1/2 BLOCK—1/2 WALL RETURN

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS' PUNT BLOCK

It is certainly an honor to share some ideas regarding our Punt Block team. When we
arrived at Southern Illinois University four years ago we felt that being aggressive on
special teams served two main purposes: 1) in our early days at SIU we had to generate
plays in the kicking game in order to be competitive, and 2) this style of play served as a
blueprint of how we wanted our team to play. Our head coach, Jerry Kill, pushed us to
coach aggressively in every phase of the kicking game. What we do is in no way unique
to college football. But with the importance our coaching staff places on this phase of the
game, and the commitment and effort of our players, we have achieved a high level of
production.

Over the past four years our Punt Block team has been responsible for 18 blocks, 5
touchdowns, and set up our offense at our opponent’s 20 yard line or closer an additional
7 times. In all, 49 times in the last four seasons our offense has started a drive in our
opponent’s territory. Our players have bought into our schemes, but more importantly,
the fundamental techniques associated with them. As a coaching staff we have tried to
form an identity for this unit. No coach or player in our program ever says Punt Return, it
is always “Punt Block.” Our practice time allotted to the Punt Block team shows to our
players just how important we feel this phase is.

Punt Block Practice Breakdown:

Sunday: Punt Block Drill - 5 minutes
Tuesday: 1/2 Line Punt Block - 3-1/2 min.
Full Team Punt Block - 3-1/2 min.
Thursday: Punt Block Drill - 5 minutes
Full Team Punt Block - 5 minutes
Friday: Walk Thru

Our base schemes in our Punt Block package have been a half-block/wall return. We call
these Leopard (block left/return right - Diagrams 1 and 2) and Rhino (block right/return
left - Diagrams 3 and 4). These schemes have been responsible for 7 of our 18 blocks,
and numerous big returns. We utilize these calls with multiple fronts, which increases the
looks we give to our opponent while keeping our learning minimal for our players.

Diagram 1. Even Leopard

Diagram 2. Load Left Leopard
Diagram 3. Even Rhino
Diagram 4. Load Right Rhino

Leopard Assignments:
1, 10 - Hold up on Gunners
2 - D-Gap rush (vertical and bend) through block spot - peel to wall
3 - C-Gap rush (vertical and bend) through block spot - peel to wall
4 - B-Gap rush (aiming point inside eye of tackle) through block spot - peel to wall
5 - A-Gap - rush through block spot -
peel to wall
6 - Middle protect checking FB to blockside wing - make sure ball is kicked and drop to
protect returner
7 - Pin Hold-up on guard
8 - Pin Hold-up on tackle
9 - Controlled Pin Hold-up on Wing
The assignments are reversed when executing a Rhino call:
1, 10 - Hold up Gunners
2 - Controlled Pin Hold-up on Wing
3 - Pin Hold-up on tackle
4 - Pin Hold-up on guard
5 - Middle protect checking FB to blockside wing - make sure ball is kicked and drop
to protect returner
6 - A-Gap rush through block spot - peel to wall
7 - B-Gap rush (aiming point inside eye of tackle) through block spot - peel to wall
8 - C-gap rush (vertical and bend) through block spot - peel to wall
9 - D-Gap rush (vertical and bend) through block spot - peel to wall

Wall Teaching

Although a wall nearly always looks better on paper than it does on the field, we feel
there are many variables that go into setting a good wall that need to be coached. First of
all, we do not know who will set the wall (by being the first one to it). This can vary
based on who is blocked when, and who gets tangled up on their rush paths. We tell the
first man to the wall to gain early width. If the ball is in the middle of the field, our initial
aiming point is to get to the top of the numbers at about 10 yards downfield and then
continue to carry the wall to the returner trying to get a point 5 yards from the returner.
We use the same initial aiming point when bringing a wall from the hash mark to the
boundary. If we are taking a wall from the hash to the field we are aiming to get about 3
yards outside the hash at 10 yards downfield. (See Diagrams 5, 6, and 7)

Diagram 6.
Diagram 5.

Diagram 7.
Diagram 8.

We try to take the wall to the returner – working to get within 5 yards of the return. We
aim to keep 5 yards of spacing between each man in the wall. The returner can help set
up the wall, if he has the room, by taking his first couple of steps vertical upfield, and
then bending outside to the wall. This sell by the returner can help make the coverage
converge, thus setting them up to be walled in. (See Diagram 8)

The job of each man in the wall is to “get the returner to you.” We teach blocking into
their downfield gap. Once they identify a man in their downfield gap, we are teaching
them to be aggressive and go get that man. This has led to some big returns, and big hits,
which fuels our players’ enthusiasm for being on this team. (See Diagram 9)
Our half block/wall return schemes are a
very important piece of our overall Punt
Block package, which also includes 6, 7 or
8 man blocks, and middle hold-up returns.
Having the ability to generate pressure out
of many different fronts, and still have a
potentially dangerous return concept, is the Diagram 9. 5,4,3,2-Must get the Returner
basis of this package. to you--Do not block back upfield until
Returner has passed you.
In closing, recognition should be given to 3 outstanding coaches who I work with in this
phase of the game: Tom Matukewicz, Travis Stepps, and Brian Anderson.