IF YOUR TEAM’S been struggling on punt returns, it’s probably not due to having a bad special team philosophy or poorly designed return schemes. It’s more likely just a matter of ironing out some of the “little things” with your punt-return team.
According to Lester Erb, special teams coordinator for the University of Iowa, in Iowa City, Iowa, there are several areas that you can examine that might make a dramatic impact on your punt-return team.
- Change Your Punt-Return Mindset. Don’t consider the punt return a “necessary evil” that your team needs to do before getting your offense onto the field. Consider the punt return as the first play of an offensive series and have the entire team approach it that way.
- Have Your Best Guys Return Punts. Erb’s most successful punt-return teams have been ones where they’ve had two starting receivers back returning punts. If the punt return is an offensive play, then ask yourself why you’re not using your best offensive players.
- Don’t Overcoach A Talented Returner. Special team coaches often have a tendency to tell their returners which direction to take a return or which hole to hit. If you’ve selected your best return man, trust him to use his vision, see the open lane and let him run.
- Keep It Simple, Be Sound. Erb says not to overcomplicate your punt returns. Have a return philosophy that’s simple and allows your players to know their assignments and play with good technique. Every player on your punt-return team must know who’s coming in and out of the game and what types of opposing schemes they’ll see in coverage.
If a player knows what to do, he’ll play with confidence and execute his assignment correctly.
- Finish Off Blocks. Even if the return doesn’t look like it’s coming your players way, they must get downfield and finish off their assigned block.