SP teams

PUNT RUSH PRINCIPLES (VIRGINIA TECH)

1. USE ATHLETES: WANT PEOPLE THAT CAN BLOCK KICKS, NOT WALL OFF.

2. STANCE – MAKE BLOCK & RETURN LOOK THE SAME.

3. LINE UP AS CLOSE TO NEUTRAL ZONE AS POSSIBLE.

4. KEEP HAND OUT IN FRONT OF HEAD.

5. KEY THE BALL – GREAT GET OFF ON SNAP.

6. STAY LOW IN YOUR CHARGE, MAKE YOURSELF SMALL.

7. BLOCK POINT LANDMARK CRITICAL, BETTER SHORT THAN LONG. NEVER BE PAST BLOCK POINT - - IF SO, PULL OFF.

8. ACCELERATE – SPRINT – HANDS UP AT LAST SECOND.

9. NEVER WORK ON A DIRECT ANGLE WITH KICKER – ALWAYS BE TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.

10. LOOK AT BALL – EYES OPEN.

11. ALWAYS STAY ON FEET.

12. ONLY ONE PERSON FREE AT BLOCKING POINT.

13. KNOCKED OFF COURSE MORE THAN ONE STEP – STOP – WORK TO OUTSIDE.

14. DON’T AVOID OR KNOCK PERSONAL PROTECTOR INTO BLOCK POINT.

15. RUN A DIRECT LINE TO BLOCK POINT – DO NOT GET KNOCKED OUT OF YOUR LANE AND BLOCK OTHER PEOPLE.

16. BLOCKED KICK:

IF BEHIND LOS (WORK ON GETTING BALL TO END ZONE)
IF ACROSS LOS (GET AWAY FROM IT)
IF IN DOUBT (RIGHT AT LOS) – GET BEHIND BALL & LET THEM MAKE MOVE.

17. WHEN KICK IS BLOCKED – NEAREST PERSON TO BALL PICK UP – OTHERS BLOCK – SCORE!

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VIRGINIA TECH PUNT BLOCK PRINCIPLES

TO PREVENT ROUGHING THE KICKER:
1. Landmark is 2 yds. in front of where punter usually kicks the ball (if he lines up at 13 & kicks at 10 – the landmark is 8 yds deep). Adjust to the kicker from there. If you get past the landmark, pull off.
2. Angle to kicker – never put your body on a collision course with the kicker – run thru block area full speed. Come ACROSS kicker’s foot.
3. Stay on your feet (so you can adjust).
4. If you’re blocked – stop and work outside (in case kicker runs, or ball is blocked). We WANT 7 blocked and the 8th man coming free (if two come free they may collide).

TECHNIQUE:
1. Sprinter’s stance.
2. Hand close to ball.
3. Head turned looking at ball.
4. Get off (move on ball).
5. First 5 yds. most critical (stay low, turn shoulders making yourself small, & expect to go free).
6. Never get hands up till last second (hands come from hips quick and fast to ball level). If you put your hands up too soon, it slows you down.
7. Where are your eyes? Don’t turn your head or close your eyes – look at his foot, keep your eyes open – put your hands on his foot at the last second.

DRILL: (ONLY ONE)
Snapper snaps a ball (about half deflated) to punter , & blocker takes his zone approach – go upfield (making body small) then redirect to landmark.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN PERSONNEL TO BLOCK PUNT:
1. Explosive get off.
2. Speed.
3. Long arms.

ZONE APPROACH TO BLOCKING A PUNT (STRETCHING ZONES)


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#5 = work your way behind Center – get as far upfield as you can & work to your landmark.
#4 = line up outside & jump back inside, OR line up inside and work straight up the field and redirect to your landmark.
#3 = work upfield until Tackle can no longer block you then bend inside to your landmark (run away from slot).
#2 = take a step and try to go 1 step outside where slot can get his hand on you and bend hard to your landmark.