Punt-blocking schematics: the best way to win a game

Coach and Athletic Director, August, 2002 by Kenny Ratledge

THE SOUND OF A DOUBLE thud on a punt can put a coach into panic or ecstasy, depending upon which side of the field he is on.

Any time you allow a punt to be blocked, you are going to give up a huge chunk of field position, possibly a touchdown, and maybe even the loss of the game. Marv Levy claims that 80% of the teams that score on a blocked kick are going to win the game.

Many coaches believe that the punt is the most important and most dangerous play in football. Vast expanses of field position are lost or gamed on every punt. A blocked Punt can change both the tempo and momentum of the game.

The rush doesn't necessarily have to block the kick to be successful. It can benefit in other way, such as:

1. Shanked punts.

2. Poor coverage (good rushers force the punting team to block longer.)

3. Fumbled or bobbled snaps.

4. Strong rushers can force a three-step punter to become a two-step punter and a two-step punter to become a one-step punter.

5. Offensive penalties (holding, illegal procedures).

6. Poor hang time.

A pressure approach takes less practice time to perfect than a timing-oriented return scheme.

The meltdown of the Pittsburgh Steelers' special teams against the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game last fall has inspired a new emphasis on special teams.

The print media zeroed in on the collapse of the Steelers' special teams. The moral was obvious: Special teams give you a big edge, and! the blocked punt is the most dramatic of special-teams plays.

Allow me to present three types of punt blocks: a Gap Eight block, a Corner-Loaded Block, and an Overload Block, as run against the popular spread punt formation. We label our punt-block personnel as shown in Diag. 1.

Diag. 2, Gap-Eight Block:

This block employs an eight-man look to fill each gap. From this setup, you can bring any combination of six men, with the remaining two defenders covering the pass-eligibles man to man.

#4 takes the gunner man to man, using a bump and run technique.

#1 engages the slot-drawing the slots block, then taking him man to man.

#5 rushes kick through C gap.

#6 aligns on T's inside shoulder and rushes kick through B gap.

#7 gets a fight or left call from #3, then rushes punt through the appropriate shoulder.

#3 gives #7 a right or left call, then rushes through opposite shade.

#8 aligns on T's inside shoulder and rushes kick through B gap.

#9 rushes through C gap.

#2 engages the slot, draws his block, then takes him man to man.

#10 takes the gunner man to man, using a bump-and-run technique.

#11 fair-catches a short kick. On longer kicks, he will go north and get what he can.

Diaq. 3, Corner-Loaded Block:

Attacks both edges at the same time. The two inside eligible receivers (#1 and #2) are covered by men dropping into the middle.

#4 takes the gunner man to man, using a bump-and-run technique.

#1 rushes D gap to the launch point. He may line up there or he can creep from a wide alignment.

#5 rushes kick through C gap.

#6 aligns on tackle's inside shoulder and rushes kick through B gap.

#7 receives a right or left call from #3 and, on snap, bails and covers the slot to his side man to man.

#3 gives #7 a right or left call and, on snap, he bails and covers the slot to his side man to man.

#8 aligns on tackle's inside shoulder and rushes through B gap.

#9 rushes kick through C gap.

#2 rushes D gap to the launch point. He may line up there or he can creep from a wide alignment.

#10 takes the gunner man to man, using a bump-and-run technique.

#11 fair-catches a short kick and goes north and gets whatever he can on a longer kick.

Diag. 4, Overload Block:

This block typifies the overload principle, overloading to the left. It is planned for a right-footed kicker.

#4 takes the gunner man to man, using a bump-and-run technique.

#1 rushes D gap to the launch point. He can line up there or creep from a wide alignment.

#5 rushes kick through C gap.

#6 aligns on tackle's inside shoulder and rushes kick through B gap.

#7 receives a right or left call from #3 and rushes through the called shade.

#3 give a right or left call to #7, then goes to opposite side and rushes kick from there.

#8 aligns on tackle's inside shoulder and rushes kick through B gap.

#9 aligns in C gap and gives appearance of working that gap. Just prior to snap, he bails across the ball and takes the slot man to man.

#2 lines up outside the slot and blitzengages him, taking him man to man. He may disguise his final alignment and creep from a wide alignment.

#10 takes the gunner man to man, using a bump-and-run technique.

#11 fair catches a short kick. On a longer kick, he goes north to bait the coverage, then returns ball to the overloaded side. Theory is that the coverage will be softer on the overloaded side of the formation.

Block Principles

Regardless of the style of punt block employed, several block principles must be adhered to. To successfully pressure the punt, the rushers must:

1. Align as close to the ball as possible.

2. Key the ball and get a great jump.

3. Stay low on the charge.

4. Know where the block point will be.