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Principles and Philosophy of Kickoff Coverageby: Philip ColeSpecial Teams Coach University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff © More from this issue On every good football team, there is a group of special people who are the heart and soul of special teams. All special teams at UAPB are built around intensity, enthusiasm, communication, and speed, which enables us as a unit to get the job done. As a member of the special teams units, UAPB players ‘believe.’ Believing in our philosophy brings our special team units confidence which will bring attitude and swagger. UAPB special teams players who display leadership through example will set our tempo and attitude and that will set the tone to what we can accomplish through hard work. Our units will be held to the highest level of performance because special teams are momentum changers that help determine wins and losses. The commitment to perform at the highest level is very important to the overall success of the UAPB program as a whole. The kicking game provides the “winning edge” for our team when every player and coach wholeheartedly believes in its importance to winning. Momentum swings in the course of games. In one or two games each season, the kicking game will directly determine the outcome. Creating Big plays on Special Teams • Our goal is to be aggressive and gang tackle. We will cause a turnover or we’ll make the tackle inside our opponent’s 25-yard line. • The coverage must be an all out sprint from the start, all the way to the “Breaking Point” where we must come to balance to make the hit or fight off a blocker. • At the “Breaking Point”, we must come under control to leverage the ball from outside-in. Stay square. Come to balance and squeeze-down the running lane. • We must stay in our coverage lane. On a deep-right or deep-middle kick and if an opponent attacks us early, we must avoid him by release to our right but we must work quickly back into our lane. If the ball carrier is within 15 yards, we must stay in our lanes and attack the blocker down the middle. Use our hands to control him, shed him quickly and slide laterally to make the hit. • We must have the presence to feel where the ball is in flight. This will give us a jump on adjusting our coverage lanes. • If we get blocked, we cannot stay blocked. We cannot trade one for one. Never follow a teammate downfield. If you come off your release and see a teammate crossing in front of you, work to the open lane. The kickoff is the best way to start convincing a team we are going to attack them from beginning to end. • The reason you are on the kickoff team is that you are one of the fastest, toughest men on the team. • Get to the 25-yard line before the ball carrier does. • Be alert for trick plays, reverses and throwbacks. • Remember to know your responsibility. |
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