Successful Special Teams

1. Successful Special Teams Mike Bellotti

2. TEAM PLEDGE WIN THE DAY We promise to: . . . play with extreme courage, confidence and conviction while taking responsibility for our actions and inactions . . . on and off the field. . . . play with great intensity, give everything we have, finish every play and every game with no fear, no excuses and no regrets. . . . accept and support coaches, staff and team-mates and treat them like family. . . . always push our teammates and ourselves to be the best in athletics, in academics and in life, providing positive role models for our university and our community. . . . respect men and women of all races, creeds and colors, and to be honest with ourselves and others. . . . earn the trust and respect of our teammates and coaches while enjoying ourselves, being positive and making football fun for everyone.

3. PUNT PROTECTION GOALS • HAVE NO BLOCKED PUNTS • NET PUNT = 37 YARDS • PUNTER AVERAGE – 42+ YARDS • LESS THAN 6 YARDS PER RETURN • PLAY PENALTY FREE • AVERAGE HANG TIME = 4.5+ • CREATE A TURNOVER • NO ASSIGNMENT ERRORS

4. KICK OFF GOALS Be the fastest, meanest kickoff team in the world having the most fun! • HANG TIME OF 4.0 • BALL KICKED OUTSIDE OF THE HASH • NO ASSIGNMENT ERRORS • CAUSE A TURNOVER • LESS THAN 18 YARDS A RETURN • PLAY PENALTY FREE • DRIVE START INSIDE 23 YARDS LINE

5. KICK OFF RETURN GOALS • AVERAGE 25 YARDS PER RETURN •  NO TURNOVERS •  PLAY PENALTY FREE •  START DRIVE ON OR BEYOND THE 30 YARD LINE •  SCORE OR SET UP A SCORE  • NO ASSIGNMENT ERRORS

6. PAT AND FIELD GOAL GOALS 1.  NO BLOCKED KICKS 2.  MAKE 100% OF PAT’S 3.  MAKE 100% OF FIELD GOALS UNDER 42 YARDS 4.  MAKE 67% OF FIELD GOALS OVER 42 YARDS 5.  PLAY PENALTY FREE 6.  NO ASSIGNMENT ERRORS

7. PUNT RETURN AND BLOCK GOALS 1.  PLAY PENALTY FREE 2.  100% POSSESSION 3.  BLOCK A PUNT 4.  AVERAGE 10 YARDS PER RETURN 5.  ALLOW NO FAKES 6.  SCORE OR SET UP A SCORE 7.  NO ASSIGNMENT ERRORS

8. Successful Special Teams A special teams play could be the difference between winning a championship or finishing in the middle of the pack.

9. We can’t talk scheme with players until we establish the importance of special teams to winning.

10. I. Emphasis Placed on Special Teams • Commitment level • Emotional level • Sense of urgency

11. A. Coaching Staff • Passion • Sense of Urgency • Attention to Detail

12. B. Head Coaches • Attitude and Presence • Walk the Walk • Commitment to Special Teams • Communicate to Players

13. B. Head Coaches • Build their Confidence • Make Special Teams something to be proud of • . . . and something they WANT to be a part of

14. II. Teaching Progression • Practices Intensity and sense of urgency

15. II. Teaching Progression B. Meetings Fundamentals and Concepts, not scheme Visual examples – practice drills game examples

16. III. Practice • All coaches are involved KICK OFF RETURN PRESSBOXSIDELINE Off GA - T - G - Opposite our bench Strength Coach - Returners Def Coor - Opponent Scheme: 1, 2, 3 Opp our bench Head Coach - Point of Attack Def GA - Opponent Scheme: 1, 2, 3 Bench side RB Coach - End - Upback: Bench Side Off Coor - Opponent Scheme: (Cutback/Safety) WR Coach- Center Intern - Opponent Scheme: Kick side scheme LB Coach - T.G: Bench side Intern - Opponent Scheme: 4, 5 Bench Side Secondary -Opptt scheme: Bench side – 5 Intern - Opponent Scheme: 4, 5 Opp our bench Intern - End-Upback: Opp our bench

17. III. Practice B. Pre-practice walk-thru: concepts C. Small group or individual work D. Tackling drills

18. III. Practice E. Half-line F. Full group G. Conditioning

19. III. Practice H. Determine the amount of time per day and per week that you are going to devote to a specific special team 1. Practice reps and organization: a. Punt Return: 50% Wall Return 25% Blocks 25% Defense

20. IN-SEASON SPECIAL TEAMSPractice and Meeting Schedule Sunday: Off Monday: Grass Shells Meeting (40): Show players video from the previous game Kickoff-10 minutes Safe Punt Return-5 minutes Punt Return Block- 5 minutes (Note: the above 10 minutes can/will also be used for fundamental work with any/all Special Teams) Tues: Grass Pads Meeting (20): KOR Kickoff Return – 10 minutes Punt – 10 minutes Conditioning- 5 Minutes Wed: Stadium Pads/Shells Meeting (20): Punt (practice film from Tuesday) Punt Return/ PAT/FG – 10 minutes Punt – 10 minutes Conditioning – 5 Minutes

21. IN-SEASON SPECIAL TEAMSPractice and Meeting Schedule Thurs: Grass/Mo/Aut Shells Meeting (25): Punt return (game plan) Kickoff (game plan) Kickoff Return: 10 minutes Punt Return: 7 1/2 minutes Kickoff: 7 1/2 minutes Friday: Stadium Helmets Meeting (30)- opponents cut-ups plus practice film 30 play Mock game situation script- Walk thru Hands Team Missile Kickoff PAT/FG Block Saturday: Captains Total Time Allocated: Punt: 20 minutes of practice; 20 minute meeting Punt Return: 20 minutes of practice; 12 1/2 min. meeting Punt Block: 5 minutes of practice Safe PR : 5 minutes of practice Kickoff: 17 1/2 minutes of practice; 12 1/2 min. meeting Kickoff Return: 20 minutes of practice; 20 minute meeting PAT/FG & Block: 5 minute practice

22. IV. How Special Teams Impacts the Outcome of a Game • Explosive plays • The importance of field position • What is field position? • Down punt inside 10 yard line • Return KOR at end of game • In 2007, UO returned 51% of KOR past 30 YL

23. V. Players A. Who plays on special teams? B. Motivation 1. Player ownership 2. Pride and competition C. Depth Chart

24. Punt Return Depth Chart - 2008 LCL1L3 L2L4 Player 1 Player 1 Player 1 Player 1 Player 1 Player 2Player 2Player 2 Player 2 Player 2 RCR4R3R2j Player 1 Player 1 Player 1 Player 1 Player 1 RETURNERSPlayer 2 Player 2Player 2 Player 2 Player 2 Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5

25. Successful Special Teams Put the right players in the best positions possible to have success.

26. Successful Special Teams Mike Bellotti