Identity
Southern Illinois uses their kickoff teams to establish team identity
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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.
Diagram 1. Huddle
Diagram 2. LT Deep LT
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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.)
Diagram 3. LT Deep LT
Diagram 4. Coverage Progression
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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.
Diagram 5. 5 Man Wedge
Diagram 6. Man Wedge
Diagram 7. Get Off Drill
Diagram 8. Avoidance Drill
Diagram 9. Contract Drill
Diagram 10. Wedge Drill
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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.