Trojan

1. Trojan Special Teams

2. Trojan Special Teams • Over the past 5 seasons, Troy has excelled in the area of Special Teams helping the Trojans to 3 straight Sun Belt Titles. • The Trojans have had at least one Special Teams unit ranked in the top 25 nationally in each of the past 5 seasons.

3. National Rankings • 2004- 21st in Net Punt, 37.82 • 10th in KO Return, 23.90 • T. Olmstead- 17th, 43.05 • 2005- 23rd in Punt Return, 11.97 • L. McKelvin- 16th, 12.64 • 2006- 14th in Punt Return yd. Def. • L. McKelvin- 22nd, 11.21 • 2007- 4th in Punt Return, 16.77 • L. McKelvin- 4th 17.44 • 2008- 2nd in PR Ydage Def. • 7th in KOR Ydage Def.

4. 2008 Troy Special Teams Rankings

5. Trojan Special Teams Philosophy “The Winning Edge” • Over the years the “Kicking Game” has been a deciding factor in many football games. It may be that part of a football contest that can create that greatest number of momentum changes. Consider theses elements of Special Teams play: • 1. Each play usually covers at least 40 yards of field position. • 2. Each play normally involves a change of possession. • 3. Plays that do not fall into the first two categories involve direct scoring opportunities. • Therefore, we must be thoroughly prepared on every Special Teams play to accomplish our goals. • Champions take PRIDE in making things happen positively. Our kicking game is considered an OFFENSIVE phase of our approach to the game of football. We plan to WIN in every phase of our Special Teams. Our schemes are designed to keep constant pressure on our opponent. The key to success will be CONSISTENCY and EFFICENCY executed with YOUR intensity, effort, discipline, concentration, and unequaled enthusiasm. • Remember, we are not striving to be GOOD. We are going to be the BEST!

6. Special Teams • Philosophy (Great Teams Do What?) • 1. Break Games Down • 2. Score Touchdowns • 3. Give Offense & Defense Good Field Position • 4. ATTACK Oriented • 5. Fakes - Have Fun • How To Become Successful • 1. Eliminate Mistakes • a. Concentrate on Assignments • b. Learn Rules To Take Advantage Of Them • c. Know Situations • d. Know What Opponent Is Trying To Do • 2. Intensity • a. Pay Attention To Detail • b. All Out Pride-Hustle-Desire • 3. Fundamentals • a. Precise Skills – Punters, Kickers, Snappers, Holders • b. Concentration, Distance to Locate Yourselves on Kicks, Timing • 4. Personnel • a. BEST Players (First/Second) • b. Reckless Abandon – No Restraints • c. Unselfishness, Team Oriented, Courageous, Enthusiastic Winner Special = Unique – Exclusive – Defined – Distinct – Choice – Specialist – Expert – Devotee – Master –Scholar –Authority – Technician

7. Play Great Special Teams • #1 INTELLIGENCE -Study opponent, Tendencies, Anticipate, Players visualize, and Success • #2 EFFORT • -Give great effort in special teams • (Drills / Meetings / Games) • #3 INTENSITY • -Ability to focus in meetings & practice & games • #4 TECHNIQUES • -Be sound fundamentally • #5 COMMITMENT • -Can you be special for one play

8. Head Coach Involvement • Imperative to be successful • Must stress importance of players being a part of special teams • Knowledgeable • Willing to use any player on special teams • Involved in game planning and film study in order to make sound game day decisions.

9. Staff Organization • One coordinator= continuity, better productivity, one identity, promotes smoother meetings, helps on personnel issues • HOWEVER! Good Special teams play can not be achieved without the dedicated help of the other assistants.

10. Personnel • PLAY YOUR BEST PLAYERS ON SPECIAL TEAMS!!! • No player is exempt- Our three starting linebackers are on punt team. Our starting corners are on kick-off. • Create a culture where great players want to play special teams. • A good place to get young talented players game experience. • Also a place for role players.

11. Practice Organization • 1 out of every 5 plays that take place in a game is a Special Teams play (20%). Therefore, 20% of every practice should be dedicated to Special Teams. • Practice time limited just as meeting time is limited • Know exactly what you are going to do • Have a competitive scout team • Teach scout team off opponent film so they know how to execute opponents schemes (draw cards)

12. Special Teams Game Week Schedule • Monday- • Review game tape • Preview opponent • PAT- 5 min. • Punt- 10 min. • KOC- 10 min. • Tuesday- • PAT- 5 min. • Punt- 10 min. • KOR- 10 min. • Wednesday- • PAT- 5 min. • Punt- 10 min. • PR- 10 min. • Thursday- • Review all Special Teams • Onside, Hands, Fakes

13. Meeting Preparedness • Make time to meet. • Be prepared so no time is wasted. • Limit video to exactly what the players need to see ie.., basic schemes, fakes, special adjustments to unusual alignments. • Meeting needs to address what you are going to do, how you are going to do it, and why it is going to work.

14. Self Evaluate • Grade players performance on special teams • Evaluate your schemes. Are they succeeding? • Do not be afraid to make a change • Stay ahead of your opponent by constantly evaluating your own strengths and weaknesses each week.

15. Reward Positive Performance • Recognize good special teams performances in front of team. We do this Monday after every game. • Recognize a player/players of the week on a board or with an award. • Have a goal board- just as you probably have an offensive and defensive goal board.

16. Special Teams Reminders • #1 Set The Tone • -No Substitute for Toughness • (K.O. UNIT SETS THE TONE) • #2 Ball Security • #3 No Penalty • #4 Establish Field Position • #5 Big Play • (See yourself making the BIG PLAYS)

17. Opponent EvaluationQuestions to Answer? • #1 SCHEMES • What are their schemes? • What is their system? • What are they trying to do? • #2 PERSONNEL • Who are their dominant players? • Who must we shut down? • #3 WEAKNESS • Where are their weaknesses? • (system and personnel) • #4 MATCHUPS • Where are the matchups to our advantage or disadvantage? • #5 DRILLS/TECHNIQUES • What must we teach to win?

18. Punt Team

19. Shield Punt

20. Shield Punt • Most vulnerable gaps are B and C gaps. • We want our snapper at or below 0.8 sec. • Our total operation should not be more than 2.1 sec. • Protectors run through their man on their way out, not retreat backwards • The shield covers down field after ball is kicked • If no one pressures then the shield should immediately begin coverage • Snapper just snaps and covers

22. Shield Punt • Splits- guards are 2 yards, tackles and ends are 2.5 to 3 yards • The 3 shield guys heels are at 8 yards from the ball • The punter is at 14 to 15 yards from LOS • Left and Right shield players apex the A-gap • Middle shield starts out behind right shield and fills gap when ball passes • The punters foot at contact with ball MUST be right behind middle shield and be 2-3 yards from shield- this protects the punt from being blocked around edges or over the top

23. Count System • 4 or less on LOS, the count starts with first defender from the outside in. • Five or more on LOS, the count starts with second defender from outside in. • Only players on LOS will be counted. Anyone off the line or in a stack position will not be counted. • If five or more and the tackle or end can’t get to their man, then they make a FAN call and counts starts back with 1. • Left shield gives the count, cadence and direction of kick

25. Cover Lanes From Middle of Field • L3 one yard inside number • L2 4 yards outside hash • L1 one yard inside left up right • C on ball • R1 1 yard inside right up right • R2 4 yards outside hash • R3 one yard inside the numbers • LS numbers • Punter may be the safety • MS middle • RS Numbers

26. Cover Lanes From Hash • L3 3 Yards from SL • L2 Top of Numbers • L1 Midpoint Numbers and Hash • C Hash Mark • R1 left Up Right • R2 RT Up Right • R3 Far Hash • LS Numbers • MS Hash to Side of Kick • RS Middle • Punter be the Safety

27. Rugby Punt • Splits- 1 yard for everybody on LOS • Right side blocks gap down • Left side scoops • Left shield looks right A- gap back to left A-gap • Right shield takes first thing off the edge • Middle shield takes second off edge on his way out, checking for penetration on his way. • Punter rolls right and is taught to hold the ball as long as he can until he feels pressure • Returner does NOT catch the ball in the air!

28. Punt Team Questionnaire • Base Calls- • Pressure Problem Answers- • Coverage Problem Answers- • Coming Out- • Must Get Punt Off- • Take Safety-

29. Punt Team Questionnaire • New Snapper- • New Punter- • Fake- • Pooch Punt- • Depth Issues-

30. Punt Return

31. Punt Return Max Double 18 Jam Jam Jam Crash Crash Jam

32. Max Double 18 • Main concept is to double team the gunners with our corners and number 1 and 8 players • Only one player rushes to ensure the kick • The rest jam their man while keeping inside leverage • Max means we’re trying to return the ball up the middle, that’s why we have inside leverage

33. Max Double 18

34. Jam Jam • Players are in a sprinters stance, exploding through the outside shoulder of blocker shooting our hat and hands into the blocker. This is selling the rush causing the opponent to retreat back to protect. • When the ball is kicked, the punt team goes from protecting to covering the kick. When the coverage team attempts to shed our rushers, we teach our players to sink their hips to resist the throw and stay on their feet. • Next, our blockers must have speed to recover back on their man and run with them maintaining a position between cover man and returner. If our blocker is initially defeated, he is taught to run the cover man down. When the cover man breaks down to tackle the returner this allows the blocker to regain his position to make a legal block (high and in front). • #8 ensures the kick.

35. Jam Jam

36. Jam Crash • Left side is in jam mode in case we do not get the block we can still have a left return • The right corner times up snap and rushes under 8 player. • 8 player goes over the top of wing • #4 on the left side leaves early to cover gunner on right to replace the corner • Take the ball off the punters foot and don’t leave your feet- Run to the block point. • If we do not block the punt, rushers continue running to form wall on Jam side of the field.

37. Jam Crash

38. Crash Jam

39. Punt Return Questionnaire • Opponent Punt Formations- • Opponent Protection- • Opponent Coverage- • Gunners are- • Contain is- • Ball Lands Generally- • Punter is RT/LT Footed- • Punters Average- • Block Point is at ____ yds. • Snapper is ________. • Does he pull ball ________?

40. Punt Return Questionnaire • Best place to pressure kick is- • Weakest Blocker is ______, ______, ______. • Weakest Cover guys are ______, ______, ______. • Best place to return punts are- • Depth Issues-

41. Punt Safe Questionnaire • Their punt formation- • Fakes they’ve shown- • Our Punt Safes-

42. Kick - Off Team

43. Kickoff Cover Regular Kick

44. Kick Off Cover Alignments and Cover Lanes • 1 aligns 3 yards from the sideline and is contain • 2 aligns top of numbers • 3 halfway between numbers and hash • 4 aligns 1 yard outside the hash and covers down the hash • 5 aligns 1 inside the hash and covers to the left upright • 6 varies alignment and covers to the ball • 7 aligns on the right upright and covers to the middle of goal post • 8 aligns 1 yard inside the hash and covers to the right upright • 9 aligns 2 yards outside the hash, covers down the hash, and is contain • 10 covers down the field beyond opposite 40 folds to become mid level fill player • K safety

45. Kick Off Cover Technique and Procedures • Covering 2/3 of the field- reduce amount of field to cover • Kicker places ball just inside left hash or wherever he feels comfortable • Kicker’s goal is to land ball on the numbers • The kick must be outside of hash • Hang time should be 3.8 or better • Must cover with speed and athleticism • START-we want to hit the yardline where the ball is kicked at full speed as the kicker impacts the ball • AVOID- We must have enough speed on this unit to avoid all early blocks with speed. You should always avoid to the butt side of the defender. • Within ten yards of the returner we must become two gap players and take on the defender • If a double team is encountered, we will attack one predetermined defender. • FIT-We will determine the opponents two most used returns and “fit” them just as a defense “fits” offensive play schemes.(This is accomplished with our Kick Off Fit Drill which can be seen on the drill tape.)

46. Kick Off Cover Drills • Fit Drill • Avoid and Two-Gap Drill • Cover and Return Drill • (See Drill Tape)

47. Kickoff Cover Questionnaire • Base Calls- • Special Kicks- • Answer if having problems in coverage- • Against Wind Plan- • KOC After Safety Plan- • Must Onside.

48. Kickoff Cover Questionnaire • Depth Issues- • List Opponents Returns-

49. Kick - Off Return

50. Kick-off Return • 1. Average 25 yards per return. • 2. Score or set up a score. • 3. Find the weakness and attack (Personnel or Scheme). • 4. Personnel is critical with your front line players. • (Hardest Technique) • 5. Practice techniques like you are in a game situation. • 6. Find returners that are north and south runners. Sometimes your BEST running backs and receivers are not the BEST kick-off returners. (Defensive Backs) • 7. We use man protection so if your guy twists you have him no matter what.