Unbalanced Rugby Punt

RugbyPunt.docx

Abe Mikell

Defensive Line Coach

Special Teams Coordinator

Stuarts Draft High School

Virginia

How we got here

In the spring of 2006, my wife and I were getting ready to move across the state to a new school and a new town. The school was also getting a new head football coach and he assigned me to head up the special teams. We spoke a little bit about what we would be doing on offense (the wing-t), and I tossed out the idea of running a rugby style punt out of an unbalanced double wing formation, Red for you Delaware guys. Rod, the HC, liked the idea and from that point on we have used a rugby style punt. See the diagram below for the formation.

I wanted to use a directional rugby punt from this formation for a variety of reasons.

Kicking directionally limits the returns used by the punt return team
Directional kicking allows you to focus your coverage to one part of the field

Team Goals

The Scheme

Fakes

Punt Team

Huddle, Play Calling, and Fakes

¨ Punt Team members will be alerted by the sideline coach before the 3^rd down play, assemble, and the play will be given to the punter. The punter will make the play call as he is running onto the field, and the team will line up on the line of scrimmage in Rip or Liz Punt Formation.

¨ Snap Count will be on a silent count after the QB says “Down”. Down, heel motion, then the center will snap the ball once the punter signals

¨ Left Guard can cut split as needed to secure PS A gap.

¨ Punts will be called using two words to indicate to direction and type of punt.

Rip Punt: Flip to Rip Fly Punt to the Right
Liz Punt: Flip to Liz Fly Punt to the Left

Punt Team Goals

¨ Avg 30 yards net punting

¨ No Blocked Kicks

¨ Convert all attempted fakes.

Rip Punt

Pos	Stance	Alignment	Assignment	Coverage Lane
Y	Balanced 3 Point	2’ Split Even w/ LG’s Toes	Step flat 3 steps to secure BS B, aiming at LG’s hip.	5-6 yards inside left hash.
LG	Balanced 3 Point	2’ Split Toes on C’s heels	Step flat 3 steps to secure PS A, pull around center.	Down Middle of Field
S	Normal Snapping	On ball	Secure snap, step to secure BS A.	1-2 yards inside left hash
RG	Balanced 3 Point	2’ Split Toes on C’s heels	Step flat 3 steps to secure PS B, aiming at RT’s hip.	5 yards inside Right hash
RT	Balanced 3 Point	2’ Split Even w/ RG’s Toes	Step flat 3 steps to secure PS C, aiming at OT’s hip.	1-2 yards inside Right hash
FB/ OT	Balanced 3 Point	2’ Split Even w/ RT’s Toes	Step flat 3 steps to secure PS D, aiming at widest DL’s far knee.	2 yards outside Right hash
X	Normal	2 –3 yds outside #’s on ball	Take best release to ball. Keep ball inside left shoulder. Secure catch and tackle. Force fumble	No Responsibility. Go to Ball
LW	2 pt Parallel w/ LOS	3’ x 3’ off ghost TE	Long motion in front of the QB. Ball Will be snapped when you are behind the FB. On snap, get outside WR for contain.	4 yards from SL. PS Contain.
RW	2 point Parallel w/ LOS	3’ x 3’ off ghost TE	Take best release to ball. Keep ball inside right shoulder. Secure catch and tackle. Force fumble	No Responsibility. Go to Ball
QB	Balanced 2 Point	Heels at 4-5 yds behind RG	Call cadence. Secure PS & BS A, 1^st, then secure all penetration from the left side. Release down field for ball	On or 2 yds outside left hash. Contain Responsibility on left.
P	Punting	10 yds behind C	Take snap. Angle hips to right. 1 or 2 step punt to #’s.	Play Safety

Liz Punt

Pos	Stance	Alignment	Assignment	Coverage Lane
Y	Balanced 3 Point	2’ Split Even w/ RG’s Toes	Step flat 3 steps to secure BS B, aiming at RG’s hip.	5-6 yards inside right hash.
LG	Balanced 3 Point	2’ Split Toes on C’s heels	Step flat 3 steps to secure PS A, pull around center.	Down Middle of Field
S	Normal Snapping	On ball	Secure snap, step to secure BS A.	1-2 yards inside left hash
RG	Balanced 3 Point	2’ Split Toes on C’s heels	Step flat 3 steps to secure PS B, aiming at RT’s hip.	5 yards inside Right hash
RT	Balanced 3 Point	2’ Split Even w/ RG’s Toes	Step flat 3 steps to secure PS C, aiming at OT’s hip.	1-2 yards inside Right hash
FB/ OT	Balanced 3 Point	2’ Split Even w/ RT’s Toes	Step flat 3 steps to secure PS D, aiming at widest DL’s far knee.	2 yards outside Right hash
X	Normal	2 –3 yds outside #’s on ball	Take best release to ball. Keep ball inside left shoulder. Secure catch and tackle. Force fumble	No Responsibility. Go to Ball
RW	2 point Parallel w/ LOS	3’ x 3’ off ghost TE	Long motion in front of the QB. Ball Will be snapped when you are behind the FB. On snap, get outside WR for contain.	4 yards from SL. PS Contain.
LW	2 point Parallel w/ LOS	3’ x 3’ off ghost TE	Take best release to ball. Keep ball inside right shoulder. Secure catch and tackle. Force fumble	No Responsibility. Go to Ball
QB	Balanced 2 Point	Heels at 4-5 yds behind RG	Call cadence. Secure PS & BS A, 1^st, then secure all penetration from the left side. Release down field for ball	On or 2 yds outside left hash. Contain Responsibility on left.
P	Punting	10 yds behind C	Take snap. Angle hips to left. 1 or 2 step punt to #’s.	Play Safety

Notes on the Punter’s Technique

Hold: The punter will hold the back half of the ball with the finger tips of both hands. The ball should be held at approxiamately a 45 degree angle across the kicking foot.

Drop: The punter should hold the ball around just above waist level, and lean, so as to drop the ball on the kicking foot

Footwork: When kicking in the direction of your kicking leg, the kicker should take the snap, then a short open step w/ the playside foot. Toes should point to the sideline The 2^nd step should then be a cross over step. Toes should point 5 yds downfield at the sideline. The punt should be made on the 3^rd step, aiming at the target. When kicking away from your kicking leg, you should open your kick side hip to the side

Plant Foot: The plant foot should be aimed at the sideline 25 to 30 yds downfield and the kicking leg should swing straight through the ball.

Rip Punt Sweep

Pos	Stance	Alignment	Assignment
Y	Balanced 3 Point	2’ Split Even w/ RG’s Toes	Step flat 3 steps to secure BS B, aiming at RG’s hip. Release to block downfield
LG	Balanced 3 Point	2’ Split Toes on C’s heels	Step flat 3 steps to secure PS A, pull around center. Release to block downfield
S	Normal Snapping	On ball	Secure snap aimed at the QB. LW will intercept, step to secure BS A. Release to block downfield
RG	Balanced 3 Point	2’ Split Toes on C’s heels	Step flat 3 steps to secure PS B, aiming at RT’s hip. Release to block downfield
RT	Balanced 3 Point	2’ Split Even w/ RG’s Toes	Step flat 3 steps to secure PS C, aiming at OT’s hip. Secure gap 1^st, then release to block downfield
FB/ OT	Balanced 3 Point	2’ Split Even w/ RT’s Toes	Step flat 3 steps to secure PS D, aiming at widest DL’s far knee. Stay on block (EMLOS) to secure the edge rush
X	Normal	2 –3 yds outside #’s on ball	Stalk block Corner or, if force player is in crackable position, crack.
LW	2 point Parallel w/ LOS	3’ x 3’ off ghost TE	Slow motion in front of the QB. Ball Will be snapped to the QB, intercept snap and sweep around the Edge. Hash, #’s sideline. You must be full speed by the time to catch the ball.
RW	2 point Parallel w/ LOS	3’ x 3’ off TE	Seal EMLOS, the release to block PS LB. If crack by X, the arc block on Corner
QB	Balanced 2 Point	Heels at 4-5 yds behind RG	Call cadence. Attack EMLOS opposite of the Sweep for option fake.
P	Punting	10 yds behind C	Jump as if snap is over your head, and yell “FIRE, ” then carry out option path opposite of the Sweep.

Coaching Points:

EMLOS: End man on the line of scrimmage.
Y, LG, S, & RG, can release almost immediately up field to block 2^nd and 3^rd level defenders. S should release flat for the Return man.

Cracks must be communicated before the snap to ensure everyone is blocked.
Rip Punt Tackle Trap

Pos	Stance	Alignment	Assignment
Y	Balanced 3 Point	2’ Split Even w/ RG’s Toes	Release in side and up field to block out on 2^nd LB or 2^nd level player
LG	Balanced 3 Point	2’ Split Toes on C’s heels	Release in side and up field to block out on 1^st LB or 2^nd level player
S	Normal Snapping	On ball	Release up field Block out on 1^st Lb from A Gap Out.
RG	Balanced 3 Point	2’ Split Toes on C’s heels	Lead-Out: Lead on dbl team w/ the RT. Block out
RT	Balanced 3 Point	2’ Split Even w/ RG’s Toes	Post-Out-Backer: Post for dbl team from RG w/ a 4i or 4. Block out on 5, C gap, or 7 (6i). Block out LB when none of those are applicable.
FB/ OT	Balanced 3 Point	2’ Split Even w/ RT’s Toes	Pull inside and trap 1^st from a 3 technique to a PS shade on the Snapper.
X	Normal	2 –3 yds outside #’s on ball	Stalk block Corner
LW	2 point Parallel w/ LOS	3’ x 3’ off ghost TE	Slow motion in front of the QB. Ball Will be snapped to the QB, intercept snap and execute an inside handoff to the RW.
RW	2 point Parallel w/ LOS	3’ x 3’ off TE	Jab step to right, then open up w/ left foot. Take hand off from LW, then follow trapper into hole. Find the wall, created by your blockers.
QB	Balanced 2 Point	Heels at 4-5 yds behind RG	Call cadence. Attack EMLOS opposite of the Sweep for option fake.
P	Punting	10 yds behind C	Jump as if snap is over your head, and yell “FIRE, ” then carry out option path opposite of the Sweep.

Coaching Points:

EMLOS: End man on the line of scrimmage.

2006 Fake Package

Rip, Fly, Fake Punt Guard Trap Right and Guard Trap left

See the Attached Article for diagrams

Tags: football, punt, rugby, special, teams

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Comment by Sam Nichols on June 6, 2011 at 4:29pm: Great stuff as always Abe. Got any data on this concept? Average return and the like? I would love to see it if possible.

Comment by Abe Mikell on June 6, 2011 at 9:12pm: This is from an article I wrote a LONG time ago when we first started running this punt. Here are some stats from 2008 and 2009. This is from an article that may look familiar.

The 2nd most important statistic is how much return yardage your team gives up. In 2008, we only used our Cougar and Lion formations to punt and did not have Serval installed. We punted the ball 26 times. Of those punts, only 5 were returned. We did give up one TD on a return, but the total average punt return was 2.79 yds per kick. Our kicker did not have the strongest leg that year averageing only 32.6 yds a punt, so the average change in field position was just under 30 yds a play. In 2009, we added Serval and removed Lion from regular rotation. (Our kicker was more comfortable moving to his right.) We punted 32 times, had 12 punt returned, and did not give up a TD. Furthermore, we held our opponents to an average of 3.1 return yds per kick. Our punter improved and increased his average punt to 38.39 yds. So, in 2009 the average change in field position was 35.29 yds.