I am very excited to represent Middle

Diagram 1

Punt
Tennessee, our Head Coach Andy
McCollum, the “Pride Team” staff, and all of

P ro te c ti on
our players on the Pride Team in present-
ing you our contribution to the 2003 AFCA
Summer Manual.

and C o ve r ag e Our punt team, which we call the Pride

Team, is made up of the best players on our

wit h M u lt i pl e
football team. Our punter was ranked 17th in
the country with a 42.6 yard avg. and No. 1 in
the Sun Belt. We will work this unit everyday 2. Each blocker’s zone is structured to

Formations at practice. They will be called upon to per-

form at the most crucial times of the game.
enable them to block the rushers with
inside/out leverage to increase the rusher’s
These players will take pride on wanting distance to the block point and maintain the
to be a part of this unit. If you are on this integrity of the kicking pocket (Diagram 2).
unit, then you know you are one of the best
players and most reliable players on the
Diagram 2
team. On every punting situation, we will
have a fake that we can run. If we don’t like
what we see, then we will call off the fake
and punt the ball.

Philosophy
There is no other play in the game of
football that accounts for field position like
the punting game does. It requires disci- 3. In using a zone concept, it is impera-
pline, courage and speed to make the dif- tive that the blockers maintain their con-
ference a “Winning Edge.” stant split relationship to each other. In
The importance of the punt team cannot order to avoid a loss in constant split rela-
be minimized. Like other plays in the kick- tionship, it is very important for the blockers
ing game, field position is involved. If our to set off the line of scrimmage fast on a
opponents are backed up because of great vertical line (set) instead of a diagonal line
execution, we have greatly minimized their (Diagram 3).
chances of scoring. Diagram 3
Execution of the punt team is vital to our
success. We have the ability to have a variety
of fakes and unusual alignments on every
punt to catch our opponents off guard. If we
are successful in the execution of this
weapon our opponents will be worrying about
stopping us rather than setting up a return.

Goals
1. No Blocked Kicks!
2. Average 39 yards net punting (not
including sky punt).
3. Hold all punt returns under a five yard
average.
Theory of Our Protection
1. Our protection is based on a zone
concept of blocking as a starting point and
maintaining a solid pocket. Each player has
a specific area that each is responsible for
blocking. As a unit we will work to protect
the block point.
Example: Right guard’s zone is from
inside leg of right guard to inside leg of right
tackle (Diagram 1).
4. Stay square. Keep your shoulders
parallel to the line of scrimmage. Do not get
turned. Let the blockers come to you. This
insures protection.
5. Pushing off the line of scrimmage with
your inside foot, jab tough, with your inside
hand, any man, as he comes to you. Do not
step to him. Let him come to you. Shuffle
your feet (inside-outside-inside), keep your
knees bent and head up. As you engage
him, keep your hands inside his armpits,
and as he comes to you, short punch him
out from the cup. You reach a point where
you feel pressure and must “take a stand.”
Keep your shoulders square as much as
possible.
 Stance & Alignment We will identify the front from left to the Diagram 9: Muddle
Stance right (just as we read a book).
Center: Get in a good square stance to 3. Third call will repeat the color.
execute the perfect snap and vertical set 4. Fourth call will repeat the front.
(45 degrees). 5. Fifth call will be “set.” The Center will
Guards, Tackles, Wings: Two-point work in a non-rhythmic count to snap the
stance with feet shoulder width apart. Bend ball.
knees with a flat back. Rest hands slightly on Coaching Point: If the clock is down to
thighs. Inside foot should be up, outside foot five seconds or lower “set-set” will be called
back with a toe to instep stagger. Weight on to alert center to snap the ball now.
balls of feet; push off with inside foot. F. If we are in muddle and the personal Diagram 10: Muddle Over
Personal Protector: Two-point square protector calls us back to a normal align-
stance, bent, weight on balls of feet. ment, then it is a color call which is an auto-
Sprinters: Two-point stance with inside matic Color 44 blocking scheme. The line
foot. Stagger outside foot for a good take-off. must get set for at least a count. There will
Alignment be no set call. Snapper must give the line
Center: Over the ball with a good snap- time to get set for at least a count.
ping position. Get your feet set.
Guards: Take a six-inch split from the Formations
foot of the center. Align the toe of your Diagram 5: Tight
inside foot on the heel of the center. You Diagram 11: Raider Stack
are responsible for setting the alignment.
Coaching Point: Your helmet must break
the plane of the center’s belt.
Tackles: Take a one foot split from the
guards. Align your inside foot on the inside
foot of the guards.
Wings: Take a one-foot split from the
tackle one yard back. Do not shorten the
corner on the vertical set. Diagram 6: Spread
Personal Protector: Align directly Diagram 12: Raider Stack Over
behind guard (right guard for right footed
punter left guard for left footed punter) with
heels five yards from the ball. Never back
up! Step up to give punter the pocket. Block
inside rusher down the middle. Check all
splits and adjust them accordingly.
Diagram 4

Diagram 7: Over Right

Diagram 13: Tiger

Cadence
The searchlight will handle all communi- Diagram 8: Over Left Diagram 14: Cat
cation on the field. All calls will be commu-
nicated from the sideline in signals and
relayed to the Pride unit. The cadence will
identify the front and direction the long
snapper will work in the protection scheme.
1. First call will be color to inform, Pride
of our scheme.
2. Second call will be a two-digit number
to identify the front (box area) alignment.
 Muddle Huddle
Get ready on the sideline on third down
alert. This is a great alignment for a pressure
rush team. We will go out and get aligned in
our spread punt formation, except the wings
and lineman will go to the top of the numbers
to our sideline and get huddled up in a mud-
dle alignment. If they don’t adjust to our for-
mation then we will have fakes to take
advantage of their missed alignment. If they
adjust correctly to the formation then the per-
sonal protector will call the group over and
we will be in a regular punt call.
In this formation, we can be in an over
look and then punt the ball or shift the line
back and motion the sprinter across the for-
mation. If the personnel protector shifts you
over, the wings must stay on the line for pro-
tection. If we send the sprinter in motion, it
will be with a RAC or LAC call. This tells the
sprinter on the inside to go across the for-
mation to the other side. The personnel pro-
tector will make his regular protection calls.
Front Identification
The front will be identified from a two-
digit call. The first represent the number of
potential rushers coming from the left A gap
outward, and the second digit will represent
the number of potential rushers coming
from the right A gap outward.
Possible Protection Calls
1. 44
2. 55
3. 35
4. 53
5. 26
6. 62
7. 33
Diagram 15: 44
Diagram 16: 55
Protection vs. Stacks
Diagram 17: 35
Any player in the box is a possible rusher.
You must vertical set and protect your area.
Do not block and allow stack to run past you.
1. Allow stack to divide and block who
shows.
2. Never chase. Let defenders come to
you.
3. Be ready to handle down man first.
4. Be alert for push to allow stacked
Diagram 18: 53 man to run through.
Diagram 23: The Box
Diagram 19: 26
Stress Call
1. Man in Zone: Two-man threat inside.
Coaching Point: Keep inside split by
losing ground vertically. Give help inside
with inside hard blow delivery.
2. Two-Man Threat in Zone
Coaching Point: Use both rushers by
losing ground vertically off the line. Do not
allow rusher to hold or cut you from losing
Diagram 20: 62 enough ground to block the outside rusher.
3. Alert each other when you are
stressed by calling “stress.” This should
Alert each other where the help is needed.
Punt Coverage
Punt coverage is an area of strict disci-
pline yet flexible adjustment. Each player
has an assigned responsibility that can be
altered according to where the ball is punt-
Diagram 21: 33 ed or the type of return being used.
Our philosophy is to first run through
your landmark and then converge on the
ball. Do not overrun the ballcarrier — be
gang tacklers — second and third tackles
going for ball.
Coverage: We will force the returners
with our sprinters; contain the returner with
tackles and cover the area in between with
our center, personal protector, guards and
Diagram 22 wings.
Coverage Principles
1. Protect the punter first, then cover!
2. Squeeze, gather, and breakdown.
Our coverage squeezes on the return man.
Leverage and contain principles are main-
tained. As we approach, we must come
under control by gathering and breaking
down. Use a focal point of five yards in front of Diagram 25 Down the Ball
the returner as the area to be ready to tackle. When any Blue Raider downs the ball,
3. Know where we are kicking the ball we will pick the football up and hand it to
from (hash/middle). the official. This is law.
4. Find the ball in the air on +45 punts.
Otherwise focus on the returner. He will Pride Team Game Checklist
take you to the ball. A. Spread Punt
5. Be alert of a bad punt. Immediately 1. Spread Punt
locate and front the ball. Avoid letting it hit a. Six Man
you. b. Eight Man
6. Feel hold-up as soon as possible. c. Nine Man
Fight through hold-up to release. 2. Three for Three Protection
7. Do not follow teammate downfield. a. Burst
Adjust and fill another lane. Stay five yards b. Twist
apart from teammate. Right Guard: Middle of field. c. Hold up
8. Keep leverage on the returner. Keep Right Wing: One yard inside right hash. 3. Coverages
the returner inside and in front of you (Not Right Tackle: In between hash and top a. Spread
even with returner). of numbers. b. Pooch Punt
9. First coverage man downfield should Personal Protector/Center: Right and c. Switch Calls
make returner stutter (breakdown position) left hand of returner. B. Tight Punt
to let other cover people coverage on Right Sprinter/Left Sprinter: V of neck 1. Protection
returner. If returner stumbles or muffs the of returner. 2. Coverage
ball, make a decision to take him out or C. Fake Punt
recover the ball. Right Coverage 1. Run
10. If returner signals for fair catch (nor- Diagram 26 2. Pass
mal field position) first man down must D. Special Situations — Team
gather and except a fumble. 1. Out of End Zone
11. Punter gives direction of the ball 2. Out of Bounds
(right, left, middle). 3. Taking a Safety
4. Downing the ball inside the 10
Middle Coverage 5. Coverage against Fair Catch
Diagram 24 6. Delayed Snap
E. Special Situations — Punter
1. Out of Bounds
2. Pooch Punt
3. With Wind
4. Into Wind
5. Bad Snaps- High, Low, Wide
Right Guard: In between top of num- 6. Wet Ball
bers and hash. 7. Taking a Safety
Right Wing: Top of numbers. 8. Following a Safety
Right Tackle: In between bottom of F. Special situations — Snapper
numbers and sideline. 1. Wet ball
Left Guard: Middle of field. 2. Changing snap rhythm terminology
Left Wing: One yard inside right hash. 3. Silver
Center/Punter: Left and right hand of Left Tackle: In between hash and top of G. Changing Formations
returner. the numbers. 1. Regular
Guards: One yard inside hash. Personal Protector/Center: Right and 2. Spread
Wings: In between hash and top of the left hand of returner. 3. Over
numbers. Right Sprinter/Left Sprinter: V of neck 4. Man in Motion
Tackles: Top of the numbers. of returner. 5. Muddle Left/Right
Sprinters: V of the neck of the returner. 6. Stack/Over
Take It Communication 7. Cat
Left Coverage Whenever the tackle gets double-teamed 8. Tiger
Left Guard: In between the top of the for a wall return and he cannot get off of the
numbers and hash. double team block for a release, then a “Take Pride Team Terminology
Left Wing: Top of numbers. it, take it” call must be made. Whenever the Pride: MTSU Punt Team.
Left Tackle: In between bottom of num- wings hears the “take it” call he now becomes Zone: Designated blocking area. (I.e.
bers and sideline. the contain from his coverage lane. your inside leg to the inside leg of the per-
son beside you or from your nose to the quarterback and normal offense on third E. Two Man
person’s nose beside you.) down. The pooch punt is designed to be F. Inside Twist
Pocket: Formed by shuffling vertical kicked to the left side of the field. G. Outside Twist
and maintaining inside out leverage. Take It: Call made by the left tackle or 3. Two lines on left; two lines on right.
Leverage: Refers to keeping the return- right tackle when he is double-teamed for a A. Cover down to the hoop (25 yards).
er inside of you on the punt return. wall return. This call tells the wing that he B. Breakdown, pad level.
Jab: Punch tough with your inside hand, now becomes contain on the punt return. C. Start cover in middle then goes to
outside hand, inside hand. Down the Ball: MTSU player must pick right hoop or left.
Shuffle: Refers to your foot action. up the ball and hand the ball to the official. D. Start man in hoop. Cover and
Shuffle vertical with your inside foot, out- This is law. breakdown. On whistle, runner try to split
side foot, inside foot. Slow Safety: Call used when we are you or get outside of you.
Spread Pooch: This is when we take backed up inside the minus five yard-line 4. Coverage Lanes
our wings and move them out. If no one and are approaching the end of the game.
Diagram 28
adjusts with them then the personal protec- The punter catches the snap and runs to
tor calls them back in. the near corner of the end zone until he
Creeper: This is when the corner on feels pressure. He then steps out of the
one of the spread guys is coming in to back of the end zone for an intentional
block the punt. The gunner and personal safety. The line lines up in a tight punt and
protector are alert of his threat. tackles their man.
Middle of the Field: We consider this Fast Safety: Call used telling the center
when the tackle is inside of the hash. to snap the ball over the Punters head for
Right or Left: We consider this when an intentional safety. Also used when we
the tackle is on or outside the hash. are punting from inside our minus five-yard
Two Digit Numbers: Refers to the line.
alignment of the punt block team. Will be Rac: Right wing motion across formation.
called from left to right, just like reading a Lac: Left wing motion across formation.
book. (i.e. 44, 35 and 53.) Muddle Huddle: Unusual alignment
Diagram 29
Spread Punt: Normal MTSU Pride placing six of the 11 players on one side of
Team. the field. Used to combat aggressive punt
Tight Punt: Punt alignment used when rush teams.
we are backed up inside our own four-yard Force: A player forces the kick returner
line. The left sprinter and right sprinter will to change directions or lose yardage.
move to a one-foot split, aligning outside of Timing: Refers to the execution time of
the wings and run through no. 2. Keep the punt. Sufficient timing should be
inside foot in. Everyone else six inch split. between 1.8 and 2.0 seconds.
Take two steps and stop.
Over Right: Punt alignment in which the Pride Team Coaching Responsibilities
right sprinter and left sprinter are aligned Diagram 27
on the right side of the field. The left sprint- A. Right Punt
er aligns inside of the right sprinter on the B. Middle Punt
line of scrimmage. C. Left Punt
Over Left: Punt alignment in which the 5. Pooch Punt
right sprinter and left sprinter are aligned 6. Get Off Block Drill
on the left side of the field. The right sprint- A. Swipe and Punch
er aligns inside of the left sprinter on the B. Chop and Flip
line of scrimmage. 7. Fast Safety
Box: Area that extends six yards vertical 8. Slow Safety (tackle your man).
from the line of scrimmage and three yards 9. Change Up Snap Rhythm
outside each wing. 10. Formations and Fakes
Stress: Refers to a call made anytime A. Muddle
you have two rushers outside of you in the B. Raider Stack
A, B or C gap. C. Raider Stack Over
Pooch: Punt designed to be downed Pride Team Drills D. Raider Stack Rain
inside our opponent’s 10-yard line. 1. Stance and Punch E. Raider Stack Reno
Rover: Refers to a pooch punt with the 2. Half Line Work F. Lightning Left
quarterback and normal offense on third A. Four Man G. Lightning Right
down. The pooch punt is designed to be B. Five Man H. Lightning Gold
kicked to the right side of the field. C. Three Man I. Tiger Bait
Lab: Refers to a pooch punt with the D. Six Man J. Cat