Identity

Out of all the special teams units at Southern Illinois University the kickoff team may be one of the most important units to our football program. We strongly believe the kickoff team creates the identity and establishes the attitude of our football team. This unit must set the tone for the game. It is critical that this team send a message to the opponent that they will be in for a physical contest and that we intend to win. We want players who can run and will play with a tremendous amount of emotion and pride. We have one goal – hold our opponent’s average field position to the 25 yard line or less. We were number 1 in our conference and had only one kick off returned past the 50 yard line. In the three years we have been at SIU our special teams have never given up a touchdown. I would like to give credit to Jay Sawvel , who is our special teams coordinator.

The biggest coaching point to kick off coverage is LEVERAGE. This is something every player must understand. We can not stress enough the concept of keeping the ball “inside and in front”. This means if the ball starts inside of you, keep it inside and if the ball starts outside of you, keep it outside. As soon as our offense scores and the PAT / FG unit starts to line up for the extra point or field goal, the KO team will huddle up (Diagram1) on the 50 yard line. After the PAT or FG the coach will address the huddle – counting the personnel making sure we have 11 men. He will then give reminders and the call.

An example of a call in the huddle would be: Left Deep Left. The first word (Left) tells the kicker where to place the ball on the field i.e. Right, Left, Right Upright, Left Upright, and Middle. The second word (Deep) tells the unit how we are going to kick it i.e. Deep, Pooch, Squib, Pop, Cross, Surprise, and Onsides. The third word (Left) tells the unit where we are kicking the ball and where we start our alignment.

Everyone will start on the 30 yd line (will adjust if needed) with their hands on their thigh pads facing in at the ball. Each player will have 4 yards between each other. #1 will start the alignment to the side we are kicking and will be 4 yards from the sideline. #2 will align on the numbers to the side we are kicking. #3 will align 3 yards from the top of the numbers to the side we are kicking. #4 will align 4 yards outside the hash to the side we are kicking. #5 will align on the hash to the side we are kicking. #5 will be the adjuster for a right or a left footed kicker. Once the ball is kicked he needs to get back on the hash. #6 will align on the left upright opposite the side we are kicking. #7 will align on the right upright opposite the side we are kicking. #8 will align on the right hash opposite the side we are kicking. #9 will split the difference between the top of the numbers and the right hash opposite the side we are kicking. #10 will align on top of the numbers opposite the side we are kicking. (See Diagram 2.)

No. 1 is our boundary overlap player. He is going to let the initial wave come down the field and then fold in behind and find the natural seam. You don’t want to get too close to the wave or you will block yourself. #2 is our boundary contain man – he must keep the ball from getting to the sideline. He must keep his outside arm and leg free on any blocks. #3, #4, #5, #6, and #7 must keep the ball inside and in front. If the ball starts inside of them they must keep it inside. If the ball starts outside of them they must keep the ball outside. #8 is our field overlap player. He is going to let the initial wave come down the field and then fold in behind and find the natural seam. You don’t want to get too close to the wave or you will block yourself. He may have to fold in sooner because of the corner kick. #9 is our field contain: he must keep the ball from getting to the sideline. He must keep his outside arm and leg free on any blocks. He has the 21-man rule. #10 is our field safety. He does not cross the 45 and keeps the ball between himself and the kicker. The kicker must kick a great ball, no wider than the hash and is the boundary safety. He does not cross the 45 and keeps the ball between him and #10. (See Diagram 3.)

Our coverage progression (See Diagram 4.) has three zones: the run and read zone, the avoidance zone, and the contact zone. In the run and read zone you need to start with great explosion so that you can get to full speed as quickly as you can. This is also where you will read the return. The avoidance zone (until the ball is caught) is where you do what it takes not to get blocked. We talk to our players about avoiding over the butt side. Most people will try to block you with their butt between you and the ball. You have to watch how much you emphasize this because your players may become more worried about getting to the butt side than not getting blocked. You should never slow down while trying to avoid getting blocked. It does not matter if they have to get out of their lane to avoid getting blocked. After they have avoided the block, they must fight to get back in their lane. Speed and pad level are critical. The contact zone (when the ball is caught) is where everyone must be back on their landmark and keep the ball inside and in front. This is where the fundamentals of taking on blocks and getting off blocks come into play. #3, #4, #5, #6, and #7 can not run around blocks – they are two-gap players. This is where we talk about speeding up into the block – separation comes with force. Once the ball commits you throw and go.

On a 5-man wedge (Diagram 5) #2 and #7 will fit outside the widest man. They will take on the blocks with their outside arm and leg free. #3, #4, #5, and #6 will take the inside gaps. They will be free to bust up the wedge. They do not have to take on a block; they can even leave their feet. If you have to explain how to bust up a wedge you do not want them on kickoff. #1 and #8 will overlap to the ball, using their clear and cloudy principle. On a 4-man wedge (Diagram 6) everything is the same except #4 and #5 will split the inside gap.

We use several drills to work on each coverage phase. The first day we work the get off drill (See Diagram 7). You can coach alignment, stance and get off. It is very important to be as close to the 35 yard line as possible when the ball is kicked. This takes no athletic ability, only desire. You need to work on this with each kicker, because their approach will be different. You also need to run through all your different types of kicks: pooch, onsides, and out of right and left alignment. The drill is over when they get to the 45 yard line.

The next drill is the avoidance drill (See Diagram 8). This is where in coverage we do what it takes to not get blocked. The player that will do the blocking will line up 10 yards from the first man in line. On the whistle, he will cross over, run, and turn and block out in the direction the coach pointed. The coverage man will run and avoid the man and then get right back on the line. The coaching point here is to avoid over the butt side and not slow down. Pad level is a big key to getting through the block without getting tied up. Sometimes the blocker climbs with too much leverage and opens up the gate. We tell them that if they can get through without going over the hip side to take it. Speed and pad level will determine their success. The drill is finished when they get back on their line. The man that did the avoiding will now be the blocker.

The next drill is the contact drill (See Diagram 9). This is where in coverage we do not avoid and we must two gap all blockers. The player that will do the blocking will line up 5 yards from the first man in line, so that there will not be big collisions. On the whistle, he will cross over, run, and turn and block in the direction the coach pointed. The player that will do the returning will line up 15 yards from the first man in line; he will not start until the two have gotten locked up. The coverage man will run and get locked up with the blocker. The coaching point here is to run through contact, lock him out while keeping your feet moving. Separation comes with force. Wait for the returner to commit, then throw and go. They will want to walk away from the block. You have to stress doing something to get off a block because the blocker will not just stop. Pad level is a big key also to getting control of your man. The drill is finished on the whistle. The man in coverage will now do the blocking.

The wedge drill (Diagram 10) is used to get everyone fitted where they will they need to be. We will usually start them on the 50-yard line so it doesn’t turn into a conditioning drill. A manager will throw the ball, and then a coach will blow the whistle to start the coverage. The returner will catch the ball and head to the wedge and will stop on the whistle. The coverage group will run and stop on the whistle in the proper fit. Coach will instruct and send them out on the third whistle.

About the author
Tom Matukewicz

Tom Matukewicz enters his fourth year as SIU’s linebackers coach in 2004. He came from Emporia State where he doubled up as both the defensive line coach as well as the marketing and promotions director. Matukewicz began his career in 1992 coaching linebackers at Butler Community College and has also coached at Fort Hays State, Pittsburg State and Coffeyville Community College.