1. KICK OFF COVERAGE FRED GUIDICI 650-670-0777 fredguidici64@yahoo.com “WELCOME TO THE BLACK ZONE!”

2. KICK OFF COVERAGE IS A STATEMENT PLAY STARTS GAME – DID WE COME TO PLAY? STARTS 2 ND HALF – DID WE COME TO WIN? FOLLOWING OUR SCORE – CAN WE TURN GOOD INTO BETTER?

3. EXPECTATIONS 2 STOPS IN THE BLACK ZONE (PER GAME) 17 YARDS AVERAGE LIMIT PER RETURN LIMIT TO 25 YARD LINE AVERAGE START 100% ON-SIDE KICK RECOVERY FORCE TURNOVERS SCORE 1 TOUCHDOWN NO PENALTIES!!!!

6. KICK OFF – MECHANICS STANCE 1.ALL FACE THE KICKER. 2.ASUME A FUNDAMENTAL FOOTBALL POSITION WHICH WILL ENABLE YOU TO GET OFF QUICKLY. START 1.THE REFEREE WILL SIGNAL THE BALL READY FOR PLAY 2.THE KICKER WILL RAISE HIS HAND AND CHECK BOTH SIDES TO SEE THAT WE ARE READY. 3.HE WILL LOWER HIS HAND TO SIGNAL COVERAGE TEAM TO START OF HIS APPROACH. FROM THIS POINT ON, WE MUST TIME OUR APPROACH SO THAT WE ARE AT ALMOST FULL STRIDE AT THE TIME OF THE KICK – ONE STEP BEHIND THE KICKER RUNNING FULL SPEED. 4.STAY ONSIDES! 5.WAIT UNTIL THE KICKER STARTS. SEE HIM AS HE STARTS YOU USE A CROSSOVER STEP, ROLL INTO YOUR SPEED. YOUR APPROACH IS THE SAME AS THE KICKERS (7/8th SPEED) – TRAIL HIM BY A YARD. TIME IT UP. AS HE HITS THE BALL: FULL SPEED, (NOSE TO GROUND AND EYES UP). 6.WE DO NOT WANT VERTICAL SEAMS OR LATERAL SEAMS. 7.THE WHOLE UNIT SHOULD HIT THE LINE TOGETHER.

7. KICK OFF COVERAGE COMPONENTS A.KICKOFF COVERAGE IS BROKEN DOWN INTO 6 DIFFERENT PARTS: HITMEN (5’s) GUNNERS (4’s) KNIFERS (3’s) CONTAINERS (2’s) FOLDERS (1’s) KICKER (SAFETY) B. BASIC SKILLS OF EACH: 1.GET OFF 2.SPRINT AND BALL ADJUSTMENT 3.BEATING THE FRONT LINE BLOCKER 4.BEATING THE BACK LINE BLOCKER 5.CLOSING TO THE BALL (MAKING THE TACKLE OR REDIRECTING THE RETURNER) 1. GET OFF THIS MUST BE TIMED WITH THE APPROACH OF THE KICKER. IT INCLUDES; STANCE, ALIGNMENT, PROPER VISION OF THE BALL AND IMMEDIATE ACCELERATION TO MAXIMUM SPEED. STANCE AND ALIGNMENT – IT IS ALL BASED ON PROPER SPACING AND SEEING THE KICKER. MAKE SURE IN YOUR 2 POINT STANCE YOU HAVE WEIGHT UP ON BALLS OF FEET. AS KICKER PASSES YOU – BEGIN TAKEOFF. CROSSOVER STEP AND TIME UP WITH THE KICKER. TIMING IS KEY. PROPER VISION – NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THE KICKER. POOR VISION AND TIMING WILL RESULT IN AN OFFSIDES PENALTY. LET THE KICKER PASS YOU BEFORE YOU TAKE OFF.

8. ACCELERATION – THIS IS AS YOU CROSS THE KICKING LINE (30 YARD LINE) GET ON THE MAN BLOCKING YOU FAST! ACCELERATE TO YOUR MAXIMUM SPEED. GET PAST THE BLOCKER BEFORE HE SETS UP. “BEAT THE BLOCKING PATTERN DOWN THE FIELD” KEEP YOUR EYES DOWNFIELD. MAXIMUM “BURST” WILL ALLOW YOU TO COVER THE NEXT 40 YARDS IN THE SHORTEST TIME… “NEVER SHORTEN YOUR STRIDE LENGTH” LANDMARK: GET TO THE 30 YARD LINE BEFORE THE RETURNER CATCHES THE BALL & CONTACT WILL OCCUR INSIDE THE “BLACK ZONE” SPEED KILLS! 2. SPRINT AND BALL ADJUSTMENT THIS IS THE IMPORTANT SKILL OF RUNNING DOWNFIELD AND DECIDING ON ADJUSTING THE COURSE OF YOUR RUN. THIS SHOULD BE BASED ON POSSIBLE RETURN CLUES: (GAME PLANS AND INDIVIDUAL TECHNIQUES) PRE-DETERMINED DIRECTIONAL KICK – KNOW THE CALL (CHECK THE INITIAL FLIGHT AT START). THE RETURNER WILL GIVE YOU CLUES. FRONT LINE BLOCKERS SET-UP – “1ST KEY INDICATORS” THE DIRECTION INDICATED BY THE FRONT FIVE OR SIX BLOCKERS. AT TIMES THIS CAN BE INACCURATE, DUE TO A MISLEADING PATH OR TECHNIQUE OF BLOCKER – KNOW YOUR OPPONENT STUDY THEM ON TAPE – WHAT TECHNIQUES ARE THEY USING, DO THEY BLUFF? DO THEY RUN ACROSS, ATTACK, TRAP, DOUBLE TEAM OR CROSS, ETC…. SET UP OF BACK LINE BLOCKERS – “2ND KEY INDICATORS” (ENDS AND THE FULLBACKS). THIS WILL GIVE A STRONG INDICATION AS TO THE TYPE OF RETURN DEVELOPING. LOCATION AND DIRECTION OF RETURN MEN – WHAT DIRECTION IS THE RETURNER GOING TO (LEFT/MIDDLE/RIGHT)

9. ADJUST: PROPER ADJUSTMENT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE CORRECT SIDE OF THE FIELD IN, WHICH TO STOP A RETURN. AFTER YOU FIND THE RETURNER AND UNDERSTAND THE RETURN, BEGIN TO SPACE OUT. MANIPULATE THE BLOCKER IN FRONT OF YOU; KEEP YOUR EYES ON A SWIVEL SO YOU CAN REACT TO ALL RETURNS. 3. BEAT THE BLOCKER – FRONT LINE PLAYERS AS YOU CLOSE THE DISTANCE AS FAST AS YOU CAN BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE 1st FRONT LINE BLOCKER, WORK TO BEAT HIM WITH THESE TECHNIQUES. GET IN HIS “REAR VIEW MIRROR.” SPEED – AS YOU APPROACH THE BLOCKER RUNNING FULL SPEED, BEAT HIM TO HIS SET-UP POINT TO THE RETURN SIDE AND “BURST BY HIM.” WITH YOUR SPEED. SCRAPE PAINT –WHEN THE BLOCKER SETS UP TO BLOCK YOU, AVOID HIM TO THE RETURN SIDE. SLAP WRIST, REDUCE THE HIP & SHOULDER (BROOMS) AND LEAN BACK ON HIM AS YOU ACCELERATE BY. DO NOT BE TOO WIDE OR TOO FAR AWAY. ATTACK UNDER HIS ARMPIT. GET BACK ON THE MIDLINE. FREEZE – AVOID. GET HIM OFF BALANCE BY EYE FIXATIONS & HEAD FAKES. BEGIN THIS 7-8 YARDS FROM THE BLOCKER. IF HE APPEARS OFF BALANCE “SCRAPE PAINT” TO THE RETURN SIDE. SHOOT N RUN – WHEN THE BLOCKER SQUARES UP ON YOU AT THE LAST SECOND. GET YOUR PADS DOWN, ATTACK HIM WITH YOUR HANDS INSIDE HIS CHEST PLATE FROM LOW TO HIGH WITH TIGHT ELBOWS. LOCK OUT, KEEPING HIM OFF BALANCE. “BUTT, BENCH & POUND THE KNEES” WHILE DRIVING THE BLOCKER BACK, FIND THE FEET OF THE RETURNER. STEER THE BLOCKER INTO HIM OR THROW HIM THE OPPOSITE WAY AND MAKE THE TACKLE. NEVER CUT DOWN ON YOUR STRIDE LENGTH

10. 4. BEAT THE BLOCKER – BACK LINE PLAYERS THESE TECHNIQUES WILL OCCUR IN THE “AVOID AREA” OR THE “BLACK ZONE” IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE RETURNER. STRIKE (SHOULDER DRIVE) – THIS TECHNIQUE IS USED AGAINST THE WEDGE, DOUBLE TEAM OR SINGLE BLOCK BY A BACKLINE PLAYER. DRIVE YOUR SHOULDER THROUGH DESIGNATED MAN WITH YOUR ASSIGNED GAP IN MIND AND FORCE THE BALL BY DRIVING THE BLOCKER BACK. ELIMINATE FORWARD PROGRESS. USE UP 2 BLOCKERS. FORCE THE RETURNER TO GO SIDEWAYS. *DO NOT TRADE 1 FOR 1. 2 GAP – IF A BLOCKER ATTEMPTS TO BLOCK YOU (WITHIN 7-8 YARDS FROM THE RETURNER) GET YOUR PADS DOWN, ATTACK HIM WITH YOUR HANDS INSIDE HIS CHEST PLATE FROM LOW TO HIGH WITH TIGHT ELBOWS. LOCK OUT, KEEPING HIM OFF BALANCE. “BUTT, BENCH & POUND THE KNEES”. FIND THE FEET OF THE RETURNER. IF YOU CAN, KNOCK HIM OVER AND DRIVE HIM INTO RUNNING LANE. DO NOT PUSH HIM AWAY FROM YOU OR RICHOCHET OFF OF HIM. SHED HIM BY THROWING HIM OPPOSITE THE RETURNER. COME TO BALANCE AND MAKE THE TACKLE. IF YOU GET BLOCKED – DO NOT STAY BLOCKED! CONSTRICT THE RUNNING LANE

11. 5. CLOSING TO THE BALL CLOSE IS THE MOVEMENT AFTER YOU HAVE BEATEN THE BLOCKER (S). AFTER YOU AVOID KEEP YOUR HEAD TO THE LEVERAGE SIDE ON THE RETURNER. DON’T BEND! TAKE THE MOST DIRECT COURSE TO THE BALL. YOU WILL MAKE THE TACKLE (OR RE- DIRECT THE RETURNER). YOUR DISTANCE FROM THE BALL WILL DETERMINE THIS ACTION. NEVER GET PAST THE BALL (BEHIND IT) OR DEEPER THAN THE BALL. WHEN YOU GET THE BALL CARRIER USE AN: AGGRESSIVE; BIG HIT TACKLE OR COME TO BALANCE; SURE TACKLE WELCOME TO THE…………………… “BLACK ZONE”

24. KICK OFF RESPONSIBILITIES VS MIDDLE RETURN (5’s) HITMEN (RH/LH): INDICATOR: NEAR GUARD LEVERAGE POINT: NEAR PEC OF THE BALL CARRIER. CENTER / GUARD GAP CONTROL. NEVER GET BLOCKED BY THE CENTER. (SPLIT THE DOUBLE TEAM) (4’s) GUNNERS (RG/LG): INDICATOR: NEAR GUARD LEVERAGE POINT: NEAR PEC OF THE BALL CARRIER. INSIDE GUARD GAP CONTROL (SPLIT THE DOUBLE TEAM) (3’s) KNIFERS (RK/LK): INDICATOR: NEAR TACKLE LEVERAGE POINT: NEAR PEC OF THE BALL CARRIER. INSIDE TACKLE GAP CONTROL. (OUTSIDE EDGERS) (SPLIT THE DOUBLE TEAM)

25. (2’s) CONTAINERS (RC/LC): INDICATOR: NEAR TACKLE LEVERAGE POINT: NEAR PEC OF THE BALL CARRIER. FORCE - AVOID BLOCKS TO HOLD CONTAIN POSITION ALL COST. OUTSIDE TACKLE GAP CONTROL. (NEVER ALLOW 2 BLOCKERS OUTSIDE OF YOU). NEVER GET OUT FLANKED BY BALL CARRIER. KEEP “21” INSIDE. 2ND & 3RD KEYS – READ BACKSIDE END, FULLBACK AND BACKSIDE RETURN MAN FOR ALL THROWBACK PASSES AND REVERSES! (1’s) FOLDERS (RF/LF): INDICATOR: NEAR TACKLE LEVERAGE POINT: NEAR PEC OF THE BALL CARRIER. SECONDARY FORCE (FOLD / BOUNCE) –KEEP THE RETURNER 15 YARDS OFF AND 2-3 YARDS IN FRONT OF YOU. FILL ANY SEAMS OR CAP THE STOVEPIPE VS WEDGE. NEVER LET THE BALL OUTSIDE OF YOU, FORCE THE RETURNER OF BOUNDS IF HE BOUNCES TO THE SIDELINE. KICKER (K): KEEP A 20-YARD CUSHION FROM THE RETURNER. USE THE SIDELINE TO FORCE HIM OUT. THE KEY IS NOT GETTING TO DEEP INTO THE COVERAGE AND GETTING STUCK IN THE WASH. YOU ARE THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE. MAKE THE TACKLE AT ALL COST, BY ANY MEANS!

27. KICK OFF RESPONSIBILITIES VS DEEP RIGHT / LEFT RETURN SIDE (#1) FOLDER: INDICATOR: NEAR TACKLE 2ND & 3RD KEY: END, FULLBACK & DEEP MAN. LEVERAGE POINT: NEAR PEC OF THE BALL CARRIER. SECONDARY FORCE (FOLD / BOUNCE) – GET TO 15-YARDS FROM THE RETURNER. KEEP THE RETURNER IN FRONT AND INSIDE OF YOU 2-3 YARDS. FILL ANY SEAMS OR CAP THE STOVEPIPE VS WEDGE DOUBLE. NEVER LET THE BALL OUTSIDE OF YOU, FORCE THE RETURNER OF BOUNDS IF HE BOUNCES TO THE SIDELINE. (#2) CONTAINER: INDICATOR: NEAR TACKLE 2ND & 3RD KEY: END, FULLBACK & DEEP MAN. LEVERAGE POINT: NEAR PEC OF THE BALL CARRIER. FORCE - AVOID BLOCKS TO HOLD CONTAIN POSITION AT ALL COST. OUTSIDE TACKLE GAP CONTROL. (NEVER ALLOW 2 BLOCKERS OUTSIDE OF YOU). (#3) KNIFER: INDICATOR: NEAR TACKLE LEVERAGE POINT: NEAR PEC OF THE BALL CARRIER. (SPLIT DOUBLE TEAM) (#4) GUNNER: INDICATOR: NEAR GUARD LEVERAGE POINT: NEAR PEC OF THE BALL CARRIER. (SPLIT DOUBLE TEAM) (#5) HITMAN: INDICATOR: NEAR GUARD LEVERAGE POINT: NEAR PEC OF THE BALL CARRIER. (SPLIT DOUBLE TEAM)

28. BACKSIDE (#1) FOLDER: INDICATOR: NEAR TACKLE LEVERAGE POINT: NEAR PEC OF THE BALL CARRIER. 2ND & 3RD KEY: END, FULLBACK & DEEP MAN. SECONDARY FORCE (FOLD / BOUNCE) – COME TO BALANCE AT 15-YARDS FROM RETURNER AND, SHUFFLE TO MAINTAIN 2-3 YARDS OUTSIDE OF HIM. SNAP, TURN & RUN IF RETURNER BREAKS TOWARD FAR SIDELINE. PROFILE TACKLE ALERT FOR ALL THROWBACK PASSES AND REVERSES! (#2) CONTAINER: INDICATOR: NEAR TACKLE LEVERAGE POINT: NEAR PEC OF THE BALL CARRIER. 2ND & 3RD KEY: END, FULLBACK & DEEP MAN. FORCE – RUN AT THE TACKLES’ HIP, TIGHT TO HIS BUTT IF EVERYONE DISSAPEARS INSIDE TO THE WEDGE. (FORCE). TRACK THE HIP OF THE RETURNER. NEVER GET OUT FLANKED BY BALL CARRIER. KEEP “21” INSIDE. ALERT FOR ALL THROWBACK PASSES AND REVERSES! (#3) KNIFER: INDICATOR: NEAR TACKLE LEVERAGE POINT: NEAR PEC OF THE BALL CARRIER. SCRAPE: VS SIDELINE RETURN. BOUNCE - IF THE BALL BOUNCES TO THE WIDE FIELD. (#4) GUNNER: INDICATOR: NEAR TACKLE LEVERAGE POINT: NEAR PEC OF THE BALL CARRIER. RELEASE TO THE SIDE OF THE RETURN. SCRAPE: VS SIDELINE RETURN. (#5) HITMAN: INDICATOR: NEAR TACKLE LEVERAGE POINT: NEAR PEC OF THE BALL CARRIER. RELEASE TO THE SIDE OF THE RETURN. SCRAPE: VS SIDELINE RETURN KICKER (K): KEEP A 20-YARD CUSHION FROM THE RETURNER. USE THE SIDELINE TO FORCE HIM OUT. THE KEY IS NOT GETTING TO DEEP INTO THE COVERAGE AND GETTING STUCK IN THE WASH. YOU ARE THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE. MAKE THE TACKLE AT ALL COST, BY ANY MEANS!

30. KICK OFF COVERAGE DRILLS

33. ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- KICK OFF DRILLS Defeating Double Teams Drive Upfield and Climb Avoid Opposite – Angle Tackle SplitRun Thru Avoid BC ---------- ---------- ---------- Defeating Kick Out Blocks Drive Upfield and Split

34. ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- KICK OFF DRILLS R S S S S R R R Speed Avoid OppositeSplit DBL TeamShuffle Break Down Tackle Break Down Tackle Break Down Tackle Break Down Tackle Shuffle Speed Avoid Opposite Split DBL Team Speed Avoid Opposite Split DBL Team Speed Avoid Opposite Split DBL Team

36. ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- R R RR #1#2#3#4#5 #6 #7 #8 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- KO / PUNT LEVERAGE DRILL Jugs/QB Line #1 – L1, LE Line #2 – L2, LT Line #3 – L3, LG Line #4 – L4, LB, Sn Line #5 – R4, RB, Sn Line #6 – R3, RG Line #7 – R2, RT Line #8 – R1, RE Pride/Strike Players Leverage Drill Objective: Cover the field with good lane presence while keeping the returner on your inside shoulder. 1.The whistle will blow after the ball is thrown 2.All coverage players will sprint down field 3.All coverage players will break down 5yds from the returner 4.All coverage players will shuffle w/ the returner (good base) 5.Second whistle returner will turn up-field and all cover players will converge and squeeze the returner

37. ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- R R RR ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- KO / PUNT PURSUIT DRILL Jugs/QB Line #1 – L1, LE Line #2 – L2, LT Line #3 – L3, LG Line #4 – L4, LB, Sn Line #5 – R4, RB, Sn Line #6 – R3, RG Line #7 – R2, RT Line #8 – R1, RE Pride/Strike PlayersPursuit Drill Objective: Cover the field with good lane presence while keeping the returner on your inside shoulder and taking proper pursuit angles. 1.The whistle will blow after the ball is thrown 2.All coverage players will sprint down field 3.All coverage players will break down 5yds from the returner 4. All coverage players will take proper angles off the return direction