Kefense Hynson
University of Montana
Co-Offensive Coordinator
Also serves as QB Coach; Has also coached
at Yale, Minnesota State, Boise State, Quincy
and Willamette College
VS.
Kyle Langhoff
MacMurray College
Defensive Coordinator
- Is also Assistant Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator; Coached previously at both Briar Cliff and Central Methodist
As an OC, what are the critical factors in getting your team ready for potentially a game-winning field goal?
Hynson - I think the most important factors are knowing your kicker in terms of range and hash preference, and calling some concepts in your offense that the QB and really everyone is familiar with. Simplicity is good in this scenario. The goal is yardage relative to where your kicker is best. I also think this is where, situationally, your “CENTER IT” or “CLOCK IT” plays pay off if you’ve practiced the scenario for each.
As a defensive coordinator, what are the critical factors in getting your
team ready for a potentially game-winning field goal attempt by the offense?
Langhoff - Alignment is the most critical, making sure our pre-snap alignment is correct and that we are onside. We have an end rusher check the line for us. It is critical as well to have everyone understand the big picture in a particular block. Hitting your gap, proper hand placement, and/or hitting the correct shoulder the right way is crucial for a good kick rush.
What are the psychological factors – offensively – as the team gets ready for a game-winning field goal?
Hynson - lf you’ve succeeded in getting your kicker an opportunity to kick it within his target range and hash, then all that’s left to do is produce positive energy and be ready to celebrate the made kick. It’s out of your hands at that point anyway.
What are the psychological factors – defensively – as your team gets ready for a potential game-winning kick by the offense?
Langhoff - Telling them that their push or job is important, even if you don’t get the block. Your rush and effort could free someone else up to get the block. We talk about the domino effect, that the better push we have from A gaps out makes FG teams pinch harder, which for us shortens the edge for our edge rusher and that makes it easier on him. There is also the chance that you can come free, but if you don’t push hard and do your job right, you might miss your shot. Consistency is very important.
As an offensive coach, what do you do to relax your kicker if the defense calls a time out before his game-winning attempt?
Hynson - I encourage the snapper, holder, and kicker to snap the ball and take a practice swing at it if they try and ice him. It’s a free practice kick. If he misses it, you get a do over! If he makes it he’s got some muscle memory to rely on for the second one.
Besides disrupting the kicker in this situation with a time out call, can you
do anything else to disrupt the offense?
Langhoff - I think the timeout actually doesn’t work. Maybe some movement by your players pre snap, but most kickers are focused on their spot and are not looking up very often. Getting a good push and rush throughout the game could disrupt him by the end.
What do you emphasize in practice in preparing for this situation?
Hynson - It’s likely the end result of a two minute drill, so you try and simulate all that that entails. That is, timeouts to ice the kicker, crowd noise, and a live all-out rush. If it’s what we call a “Banzai” situation where the FG team might have to rush the field to get the kick off, we’ll simulate that too. All you can do is prepare your players for these scenarios and coach them on the execution points of each.
What types of drills do you practice to block a field goal attempt?
Langhoff – We practice stance and starts and starts with various angles. We also talk about hand placement for our pushers and our hand placement by our end rushers to give us the best chance for a block. For the DL, we talk about a good hard rush and being low for 2-3 steps before raising up and getting their hands up. The push makes the block happen, which is most important.
How do you deal with your kicker and your field goal unit if the game-winning kick is missed?
Hynson - Encourage them, learn from it, pinpoint the reason for the missed kick if there is one that stands out. Remind your unit and team that although the kick was missed and the game ended with a loss, that single play was not the sole factor in the loss. It’s the easy one to pin the loss on because all eyes are on it, but there are always key plays in all three phases that win you games and lose you games. To blame the kicking unit for a loss when they come up short is irresponsible and short sighted.
How do you deal with your defensive unit if the game-winning field goal
is successful?
Langhoff - I think at first you tell them that this is part of the game, and that’s how it goes. You tell them that as long as you put everything you had into it, you shouldn’t be ashamed. Lastly, I talk about more the idea of the entire game or that last entire drive, and working to not be in that position again. You tell them to play better earlier in the game where this won’t happen again.