These three Peru State College drills should be practiced regularly to help improve kickoff coverage.
We have three separate kickoff coverage drills that we practice daily – The Avoid, Stun and Separate, Strike Drill, the Kickoff Extension/Read Drill, and the Kickoff Return Ball Declared Drill. Each one is critical to a successful defense of a kickoff.
Avoid, Stun and Separate, Strike Drill (Diagram 1)
Diagram 1: Avoid, Stun and Separate, Strike Drill
This drill is a fundamental part of our kickoff coverage team preparation. Five players will line up on the sideline of the 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25-yard lines.
The kickoff team will be running across the field to simulate staying in their lanes.
As the drill progresses, more space will be needed. In front of each player will be a total of three players with bags. The first player will be ten yards away from the KO team/sideline. The second and third players will be 20 yards away from the sideline. The second and third player will align on each side of the yard line the KO player is running down. On the whistle/command, the KO team will sprint down their respective yard lines. When the KO team gets close to the first bag, this player will show the bag one way or the other. The KO player will react/avoid the first bag and quickly get back on his line. This player can work a rip or quickly cut to get past the blocker as fast as possible. The KO team can get out of their lanes to avoid the first wall of blockers, but they need to get back in their lanes once they clear the block.
As the KO team approaches the two-man wall, they need to get skinny and accelerate through the double team. They should turn their shoulders and rip through the blockers. The worst thing to do is to slow down and get driven out, creating holes in the KO team coverage lanes. If there are enough bodies, a fourth man could represent a ball carrier at a distance of seven to ten yards behind the pair of blockers.
Kickoff Extension/Read Drill
(Diagram 2)
Diagram 2: Kickoff Extension/Read Drill
This drill is set up very similar to the first one except the second and third players are ten yards apart on the same yard line. Therefore, the first bag will be 20 yards from the sideline, second bag, 20 yards, and the third bag, 30 yards. The KO team will avoid the first wall of blockers and get back into their lane. As they approach the second bag, they cannot tell which way the returner is going. They will have to take on the second bag and will hit it with their hands inside and thumbs up, getting extension and keeping their feet moving. They should drive the blocker back and get vision on the returner.
At the start of the drill, the third bag holders will look for a direction from a coach who is standing behind the KO team. After the KO team gets extension and starts driving back the second bag, those carrying the third bags will show the way the coach pointed. The KO team will need to get vision on the third bag/ball carrier and make a form tackle. This will teach players to take on blocks without picking a side until the ball is declared to one side or the other. This reduces the chance of players picking a side and creating running lanes.
Kickoff Return Ball Declared Drill
(Diagram 3)
Diagram 3: Kickoff Return Ball Declared Drill
The third progression of this drill has a similar set-up; however, the third bag will be off-set five yards. The five players who are holding the third bag will all have to be off-set in the same direction, either to the right or to the left. As the KO team avoids the first bag, they will rip through or knock hands on the second bag. They can see that the ball has been declared to a side and they must get over the top of the block (second bag) and not run around the second bag. This will simulate a ball carrier who has declared to one side of the blocker. Make sure the KO team gets back into their lanes after the first bag and rips through the second bag. If they do not get back into their lanes, even through the ball is declared, then they are vulnerable to cutbacks.
About the Author: Defensive Coordinator Lou Varley has been on the staff of Peru State College since 2008. Beginning in 1974, he coached at four different Nebraska high schools until he joined the PSC staff. Varley has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Master’s Degree from Nebraska-Kearney.
About the Author: Joey Mariani joined the Redlands staff in 2007 as an assistant coach, working primarily with running backs. In 2010, he became both Director of Football Operations and Defensive Coordinator. Mariani also coached at two different California high schools.