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AFM Magazine


AFM Subscribers Ask with Mike Cieri Special Teams Coordinator, Montclair State University

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Mike Cieri recently completed his 41st year as a football coach, the last 12 as Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach at Montclair State University. He also coached at Boonton High

Since 2003, his special teams have scored eight touchdowns on kickoff and punt returns and blocked 58 kicks – on punts, extra points, and field goal attempts – scoring a total of 72 points in the process. Cieri has also authored the book, 101 Winning Special Team Drills and produced a five-set package of DVDs on special teams play – Installing the Punt Block, The Wing Punt, Kickoff Coverage, Installing the Punt Return, and Installing the Kickoff Return. All DVDs are available at AFMvideos.com. He answers your questions:

My special team questions deal with kicker development. On a weekly basis during the season, how much kicking should our placekicker be doing? During the off-season, are there specific exercises our kickers can be doing to increase leg strength in the hope of gaining distance on their kicks? Currently, they train with the other skill positions doing both squat cleans and glute ham exercises. (Randy Pinkowski, Head Coach, C.B. Aycock High School, Gastonia, NC).

During the season, our punters and kickers have a set routine. On Monday, our kickers and punters perform a modified balance and flexibility, use the weight room for their strength training and then go to the field to do technique drills. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday they will do stretching on the field, kick and punt during the various special teams periods and work on their specialty kicks (pooch, corner, onsides, etc). No kicker or punter will exceed 30 kicks in a day. On Friday, the athletes stretch on the field, kick or punt no more than 10 balls. Saturday is game day and on Sunday they are asked to stretch and walk a mile. 

The key to strength training drills for kickers and punters in the off-season is to emphasize techniques. Slow, controlled movements during the lifting, as well as the balance and flexibility training is essential. Have the athletes start with lighter weights, which allows them to focus on perfecting techniques. Then have the athletes increase the weight. Most of the exercises do not require using any weights. Kickers and punters need to focus on using less weight and doing more repetitions. The routines should be varied from time to time to prevent a plateau effect. Also, they should give their bodies the time they need to rest and recuperate between workouts.

The strength training should consist of exercises that concentrate on the upper and lower legs, hamstrings, quadriceps and hip flexors. Exercises to consider would be front, back, split and jump squats, stiff-leg dead lifts, dumbbell lunges, box jumps, leg curls and extensions and standing calf raises.  Building the core for a punter and kicker is also very important. I prefer having my kickers and punters using a physioball in their routine to improve the core muscle group. Exercises incorporating the physioball are ball leg curls (double or single), ball hip extensions (double or single) and bridges. To increase leg speed, plyometrics should be done as well. Long jumps, single-leg hops, side steps, and box jumps will aid in increasing leg speed. If someone is offering a pilates class, encourage you punters and kickers to take that also.

Very seldom will opposing teams kick to us deep on kickoffs because of our speed. Most of the time we will receive squib or pooch kicks. I have now started to attack on the kick of the ball by assigning man blocking responsibilities. What kind of return would you do in this situation? (Sam Harp, Head Coach, Danville High School, KY).

I like the fact that you are man blocking the kickoff return. If the kick is not going deep, the front line and perhaps the second line, can pull up and attack the coverage earlier.  Always keep in mind that good returns occur as the blockers are doing their job slightly before the returner is in their territory. Another thing you can do is have your second and third line flip the ball back to your returners. Additionally, you can bring your returners closer to the ball by aligning them in the second or third line.

When installing your protection scheme, what is the number one criteria for selecting players? (Chris Hilliker, Head Coach, Northside High School, AL).

I am assuming you are talking about punt protection. The key skill I am looking for is if the player can run and play in space. We use for our wing punt alignment mostly linebackers, tight ends, and defensive backs. Keep in mind that they must be able to tackle as well as use their hands to block. One of the drills we use to identify punt team players is our 2-on-1 drill, where two defenders are sent down the field 15 yards apart for 20 yards and a returner will start up the field on a coach’s command. The two defenders must herd in the ball carrier and complete the drill with a form tackle. The returner will not make this easy as he will attempt to split, fake or out run the defenders.

We’ve had problems with our extra point and field goal penetration units. In fact, we haven’t blocked a field goal or extra point in two years. Are there any drills you would recommend – or coaching points – to help us improve in this area? (Steve Smith, Assistant Coach, Dawson High School, TX).

What I do to help this process is select interior blocking specialists from my defensive line. Doing their practice time on Wednesdays, they practice the fork lift technique with my assistant defensive line coach. We practice getting up and under the O-linemen as well as practice working on their dip and rip technique (getting skinny). In addition, every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday the outside block specialists are working on their pull through, jump through and speed rush techniques vs. the tight end and wing on the PAT and FG units.

What are your priorities in practicing the onsides kick? Any special drills that you feel will help in this phase of special teams? (Bob Broadhead, Assistant Coach, Forest Hill High School, MS).

We have been more successful with our onside kicks when we drive the ball to the sideline in the air (line drive pop-up) in comparison to driving the ball on the ground. The kicker and sideline rebounder on Thursdays get together to kick the ball and sprint to catch it in the air. They work on speed of the ball and timing. It’s like a QB throwing the fade to the corner of the end zone. They will do no more than 10 of these per practice.   







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