to the 15 yard line on each attempt. We try to use 5-7 minutes for this period and the final two kicks are live on air so that our line can spread out sprint down field and cover...an often overlooked part of the game.
6. The next Teams period is punt and punt protection vs a scout punt return team. It is crucial that our scout team gives the correct look(s) in terms of pressures and how our opponent sets up their return(s). Our punt formation(s) are reviewed and protections and communications must be polished. this is typically a 5 minute period and we can't afford to waste time. Special Teams coach runs the punt, Special Teams assistant runs the scout blocks and return set up.
7. The next Special Teams period will then be punt block and punt return vs the scout punt team. The opponents punt protection alignments will be reviewed as well as throwing in fakes we may see. Special Teams coach looks after pressures and return, receivers coach works with returners, special teams assistant runs the scout punt team. This period is also 5 minutes.
8. One of the big and impactful changes we made last year in week 3 of practice was to actually run special teams drills for 3-5 minutes before the punt and punt return sections of practice. By reviewing and practicing technique and effort, we saw immediate improvements on our teams during games. One can't expect guys to just go out and use proper techniques during teams if as coaches you aren't teaching and repping skills and techniques as well as viewing film and showing cut ups of the mistakes and then proper ways to execute. We would spend 3-4 minutes on these drills 2 X per nite and at least 2 nites per week.
9. The last teams period close to the end of practice was typically KO return for the first nite or two and then Ko and KOR. The receivers coach worked with our returners and the Special Teams Coordinator looked after our KO and KOR, while the Special Teams assistant looked after KO looks and KOR looks. On night three we always reviewed short kick off, hands team, etc. and also reviewed personnel and our philosophy and expectations during walk through. KO and KOR was a 5 minute period just before the last 10-12 minute period of practice.
10. Lastly, our return game improved significantly during the last half of our season. By having our best athletes healthy and returning, we set ourselves up with very good field position and returned for touchdowns multiple times. Having a dynamic game breaker as a returner is a huge luxury and something that all teams wish they could find.
I learned an awful lot about how to approach the kicking game and how to make the investment of time and energy pay off last year. For me, moving forward, I will approach the kicking game with a much different perspective and philosophy...I can't stress enough how last year shaped my vision of how to approach "Teams" the right way.
Canadian Football
Last year I took on a different role and had the benefit of working alongside our Special Teams Coordinator as the special teams assistant for the season. For me, this was the first time that I had devoted that much time and energy towards Special Teams and organizing and creating depth charts for our "scout" Special Teams each practice, watching a lot of film, and coming up with a philosophy for each phase of the game each week, in terms of our kicking game. We took Teams seriously and invested a significant amount of time and energy in our kicking game.
In 2016, despite having a potent offensive attack and a solid veteran team, we lost in the National Championship game, yet again to Univeresite Laval, as a result of a blocked punt in the 4th quarter and a subsequent touchdown by Laval. That play turned the momentum and was one of a handful of plays that determined the outcome of that game. In reviewing the film, our quarterback (who was forced to punt that game) was a yard or so closer to the line than he should have been and a missed assignment on the line led to a hand (block) on the punt that led to excellent filed position and a subsequent touchdown late in the 4th quarter.
On the flip side, in 2018, on the last play of the Hardy Cup, our kicker made an unbelievable 59 yard field goal to win the game and propel us into the Mitchell Bowl. Speclal teams can be a huge deciding factor in big games and throughout the season. Saying that there are a number of things I learned and priorities that we focused on last year:
1. Players who dress for games MUST be able to contribute and be effective on Special Teams. In many cases, they must be able to back up at a given position (LB, DB, RB, HB, SB, WR, DL) and to start and contribute on at least two "teams".
2. Each practice evening and walk through day (4 nites per week) we have a Special Teams meeting at 3:30 or 3:45 to review our game film and to review our opponents' looks and what they have done this year and in previous seasons. Typically, we review Punt and Punt Return one nite, Kickoff Return one nite, and Kick off one nite. We then go through all personnel and review practice looks and any corrections or questions on the last practice evening and on walk through day. Scout players attend all meetings as well...one never knows when he may have to dress when a player goes down in practice on Day Three. Depth carts are posted for Special Teams and for Scout Special Teams every afternoon at 3:30.
3. Players have a Special Teams play book and the importance placed on Special Teams meetings, film, and expectations is no different than the importance of knowing your play book and assignments on O or D.
4. We want our best athletes on "teams". The Canadian field is a big field and the "want to" is huge. We must use our speed and be aggressive and determined to execute our assignment to the best of our ability. Scout special teams players' can use scout teams as an audition for the big stage. Effort, execution, and enthusiasm goes a long way to dressing for a game.
5. During the course of practice, every 20 or 25 minutes, we go into a teams period. This starts with FG or PAT team (OL coach and kicking coach). Our kicker both place kicks and punts. We have a designated long snapper. Our holder is arguably our best athlete and a starting receiver. We run a #1 and #2 FG team on different hash marks and work our way back starting from the 20. We use a returner in the end zone and he must catch and return the ball at full speed out to the 15 yard line on each attempt. We try to use 5-7 minutes for this period and the final two kicks are live on air so that our line can spread out sprint down field and cover...an often overlooked part of the game.
6. The next Teams period is punt and punt protection vs a scout punt return team. It is crucial that our scout team gives the correct look(s) in terms of pressures and how our opponent sets up their return(s). Our punt formation(s) are reviewed and protections and communications must be polished. this is typically a 5 minute period and we can't afford to waste time. Special Teams coach runs the punt, Special Teams assistant runs the scout blocks and return set up.
7. The next Special Teams period will then be punt block and punt return vs the scout punt team. The opponents punt protection alignments will be reviewed as well as throwing in fakes we may see. Special Teams coach looks after pressures and return, receivers coach works with returners, special teams assistant runs the scout punt team. This period is also 5 minutes.
8. One of the big and impactful changes we made last year in week 3 of practice was to actually run special teams drills for 3-5 minutes before the punt and punt return sections of practice. By reviewing and practicing technique and effort, we saw immediate improvements on our teams during games. One can't expect guys to just go out and use proper techniques during teams if as coaches you aren't teaching and repping skills and techniques as well as viewing film and showing cut ups of the mistakes and then proper ways to execute. We would spend 3-4 minutes on these drills 2 X per nite and at least 2 nites per week.
9. The last teams period close to the end of practice was typically KO return for the first nite or two and then Ko and KOR. The receivers coach worked with our returners and the Special Teams Coordinator looked after our KO and KOR, while the Special Teams assistant looked after KO looks and KOR looks. On night three we always reviewed short kick off, hands team, etc. and also reviewed personnel and our philosophy and expectations during walk through. KO and KOR was a 5 minute period just before the last 10-12 minute period of practice.
10. Lastly, our return game improved significantly during the last half of our season. By having our best athletes healthy and returning, we set ourselves up with very good field position and returned for touchdowns multiple times. Having a dynamic game breaker as a returner is a huge luxury and something that all teams wish they could find.
I learned an awful lot about how to approach the kicking game and how to make the investment of time and energy pay off last year. For me, moving forward, I will approach the kicking game with a much different perspective and philosophy...I can't stress enough how last year shaped my vision of how to approach "Teams" the right way.