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Drills Report: Punt Safe: Defend and Return

by: Mike Toop
Head Coach United States Merchant Marine Academy
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In certain situations, whether due to field position or when leading in the latter stages of a game, teams will leave their defense on the field to protect against punt fakes and employ a ‘Punt Safe’ scheme. We employ a scheme that first guards against the fake but at the same time will look to block the punt, and if the ball is punted, use a set wall return (Diagram 1).


Diagram 1: Punt Safe Scheme

   
Here are the responsibilities of each defensive player:
 
Sam and Will:  They align in a loose outside shade on the end man in the box. They pressure the punter and make sure the ball is kicked. Once the ball is kicked, they get back to the end of the wall and look to block the safeties. If #2 is an eligible receiver, they have him man-on-man and must communicate with DEs telling them to block/force kick.
 
Defensive ends: They align head up on the tackle and loosen alignment to the outside if pressing and forcing the kick. They then hold up the tackle and get to the wall. Then peel to the designated side for return as the DEs set the wall. Set the wall 10 yards outside the return man and 5 yards upfield. Block the first man that shows, pinning him to the inside.
 
Defensive tackles: They align head up to the first man next to the snapper. If the first man outside the snapper is off the ball, the tackles have him man-to-man. If not, or if he does not release for a fake, help form the wall. Align five yards from man you are following, then block the first man that shows, pinning him to the inside.
 
Mike and Adjuster: Mike aligns head up on the snapper, five yards off the ball. Mike has the personal protector man-to-man and gets to the wall if the ball is kicked. Adjuster aligns behind the Mike at seven yards. He handles all motions and breaks in the formation. The adjuster blocks the most dangerous man to the returner.
 
Cornerbacks:  They align off the #1 receiver to their respective side in a position to play him man-on-man. They then block the #1 receiver, trying to kick him out to the sideline. Know where the chains are for a fake punt.
 
Return Man: Catches the ball and returns if he clearly has room. Get positive yards but know on what side the wall is being set.
 
PUNT SAFE VERSUS GUARD UPBACKS
 
In a scheme where the guards are back off the ball and are eligible receivers, the defensive tackles will account for them and play them man-to-man if they release for the fake (Diagram 2).


Diagram 2: Punt safe vs. Guard Upbacks

PUNT SAFE VERSUS 2  X  2 SETS

If a spread punt scheme is used or there are two eligible receivers to each side of the formation, the CBs play the #1 receiver man-to-man and the Sam/Will plays their respective #2 receiver man-to-man. The Sam and Will must communicate with the DEs and tell them they are in coverage. The DEs now press and force the kick. The DEs should loosen their alignments so they can get upfield on the snap (Diagram 3).


Diagram 3: Punt Safe vs. 2 X 2 sets


PUNT SAFE VERSUS EXTENDED #2 SET
 
If the kicking team uses a set where receiver #2 is detached from the box, the Sam and Will go out and play their respective receiver man-to-man. If there is no fake, they block them on the return. The DEs should loosen their alignment in order to get upfield and block/force the punt (Diagram 4).


Diagram 4: Punt Safe vs. Extended #2 Set

MOTION
 
The adjuster handles any breaks in the formation and motions. If a receiver runs across the formation, it must be communicated immediately to alert the adjustor. He will pick up the man in motion and play him man-to-man. If it can be communicated, the OLB gets back to the box and communicates to the DE that he will force the kick. The DE will re-align, hold up the tackle and either set/get to the wall. If there is no communication between the OLB and DE, the DE forces the kick and the OLB will either set/get to the wall (Diagram 5).


Diagram 5: Motion

BLOCK AND RETURN
 
 Our first goal is to always block the punt. When teams see a ‘Punt Safe’ scheme, their operational time may increase. The punter may think there is not going to be any pressure and may take longer to get rid of the ball. Protection may be weaker, especially if teams are kicking in the offensive end and they want to get out fast to try and down the ball inside the 20.

We go into every game with one of the two men forcing the kick, taking an angle to block and the other man pulling off so we don’t have them collide and rough the kicker. Both men get upfield expecting: 1) a bad snap, 2) the punter mishandling the snap, or 3) a blocked punt.

If the ball is kicked, we expect to return the football and get a big play or get good field position. We have a predetermined wall return and communicate what side the wall return will be. Here are our return rules:
 
1) Every man must see the ball punted.

2) Those not pressing will hold their respective man up and then set a wall for the return. 3) The person setting the wall looks to get five yards upfield from the returner and 7-10 yards outside him. He uses the hash as an aiming point and adjusts from there.

4) All other defenders hold up their man and get to the wall looking to keep 3-5 yards apart.

5) Men pressing get to the wall and look to block safeties or the most dangerous man.
 
Additionally, the Mike will hold up the snapper and get to the wall. The adjuster blocks the most dangerous man while the CBs wall their men off to the outside. We always block upfield, not behind the returner (Diagram 6).

 
Diagram 6: Block and Return

About the Author: Mike Toop is now in his tenth season as head coach of the United States Merchant Marine Academy. He previously was the head coach at Davidson and also served as the defensive coordinator at both Connecticut and the University of Pennsylvania. Toop also coached at Colgate, Union, and Albany. A 1977 graduate of USMMA, he earned four letters as a linebacker.






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