Kicking Game Philosophy

Special teams play can make or break a game regardless of how well our offense or defense is playing. Our Special teams gives us a chance to set the tone of the game and create momentum changes at crucial points in a game. Special teams are always an emphasis in scouting an opponent, practice preparation for an opponent and game time adjustments against an opponent. Special teams are promoted as key roles on a successful football team and are treated as an honor for athletes to play on. All special teams will be filled with the best athletes to fill these important roles. These players must be students of the game, aggressive, extremely coachable, and most importantly disciplined to follow through on their assignment without self-glorification. As special teams can be a game changing opportunity, we will take advantage of every sound opportunity to be aggressive and strategic in this part of the game. With the proper planning and timing, we will take advantage of the opportunities to attack an opponent with fakes and special plays to succeed. We will also be sound on special teams against fakes and special plays by playing our assignments and being disciplined to not be caught off guard. We will pride ourselves on our special teams with realizing the importance that they play in our program and will benefit from this readiness throughout the season. Special team’s players will be disciplined players and will be the best athletes that we can play in those spots to put our team in the best position to succeed. As on offense and defense, special team’s players will represent our team with equal responsibility and NOBLE pride.





We are going to be aggressive in our philosophy on special teams, just as we are on both defense and offense. Attacking kickers and punters with disciplined and relentless block schemes, striking the kick and punt returners with violence, and aggressively defending our kicks will lead to positive changes in yardage, as well as big plays that will swing the momentum of the game in our favor. Our special team’s approach is based upon controlling the football and governing field position. Simply put, when we have the football, we want to keep it until we score, and when we don’t have the football, we want to get it back. Special teams play is no different; error free execution will yield terrific results. As such, we must have sound SPECIAL TEAMS that create positive sudden changes. We define sudden changes, whether positive or negative as loss of possession (turnovers) or scores, whether by touchdown, field goal or safety. The following is a breakdown of my special teams and our associated philosophy and team goals:





Kick-Off:



• Kickoff Team Goals

1. Do Not Allow a Return TD

2. Opponent Starts Inside the 25

3. Recover All Onside Kicks

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•As part of the kickoff team, we emphasize staying in our lanes. Discipline is needed more on this team than any other. We utilize our speed on this team, mostly comprised of db’s and wr’s. Once we have stayed in our lanes and understood attacking angles and open field tackles, we must swarm to the returner.

Kick-Off Return:

• Kickoff Return Team Goals

1. Return a Kick for a Touchdown

2. Start Outside the 35

3. Recover All Onside Kicks

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•Our return team is a mixed bag of positions. We have a variety of returns that utilize picket’s and rub blocks that open seams for our returners. We must be willing to adjust on the fly and pick-up blocks that need to be made in order to spring our returner. We have a lay out mentality, sell out and leave nothing behind so we can get the extra yardage and create an opportunity to score.

Punt:

• Punt Team Goals

1. Do Not Allow a Blocked Kick

2. Do Not Allow a Return TD

3. No Return Yards Allowed

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•Our punt team is comprised of under classmen and “specialists” that we deem suitable to cover our kicks. We never want to out kick our coverage as our punters are surgical with their ball placement. We want to trap our opponents within field position that works in our favor. We need to get off our blocks and swarm and cover. Know your responsibilities and technique, EXECUTE!

Punt Return/ Punt Block:

•Punt Return Team Goals

1. Block a Kick

2. Return a Kick for a Touchdown

3. No Conversions on Fakes

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