Drills Report: The Wall Return Drill

One of the most exciting plays in football is when a punt returner is able to sprint around the edge and make use of the “wall” on an outside return. At Illinois, we rely on a drill installed on day one of our fall practices for our punt return team.

An important phase of the return is having initial landmarks for the wall blockers (Diagram 1). When the ball is on a hash and a wall return is called to the wide side of the field, the wall blockers use the far hash as a landmark. When the ball is on a hash and a wall return is called to the short side of the field, the wall blockers use the numbers as a landmark. If the ball is in the middle of the field, we use the “logo” (difference between hash/numbers) as a landmark.

Diagram 1: Wall Drill Variations

The drill is done with a half line of punt return players going against air at the line of scrimmage. Three punt team players are stationed approximately 15 yards downfield. A coach will then disperse the three punt team players as the wall blockers come around the “corner”. The punt team players will take scattered angle pursuits at a returner who is stationed 25 yards down field. The extra wall blocker will secure and clean up or turn and lead downfield on the contain player/punter. The returner will time up his return and hit the top of the wall.

Coaching points for wall blockers:
 

1. Rush the punter. Force the kick.
 
2. When blocked/held up at the LOS or by the shield, disengage and go to wall landmark.
 
3. Lead blocker should look for point man 7 x 7 from returner.
 
4. Climb and find deepest coverage player.
 
5. Once you identify who you are blocking, move to close the gap – don’t wait.
 
6. Make sure you see the front numbers or whites of their eyes – no clipping!
 
7. Make legal blocks. No hits above the shoulders on a defenseless player.

The “point man” – whether we are in a two deep returner scheme or a 10-man front with a “pull out” player, we want a blocker to secure the first man down and get us to the wall once the returner has set his feet for the catch. The “point man” is working to a landmark of 7 yards in front and 7 yards to the side of the called wall return (Diagram 2). Versus a spread shield, we pin the end at the LOS with our #1 and #2 on the hold-up side (Diagram 2). Versus an NFL punt formation, we let the wide end release inside and ride the hip to push him by the returner (Diagram 3).

Diagram 2: Wall vs. Spread Shield

Diagram 3: Wall vs. NFL Pro Punt

Diagram 4: L Drill with Stiff Arm and Strip

Diagram 5: Texas Chaser

Diagram 6: Wrestle Weapon with Shields

We practice the Wall Return Drill in our pre-season camp as well on a weekly basis during the regular season.
 
About the Author: Tim Salem is in his third season as special teams coordinator at the University of Illinois. He came from the University of Central Florida where he spent eight seasons. Salem has also coached at Eastern Michigan, Ohio State, Purdue, Colorado State and Phoenix College. A 1985 graduate of Arizona State, Salem began his coaching career at his alma mater, serving as a graduate assistant for two seasons.