Special Teams Circuits - Case 2 - Kickoff Coverage

3/29/2015 Special Teams Circuits: Case 2 - Kickoff Coverage
Special Teams Circuits: Case 2 - Kickoff Coverage

Published on Thursday, 17 April 2014 09:18
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By Sam Nichols, Managing Editor, X&O Labs
This case covers all aspects of KO coverage circuit drills including 19 drills and 17 films.
By Sam Nichols
Managing Editor
X&O Labs
Editors Note: With the intent of presenting actual practice videos of these
circuits, along with detailed coaching points that correspond with them, what
you will see below is the format most similar to what the rest of special report
will look like. This is different than the text-based special reports XandOLabs.com has presented before.
Introduction
According to our survey, 74% of coaches use a circuit to as part of their kickoff coverage teaching and practice regiment. This
number was the highest of the 4 special teams we researched and was by far the most common set of drills that coaches
offered up to share with the X&O Labs community. We asked these coaches directly to share what they use, and they were
gracious enough to so do.
https://www.xandolabs.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1966:special-teams-circuits-case-2-kickoff-coverage-circuits&catid=132&Itemid=16 1/27
Advantages
Perhaps the reason for kickoff being the most common circuit is the fact that it is the simplest to put together. For the most part, all of
the players on the field need to master the same skills and those skills can easily be segmented for more depth. The circuits also allow
them to do less full field sprints while focusing on the fundamentals of each of the three basic parts of kickoff coverage (start, attack,
and tackling). Consider what Mike Minter, the head coach at Campbell University, told us about how effective his kickoff circuits have
been for him. Circuits help you get more out of the limited time you have as a Special Teams coach, said Minter. You get a player to
get reps at different techniques that are critical to you winning your individual matchup. Like our tackling circuit on kickoff. We are able
to teach a player three different ways that they will have to make a tackle on kickoff. So not only do they work on tackling in these drills
they will work on leverage with another player and how to take on a block in the hit zone. They also will learn how to avoid blockers in
the speed zone. So a player is learning multiple things in a 12 minute period. You also can get more individual coaching in because
your numbers are broken down into a smaller group of players. The player will also get more reps at each station because of the
smaller groups.
Skills
As mentioned earlier, coaches almost universally segmented their circuit drills down into three distinct categories: start, attack, and
tackle. Within each of these subsets, the coaches were able to more clearly define the skills and approaches to executing in each
phase. This happens to fit perfectly with the zone chart that is commonly used by special teams coaches (see the example below
from Travis Niekamp, the special teams coach at the University of Louisiana Monroe).
Some coaches focused their circuits on one particular category while others sought to practice all three phases of coverage in one
complete circuit. The circuits that we have chosen to include in this case show a variety of drills that fit into one or more of the
categories listed.
Villanova Kickoff Circuits:

The Villanova special teams unit, or self-proclaimed Angry Birds, place a real premium on preparing their players for every potential
situation their players will encounter. As part of that, they use a variety of drills that we have divided into two segments; skill specific
and fit specific.
Skill Specific Circuit
This set of drills includes 6 different options that Villanova will use on a rotating basis to both teach and perfect their coverage skills.
The circuit focuses on skills to avoid blockers at the 1st and 2nd level and open field tackling in both 1 and 2 man situations. Below you
will find the coaching points, diagrams, and video for these drills.
Drill 1: V Tackle
This 2 on 1 tackling drill was presented in several versions throughout out research. The Villanova version below focuses solely on the
convergence on the ball carrier and provides instruction all the way through the tackle.
Concept / Coaching Points: According to Villanovas special teams coach Roc Bellantoni, It simulates a two-on-one tackle. The
tackler to return side wraps up ball carrier. Other tackler strips ball as 2nd man in. Its imperative to attack leverage side hip of the ball
carrier. Coaches need to stress spacing and teamwork, understanding role (return side and 2nd tackler), leverage to the return side
and pad level going in to the tackle.
To see video of the V Tackle, click on the link below:
Drill #2: Gator Tackle
This open field tackling drill is crucial is a personal favorite. The drill focuses on teaching players how to wrap up legs and roll the
opponent to ensure completion of the tackle in space. The use of the bag as a target and tackling object keeps your players safe while
practicing a technique that is overlooked by the majority of football programs.
Concept / Coaching Points: Ball carrier runs speed holding agility bag. Tackler runs full speed, does not break down. He aims for
the far leg, wrapping up the bag and rolling like an alligator with the bag. This drill is meant to be violent, said Bellantoni.
To see video of Villanovas Gator Tackle Drill, click on the link below:
Drill #3: Top Gun Drill
This drill teaches the nuance of setting up the blocker in order to get to the ball carrier. The players are coached to use the blockers
scheme, skill, and speed to move him out of positions before ducking under to the ball. The rip move is done quickly getting his hip
past the blocker.
Concept / Coaching Points: Cover guy uses speed pushing outside and vertical. Blocker widens and gets on top hip of cover guy.
Cover guy uses Top Gun rip inside to cut string and get returner, said Bellantoni.
To see video of Villanovas Top Gun drill, click on the link below:
Drill #4: Stem and Whip / Flash
This is really two versions of one drill that reps the angle and proper technique based on the players proximity to the ball. They are
taught to whip if they are to the side of the returner and flash in front with speed if the returner goes away.
Concept / Coaching Points: The coach gives direction of return. Blockers give a dummy look. Cover guy whips (butt side) because the
returner is to the side of the blocker. Cover guy should run directly at the blocker (stem) and rip past him, said Bellantoni.
To see video of Villanovas Stem and Whip / Stem and Flash drill, click on the link below:
Drill #5: Stack Drill
This drill is really a precursor to the Top Gun drill mentioned above in that it focuses on getting the covermans hip on top of the
blocker.
Concept / Coaching Points: Blocker gives a dummy look. Cover guy pushes vertically at full speed and cuts the string by getting on
top of the blocker, said Bellantoni.
To see video of Villanovas Stack Drill, click on the link below:
Drill #6: Finish Drill
The Finish Drill combines the V Tackle and the Stack Drill into one concept. This shows how the different skill sets can be strung
together to change up or consolidate drills as the season progresses.
Concept / Coaching Points: The blocker gives a dummy look. Cover guys must cut the string by getting on top of the blocker. They
attack the returner with leverage. Left side keeps the ball on right shoulder. Right side keeps ball on left shoulder, Bellantoni told us.
Cut the string refers to stacking the defender and getting directly between him and the returner or cutting the string that would connect
the two players.
To see video of Villanovas Finish Drill, click on the link below:
Villanovas second set of drills move to the level of application for the skills above. The idea being to limit participation and increase the
need to string together the techniques learned in the individual skill sessions above. These can be applied as part of the circuit or run
independently depending on the length of time available.
Full Field Drill
This drill is Villanovas version of the gauntlet drill (which will be shown later). It takes all of the skills above and combines them into
one drill. I like how this drill incorporates the read of the front line blockers into the drill. This is a missing piece in many gauntlet drills
that I have seen in the past.
Editors Note: While this drill shows 4 lines of players running the drill at once, the drill could easily be shrunk to 1 or 2 lines to fit within
a circuit for team who have fewer players.
Concept / Coaching Points: Coach gives direction of return. OL simulates front line of blocks. Cover guys should whip (avoid butt side)
thru the avoid or speed zone. The blockers hold dummies in the contact zone (10 yards from the ball). The Cover guys shed the block,
wrap-up returner.- Bellantoni.
To see video of Villanovas Full Field drill, click on the link below:
1-3 Fits Drill
This is a simple and quick way to rep the teams overall approach to spacing as the return develops. The drill could be run with only
three players and the returner would either return toward them or away and the players would respond accordingly.
Concept / Coaching Points: This drill allows us to rep the way that we read the returner as he moves up the field. The 3 can go inside
or outside the blocker (dummy). The 2 fits opposite where the 3 goes. The 1 will fill between 2/3 play side. Backside of the return, the 1
will be a fold player. The numbers referred to are the number of the players on the kickoff from the outside in not to include the
safeties.
To see video of Villanovas 1-3 Fits Drill, click on the link below
3 on 3 Drill
This drill is used primarily by Villanova to focus on the front line blocking technique, but it could certainly be used to rep kickoff skills at
the same time. As part of a circuit, the return portion and the coverage portion could be separate stations while working together to
have lively competition.
Concept / Coaching Points: The cover players will start from a proper stance and time their run with a kicker (live or dummy). They
will then work to avoid a front line block without getting run completely out of their vertical tube. Stress eyes being down the field, using
hands to get free, and running tight to the block.- Bellantoni.
Note: The drill is discussed from the blockers perspective in Case 3: Kickoff Return.
To see video of Villanovas 3 on 3 Drill, click on the link below:
University of Louisiana Monroe Kickoff Circuit:

The University of Louisiana Monroe was one of the top kickoff coverage teams in the Sun Belt Conference last season and they use a
concise, 3 station circuit to perfect the skills they use on their coverage unit. They run all potential kickoff players through this 10
minute rotation with each drill lasting only 3 minutes. Each of these drills are shown below. They also run a faster, Kickoff Vital
Technique drill that puts all three of these concepts together into one drill. ULMs special teams coordinator, Travis Niekamp, provides
his narration of the drills below.
Drill #1: Avoid
This drill is very basic, but the skill is essential to being able to negate the front line of the return teams scheme. The speed rip is not a
natural motion, so this drill is used to introduce the concept and can be expanded on as players develop mastery.
Concept / Coaching Points: This drill is used only with 1st Level Blockers (Frontline) in order to set up the blocker with a wiggle, slip by
him and replace back to your lane. The speed rip variation of avoid includes squeeze your elbow, reduce your hip and rip thru
blocker. Players cannot reduce stride length and must be encouraged to keep your speed.- Niekamp
To see video of ULMs Avoid Drill, click on the link below:
Drill #2: Butt
The Butt Drill is the next step in the progression from the Avoid Drill and focuses on defeating 2nd level blocks. The focus of the drill
needs to be on creating and then shedding contact.
Concept / Coaching Points: U LM uses the Butt and Press technique against 2nd Level Blockers (Backline). Players engage, violent
shed the player and then throw the blocker away from returner. In the beginning the players will spend a longer time engaging with the
blocker to focus on the hand placement and throwing technique. This is sped up as the season moves on and players become more
familiar with the drill. Pursuit angles are also stressed as part of this drill.
To see video of ULMs Butt Drill, click on the link below:
Drill #3: Edge
The third and final step of Louisiana Monroes coverage circuit addresses angling to the ball to make the tackle. This drill is the only
one of its kind that we came across in our research. The drill stresses taking a tight angle while disengaging the blocker as the angle of
pursuit gets much harder the further the blocker is able to push the tackler up field.
Concept / Coaching Points: This drill focuses on setting the edge as they approach the ball carrier. The players are coached to create
as tight and as short edge as possible. It is critical to squeeze the box on the kick returner. The hoop used in the drill has roughly 4
yard diameter.
To see video of ULMs Edge Drill, click on the link below:
Other Kickoff Circuit Drills:

Takeoff Drill
Kickoff starts have changed dramatically in the past 12 months due to the new rule forcing players to start 5 yards from the kick line. In
some ways, that puts an even larger premium on getting players to hit the line of scrimmage at the right time and at close to full speed.
Making that happen is much easier said than done so this drill, as basic as it may appear, is a crucial component of teaching quality
coverage.
Concept / Coaching Points: Players start with their foot on the line 5 yards behind the ball in their proper stance. As the kicker passes
the players time their run with a burst of speed to hit the line at the same time as the ball is being kicked. Players are coached to burst
out of their stance as opposed to ramping up as many team used to teach.
To see video of the Start Drill, click on the link below:
2- Gap
This drill is similar to the Butt Drill discussed earlier, but the focus of the drill is different. Instead of working primarily on the contact
and release, this drill stresses maintaining 2 gap tackling ability until the ball carrier has committed to running over the block.
Concept / Coaching Points: The players are coached to engage, extend, and maintain the ability to tackle to the inside should be ball
carrier cut up the field. When he bounces over, the player should then throw the blocker back in the other direction and take a proper
angle of pursuit to the ball carrier.
To see video of the 2-Gap Drill, click on the link below:
Barrel Race
The Barrel Race Drill is a simple team fit drill that helps players understand how to fold as the return chooses his path. It is a simpler
version of the Villanova drill mentioned above.
Concept / Coaching Points: Players start staggered and proceed down the field holding their line until the ball comes forward. At that
point, the #2 and #3 players redirect on separate levels roughly 5 yards apart to create different angles or pursuit.
To see video of the Barrel Race Drill, click on the link below:
Coronado High School (TX) Kickoff Circuit
This set of drills shows variations of the drills shown earlier in the case. Special Teams Coach James Vints circuit is set up with 3
quick stations that he calls the Rodeo Circuit and includes a tackling drill, gauntlet drill, and angle or pursuit drill. These drills are used
every day during 2 a days and then less frequently once the season begins.
Drill #1: Shimmy Tackle
This simple drill focuses on a full body open field tackling technique that can be applied in multiple special teams situations as well as
defense.
Concept / Coaching Points: This is a simple 1 on 1 tackling drill using stationary ball carriers. Stress shimmying into position, bending
at the knees not the waist, punching arms upward through the ball carriers armpits, and running their legs through the tackle.
Drill #2: Long Gauntlet Drill
This drill is a version of the gauntlet drill that we encountered frequently during our research. It focuses on working the speed rip to
both sides and properly addressing a double team.
Concept / Coaching Points: This drill is set up with 2 players holding shields 10 yards apart. Players are to use a speed rip as the
address both shields. After executing the rip, the player should stack the shield and address the second shield with the opposite arm.
Next the player will dip, rip, and get skinny to split a double team before finally finding the ball and taking a correct angle to make a
tackle. The short gauntlet shown incorporates the 2 gap technique.
Drill #3: Cut and Fold Drill
The Cut and Fold drill shown below takes a more complete team approach to repping proper spacing and swarming to the football.
This is similar to the 1-3 fit drill but expanded to 11 players.
Concept / Coaching Points: 11 players are spread out in their lanes 15 yards from the ball. As the ball carrier runs one way the front
side of the coverage works to cut off the football while the backside folds into lanes without trailing each other. Players are taught to
keep the ball inside and in front of them at all times and to Never run past the ball.
To see video of all of Cornado High Schools Kickoff circuit, click on the link below:
Additional Circuit Ready Drills
Attacking Double Team - Lenoir Rhyne University
The elimination of the wedge from kickoff strategies has increased the prevalence of double teams in the 2nd level of blockers for
return teams. Lenoir Rhyne Universitys STC Blake Harrell uses a 2 man and 3 man drill that reps how they expect their players to
attack and fit around any double team block. Here are the rules they use to teach that concept.
Player 1: Split Double Team - If you have a back line double team split it making yourself skinny. Front line double team should always
be avoided to the outside ( also called fitting the window). As you get skinny drop the shoulder. Be ready to come free, eyes up.
Players 2 and 3: These players are the players directly outside the player splitting the double team. They must be ready to become a
force/fold player throttling down at 2X5 (could be a free or could be butt-n-pressing ready to force/fold).
If the returner cuts to their side, they become the force player. At that point, the player needs to aggressively attack the ball carrier
and tackle the outside leg.
If the ball declares to the other side of the double team then the player becomes the fold player. He should then fold behind the
double team and look to wall off a cutback and provide support to the tackle.
Editors Note: LR also employs a Hub rule telling their #2 and #3 players that if the ball carrier is more than 10 yards behind the
double team they are free to go make the play and avoid double team rules altogether.
Drill Concept / Coaching Points: The drill for this concept can be done in either a 2 man or 3 man version with the players attacking a
double team, reading the returner, and fitting in appropriately. All coaching points mentioned above apply.
To see video of Lenoir Ryhne Universitys 2/3 Man Drill, click on the link below:
Additional Resources
3 Drill Kickoff Handout Jake DerCola, Utica College (NY)
Click Here to Download
4 Drill Kickoff Diagram Rob Page, Centerville High School (OH)
Complete Lenoir Rhyne Kickoff Teaching PowerPoint Blake Harrell Lenoir-RhyneUniversity (NC)
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a variety of different ways that you can put together a kickoff circuit. The key is identifying the key skills you
want to address and fitting the drills to those skills. The 19 plus drills list above should be a great place to start.
Here is a link to the rest of the cases in this special report so that you can continue reading:
Case 1 - The Methodology and Implementation behind Special Teams Circuits
Case 2 Kickoff Coverage Circuits
Case 3 Kickoff Return Circuits
Case 4 Punt Return / Punt Block Circuits
Case 5 Punt Coverage Circuits
Category: Special Reports

Special Teams Circuits - Case 2 - Kickoff Coverage

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3/29/2015 Special Teams Circuits: Case 2 - Kickoff Coverage

Special Teams Circuits: Case 2 - Kickoff Coverage

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By Sam Nichols, Managing Editor, X&O Labs

Villanova Kickoff Circuits:

Skill Specific Circuit

To see video of the V Tackle, click on the link below:

Drill #2: Gator Tackle

Drill #3: Top Gun Drill

Drill #4: Stem and Whip / Flash

Drill #5: Stack Drill

To see video of Villanovas Stack Drill, click on the link below:

Drill #6: Finish Drill

To see video of Villanovas Finish Drill, click on the link below:

Full Field Drill

1-3 Fits Drill

To see video of Villanovas 3 on 3 Drill, click on the link below:

University of Louisiana Monroe Kickoff Circuit:

Drill #1: Avoid

To see video of ULMs Avoid Drill, click on the link below:

Drill #2: Butt

To see video of ULMs Butt Drill, click on the link below:

Drill #3: Edge

To see video of ULMs Edge Drill, click on the link below:

Other Kickoff Circuit Drills:

To see video of the Start Drill, click on the link below:

To see video of the 2-Gap Drill, click on the link below:

Coronado High School (TX) Kickoff Circuit

Drill #1: Shimmy Tackle

Drill #2: Long Gauntlet Drill

Drill #3: Cut and Fold Drill

Additional Circuit Ready Drills

Attacking Double Team - Lenoir Rhyne University

3 Drill Kickoff Handout Jake DerCola, Utica College (NY)

Click Here to Download

4 Drill Kickoff Diagram Rob Page, Centerville High School (OH)

Click Here to Download

Click Here to Download

Case 1 - The Methodology and Implementation behind Special Teams Circuits

Case 3 Kickoff Return Circuits

Case 4 Punt Return / Punt Block Circuits

Case 5 Punt Coverage Circuits

Category: Special Reports

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