CORNELL SPECIAL TEAMS

2012

"DOMINATE YOUR ASSIGNMENT"

KICKOFF RETURN
I.

Return Keys
The primary goal of the Kickoff Return Unit is to secure the
football and gain as much yardage for the offense as possible. We can
achieve dominance and success with this unit through adhering to the
following principles.
A. Superior Effort on every return.
B. Know your assignment, be flexible in execution of your job.
C. Assignment and field savvy. Use pre-snap alignment, body language,
eyes and leverage to deceive and dominate your assignment.
D. Persistence. Touchdowns are created by the tenacity of the guy
furthest from the ball.

II.

Philosophy
The philosophy that our return team will emphasize is to excel in the
following areas.
A. Create Gaps in Coverage
Blockers are to tum and run to achieve proper leverage on
assignment. Create gaps by forcing cover men to 'run the hump'
and to engage on the wrong side of a return.
B.

Disguise Returns
We will to the maximum extent possible make all returns resemble
each other (minimal keys). This will cause the return team to focus
on return man and make them vulnerable to ball leverage deception.

C. Attack Weakness of Coverage

We will attack schematic and personnel weaknesses of our
opponents through the use of "Choice Returns" and various
schemes.

KICKOFF RETURN
III. Kickoff Return Goals
A. DRIVE START AVERAGE OF >32 YARDLINE.

IV. Reminders
A. Expect an onsides/squib kick. Never align in front of kicker, watch
the ball leave the tee before sprinting to leverage point. Watch the
kickers' approach and the ball be kicked.
B. Know the situation
1. How deep is a normal kick for this kicker?
2. What direction is wind blowing (how strong)?
3. What yard line is the ball being kicked from (penalty)?
4. How much time is remaining in half or game?
5. What is the score?
C. Kicks deeper than 5 yards in the endzone should not be returned. Also
if the returners hips/momentum are going towards the endzone,
remain in the endzone. The only exceptions are by game plan (coach's
pre-snap decision) or if an extremely flat kick.
D. Who are their safeties, contain players, head hunters? Are these
consistent?
E. Returners need to always lmow who may be unaccounted for.

F. Any kick return team member may signal for a fair catch.
G. Learn the tendencies (moves, athleticism) of your assignment.
H. Never clip or place your hands outside the breastplate of a defender.
No penalties!!

KICKOFF RETURN

v.

Return Specialist Reminders

A. Execute sound catching and ball handling fundamentals every
time (practice and games). Always run and get to catch point
early. Look ball into hands and immediately tuck it away. In traffic,
bring the ball in close and protect it with both hands.
B. Catch every Kickoff. Never allow ball to hit the ground. Do not run a
dropped ball out of the endzone.
C. Catch every I(ickoff moving forward.
D. Once you bring the ball out of the endzone do not take it back in. If
we would be tackled or down the ball in the endzone it would be a
safety.
E. A ball that bounces off you or one of our players that travels into the
endzone can be downed for a touchback.
F. Study and recognize kicker and formation tells. Watch kicker
approach to be able to anticipate a sky, squib or comer kick. Where
does he hit the ball, what is average distance, hang time and height?
I(now Scouting Report.

G. Field a squib quick as quickly as possible. After you recover ball

(deep return men), run at 75% for a few steps then stay with the return.
H. When running in the open field, attack and make a move off of
defender (i.e. kicker). Do not give defender angle to attack you and
use sideline.
1. I(now wind and weather conditions. Is ball being kicked into wind?

J. Communicate. Talk to each other, dominant returner communicates

"You" / "Me" call.
K. If you are sprinting towards sideline to catch a ball be aware of your
speed and whether it will carry you out of bounds. If this is the case,
do not field it. Allow the ball to travel out of bounds for a or into the
endzone for a touchback.

STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES
David Hanna - Lead Coach, Front Line
David Archer - Front Line (Primary)
Travis Burkett - LE, RE, LFB, RFB
Emani Fenton - LR, RR

CORNELL SPECIAL TEAMS

2012

FORMATIONS

KICKOFF RETURN
BASE FORMATION ALIGNMENTS
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LT

ALIGN WITH HEELS ON THE +48 YARD

LINE, ON THE BOTTOM OF THE #'S.

LG

ALIGN WITH HEELS ON THE +48 YARD

LINE, 2 YARDS OUTSIDE THE HASH.

ALIGN WITH HEELS ON THE +48 YARD

LINE, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD.
SHADE DETERMINED BY KICKER AND
CALL.

RG

ALIGN WITH HEELS ON THE +48 YARD

LINE, 2 YARDS OUTSIDE THE HASH.

RT

ALIGN WITH HEELS ON THE +48 YARD

LINE, ON THE BOTTOM OF THE #'S.

LE

ALIGN WITH HEELS ON THE -35 YARD

LINE, ON THE TOP OF THE #'S.

RE

ALIGN WITH HEELS ON THE -35 YARD

LINE, ON THE TOP OF THE #'S.

LFB

ALIGN WITH HEELS ON THE -25 YARD

LINE, 2 YARDS OUTSIDE THE HASH.

RFB

ALIGN WITH HEELS ON THE -25 YARD

LINE, 2 YARDS OUTSIDE THE HASH.

LR

ALIGN WITH HEELS ON THE -5 YARD LINE,

2 YARDS OUTSIDE THE HASH.

RR

ALIGN WITH HEELS ON THE -5 YARD LINE,

2 YARDS OUTSIDE THE HASH.

KICKOFF RETURN
"Base Formation (Right Return)"
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KICKOFF RETURN
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CORNELL SPECIAL TEAMS

2012

RETURNS

KICKOFF RETURN
OUTSIDE RIGHT
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9/10
MDM

TURN AND RUN DROP TO THE 30 YARD LINE. FLIP

HIPS, BLOCK 9/10 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

LG

TURN AND RUN DROP TO THE 30 YARD LINE. FLIP

HIPS, BLOCK 7 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

TURN AND RUN DROP TO THE 30 YARD LINE. FLIP

HIPS, BLOCK 5 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

RG

DROP TO THE 35 YARD LINE. OVERLAP OUTSIDE 2/3

OF MAN, DBL TEAM BLOCK 3 WITH RT.

RT

SAME SIDE DROP TO THE 35 YARD LINE. DBL TEAM

BLOCK 3 WITH RG.

LE

TEMPO DROP TO HASH ON 25 YARD LINE, KICKOUT

BLOCK 2 (REACH BLOCK IF HOLE COLLAPSED).

RE

SAME SIDE TEMPO DROP TO 25 YARD LINE, SAME

SIDE BLOCK 4 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE AT 30
YARD LINE.

LFB

TEMPO DROP TO 20 YARDLINE. CUT OFF BLOCK 8 AT

30 YARDLINE.

RFB

SAME SIDE TEMPO DROP TO 20 YARD LINE, SAME

SIDE BLOCK 6 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE AT 30
YARDLINE.

RR

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LR

SCORE

DROP TO 7 YARDS IN FRONT OF RET. CHECK

BACKSIDE, ESCORT RETURNER TO DBL TEAM.
BLOCK MDM OR 1.
FIELD THE BALL MOVING FORWARD. RUN
VERTICAL (TO MIDDLE) FOR 10-15 YARDS, ATTACK
DBL TEAM. GET VERTICAL THEN OUTSIDE.

KICKOFF RETURN
"Outside Right"
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KICKOFF RETURN
INSIDE RIGHT

LT

9/10
MDM

TURN AND RUN DROP TO THE 30 YARD LINE. FLIP

HIPS, BLOCK 9/10 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

LG

TURN AND RUN DROP TO THE 30 YARD LINE. FLIP

HIPS, BLOCK 8 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

SAME SIDE DROP TO THE 30 YARD LINE, SAME SIDE

BLOCK 7 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

RG

DROP TO THE 35 YARD LINE. OVERLAP OUTSIDE 2/3

OF MAN, DBL TEAM BLOCK 4 WITH RT.

RT

SAME SIDE DROP TO THE 35 YARD LINE. DBL TEAM

BLOCK 4 WITH RG.

LE

TEMPO DROP TO HASH ON 25 YARD LINE, KICKOUT

BLOCK 3 (REACH BLOCK IF HOLE COLLAPSED).

RE

SAME SIDE TEMPO DROP TO 25 YARD LINE, SAME

SIDE BLOCK 5 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE AT 30
YARD LINE.

LFB

TEMPO DROP TO 20 YARD LINE, KICKOUT BLOCK 2

(REACH BLOCK IF HOLE COLLAPSED).

RFB

SAME SIDE TEMPO DROP TO 20 YARD LINE, SAME

SIDE BLOCK 6 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE AT 30
YARDLINE.

RR

1
MDM

LR

SCORE

DROP TO 7 YARDS IN FRONT OF RET. CHECK

BACKSIDE, ESCORT RETURNER TO DBL TEAM.
BLOCK MDM OR 1.
FIELD THE BALL MOVING FORWARD. RUN
VERTICAL (TO MIDDLE) FOR 10-15 YARDS, ATTACK
DBL TEAM. GET VERTICAL THEN OUTSIDE.

KICKOFF RETURN
"Inside Right"
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KICKOFF RETURN
OUTSIDE LEFT

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SAME SIDE DROP TO THE 35 YARD LINE. DBL TEAM

BLOCK 3 WITH LG.

LG

DROP TO THE 35 YARD LINE. OVERLAP OUTSIDE 2/3

OF MAN, DBL TEAM BLOCK 3 WITH LT.

TURN AND RUN DROP TO THE 30 YARD LINE. FLIP

HIPS, BLOCK 5 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

RG

TURN AND RUN DROP TO THE 30 YARD LINE. FLIP

HIPS, BLOCK 7 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

RT

9/10
MDM

TURN AND RUN DROP TO THE 30 YARD LINE. FLIP

HIPS, BLOCK 9/10 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

LE

SAME SIDE TEMPO DROP TO 25 YARD LINE, SAME

SIDE BLOCK 4 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE AT 30
YARD LINE.

RE

TEMPO DROP TO HASH ON 25 YARD LINE, KICKOUT

BLOCK 2 (REACH BLOCK IF HOLE COLLAPSED).

SAME SIDE TEMPO DROP TO 20 YARD LINE, SAME

SIDE BLOCK 6 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE AT 30
YARDLINE.

RFB

TEMPO DROP TO 20 YARDLINE. CUT OFF BLOCK 8

AT 30 YARDLINE.

RR

1
MDM

LFB

LR

SCORE

DROP TO 7 YARDS IN FRONT OF RET. CHECK

BACKSIDE, ESCORT RETURNER TO DBL TEAM.
BLOCK MDM OR 1.
FIELD THE BALL MOVING FORWARD. RUN
VERTICAL (TO MIDDLE) FOR 10-15 YARDS, ATTACK
DBL TEAM. GET VERTICAL THEN OUTSIDE.

KICKOFF RETURN
"Outside Left"

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KICKOFF RETURN
INSIDE LEFT
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LT

SAME SIDE DROP TO THE 35 YARD LINE. DBL TEAM

BLOCK 4 WITH LG.

LG

DROP TO THE ,35 YARD LINE. OVERLAP OUTSIDE 2/3

OF MAN, DBL TEAM BLOCK 4 WITH LT.

SAME SIDE DROP TO THE 30 YARD LINE, SAME

SIDE BLOCK 7 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

RG

TURN AND RUN DROP TO THE 30 YARD LINE. FLIP

HIPS, BLOCK 8 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

RT

9/10
MDM

TURN AND RUN DROP TO THE 30 YARD LINE. FLIP

HIPS, BLOCK 9/10 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

LE

SAME SIDE TEMPO DROP TO 25 YARD LINE, SAME

SIDE BLOCK 5 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE AT 30
YARD LINE.

RE

TEMPO DROP TO HASH ON 25 YARD LINE, KICKOUT

BLOCK 3 (REACH BLOCK IF HOLE COLLAPSED).

SAME SIDE TEMPO DROP TO 20 YARD LINE, SAME

SIDE BLOCK 6 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE AT 30
YARDLINE.

RFB

TEMPO DROP TO 20 YARD LINE, KICKOUT BLOCK 2

(REACH BLOCK IF HOLE COLLAPSED).

LR

1
MDM

LFB

RR

SCORE

DROP TO 7 YARDS IN FRONT OF RET. CHECK

BACKSIDE, ESCORT RETURNER TO DBL TEAM.
BLOCK MDM OR 1.
FIELD THE BALL MOVING FORWARD. RUN
VERTICAL (TO MIDDLE) FOR 10-15 YARDS, ATTACK
DBL TEAM. GET VERTICAL THEN OUTSIDE.

KICKOFF RETURN
"Inside Left"

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KICKOFF RETURN
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LT

TURN AND RUN DROP TO THE 30 YARD LINE. FLIP

HIPS, BLOCK 3 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

LG

TURN AND RUN DROP TO THE 30 YARD LINE. FLIP

HIPS, BLOCK 4 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

SAME SIDE DROP TO THE 35 YARD LINE, SAME SIDE

BLOCK 7 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

RG

TURN AND RUN DROP TO THE 30 YARD LINE. FLIP

HIPS, BLOCK 8 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

RT

9/10
MDM

TURN AND RUN DROP TO THE 30 YARD LINE. FLIP

HIPS, BLOCK 9/1 0 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

LE

TEMPO DROP TO HASH ON 25 YARD LINE, DBL

TEAM BLOCK 6 WITH LFB AT 30 YARD LINE.

RE

TEMPO DROP TO HASH ON 30 YARD LINE, BLOCK 5

AT 35 YARD LINE.

LFB

TEMPO DROP TO HASH ON 25 YARD LINE, DBL

TEAM BLOCK 6 WITH LE AT 30 YARD LINE.

RFB

TEMPO DROP TO 20 YARD LINE, KICKOUT BLOCK 2.

RR

MDM

LR

SCORE

DROP TO 7 YARDS IN FRONT OF RETURNER,

ESCORT RETURNER TO DBL TEAM. BLOCK MDM.
FIELD THE BALL MOVING FORWARD. RUN
VERTICAL (TO MIDDLE) FOR 10-15 YARDS, ATTACK
DBL TEAM. GET VERTICAL.

KICKOFF RETURN
"Middle LT"
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KICKOFF RETURN
MIDDLERT
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LT

TURN AND RUN DROP TO THE 30 YARD LINE. FLIP

HIPS, BLOCK 3 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

LG

TURN AND RUN DROP TO THE 30 YARD LINE. FLIP

HIPS, BLOCK 4 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

SAME SIDE DROP TO THE 35 YARD LINE, SAME SIDE

BLOCK 7 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

RG

TURN AND RUN DROP TO THE 30 YARD LINE. FLIP

HIPS, BLOCK 8 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

RT

9/10
MDM

TURN AND RUN DROP TO THE 30 YARD LINE. FLIP

HIPS, BLOCK 9/10 WITH INSIDE OUT LEVERAGE.

LE

TEMPO DROP TO HASH ON 25 YARD LINE, DBL

TEAM BLOCK 6 WITH LFB AT 30 YARD LINE.

RE

TEMPO DROP TO HASH ON 30 YARD LINE, BLOCK 5

AT 35 YARD LINE.

LFB

TEMPO DROP TO HASH ON 25 YARD LINE, DBL

TEAM BLOCK 6 WITH LE AT 30 YARD LINE.

RFB

TEMPO DROP TO 20 YARD LINE, KICKOUT BLOCK 2.

RR

MDM

LR

SCORE

DROP TO 7 YARDS IN FRONT OF RETURNER,

ESCORT RETURNER TO DBL TEAM. BLOCK MDM.
FIELD THE BALL MOVING FORWARD. RUN
VERTICAL (TO MIDDLE) FOR 10-15 YARDS, ATTACK
DBL TEAM. GET VERTICAL.

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KICKOFF RETURN
"Middle RT"

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