OUR TEAM CALLS PUNT returns “game breakers” because the momentum of the game can swing in an instant during a punt return. Check out seven ideas that should be racing through your players’ heads every time they step on the field with the punt return team.
1. Apply Pressure On Every Punt. If you can rattle the opposing team’s punter, chances are that he’s going to shank the punt, or better yet, change his rhythm and get it blocked.
Try different schemes to shake up the opposition’s punter. Even if you aren’t applying pressure, if it seems like you are, you could force the punter into a bad kick.
2. Make Something Happen. Tell your punt returners to field the ball, secure it and make something happen.
3. Have A Goal Of 12 Or More. If you average 12 yards per punt return, you’ll be leading your conference and, most likely, will be winning the field-position battle.
4. Score! Your punt returners must know that while the objective is to set up the offense, the bigger goal is to score on the punt return. Practice it and get your players believing that every punt return is a real scoring opportunity.
5. More Than Just Punt Blocks. Blocking a punt is great for your team, but it’s even better if you can get someone to scoop up the ball and take it in for score. We only consider the job half done if we block a punt but don’t score.
6. Maintain Possession. It is imperative that you don’t give the offense the ball back on a stupid roughing the kicker penalty, or worse yet, by fumbling or mishandling the punt. There’s nothing more demoralizing to a team than getting the ball back on a great defensive series and then giving it right back in one play.
7. Absolutely No Fakes. Along the same lines as not picking up a penalty or fumbling away the possession, make sure your team is ready for a fake punt. The total momentum of the game can swing on a successful punt fake that picks up big-time yards for your opponent.