Description

Luke Paschall, Spec Teams Coord, Cincinnati

Full video on Glazier Drive:  Punt Return Schemes & Drill Work

OVERVIEW

This transcript covers a special teams coaching session focused on punt return coverage blocking techniques, specifically teaching players how to dominate opponents at the line of scrimmage during punt plays.

MIRROR DRILL

The foundation of the teaching is the mirror drill, where players work one-on-one with a partner to stay in front of their opponent without jumping them or backing up. The emphasis is on staying in a power position, moving feet properly, and not lunging at the blocker — which allows the punt team to simply run by. The goal is to dominate the first 10 yards within the first two seconds of the play and keep bodies on bodies when the ball is caught.

SLINGSHOT TECHNIQUE

When a player gets caught out of position — particularly when a punt team runs a switch or unexpected release — the slingshot technique allows them to recover. The player clamps the opponent's hip, uses that contact point to swing themselves back into phase, and regains side control. The coach emphasizes this happens frequently in games and is rarely flagged, making it a practical tool for recovery rather than a play-ending mistake.

FILM REVIEW

The coach references game footage from a team that led the country in punt return yards in 2022, using specific plays to highlight correct mirroring, proper slingshot execution, and how dominating at the line of scrimmage directly leads to explosive returns — including several plays that should have resulted in touchdowns.

 

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