It is continually said that special teams is 1/3 of the game, so much so that at this point it has become something of a cliché. Despite how coaches repeat it, we can easily forget just how impactfull special teams can be as we focus on our respective positions and offensive/defensive schemes. The truth is, choosing the right players to perform special teams duties is extremely important and requires deep thought and a thorough examination of players’ strengths and weaknesses.
While I’m always fascinated by the different schemes that coaches implement to gain an edge in special teams, it is the personnel debate that has always intrigued me the most. As I hear coaches argue for using freshmen and “back-ups” as opposed to others who believe that offensive/defensive starters should play more on special teams, it occurs to me more and more that this isn’t as relevant a debate as some would make it out to be. I find it much more important to find “the right guy” for the job at hand, regardless of what position he plays or how many snaps he gets on his side of the ball.
Special teams is, in many ways, football in its purest form. It remains one of the most efficient ways to impact the momentum of a game with a big play (blocked punt, big return, etc.), and it puts to use the most basic and essential qualities a football player can have. Athleticism, intelligence and toughness reign supreme in special teams. There are plenty of players who lack the specialization required to excel at their position who would be fantastic special teams players. So many teams have that player who is a little undersized to factor in at linebacker or who doesn’t have the hands to be a great receiver/tight end. While these types of players have limitations that make it hard to get on the field on offense or defense, they might have a collection of tools that would make them truly great on special teams. And best of all, they are probably hungry to prove themselves.
To find out who the great special teams players are, you’ve got to find out who your pure football players are. To clarify, I’m talking about the guys who are athletic, smart and competitive. Size is usually less important than speed. Instinctiveness is essential, toughness even more so, and a great work ethic is priority number one. Whether you need someone to run and make an open-field tackle, aggressively rush a kick or make a key block, you need talented and hard-working players on your special teams unit. Football teams are loaded with players who possess these qualities; coaches just need to know where to look.
Find out which of your running backs have an affinity for blocking, or which of your linebackers move well in space, or which of your defensive backs are powerful tacklers. Those are just a few examples of things we look for when evaluating special teams talent. Do you have a tight end/receiver that will go block a punt, or a d-lineman who can run and make an open-field block on a kick return? Aside from the obvious exceptions (kickers, returners, snappers, etc.), you’re not looking for specialists. You’re looking for versatility. You’re looking for football players. Some of them will be starters, others back-ups and still others may see little to no playing time on offense or defense. None of that should matter. If you have the right guys on the field, you are allowed much more flexibility in your schemes and will be that much more dangerous on special teams.
The last essential part of this whole process is drilling it. You’ve got to put players to the test and see which guys impress in certain areas. One thing I’ve learned rather quickly is that if a player appears to possess certain qualities, it’s not enough to assume that he will be a great special teams player. Just because a player is strong and has good feet, it doesn’t mean he’ll definitely be able to block the headhunter on a kick-off team. Just because a player is very fast, it doesn’t mean he knows how to rush the punter with the proper angle. Put these things to the test with some simple drills, such as the following examples:
The first is a half-line punt protection/rush drill. We are looking for which guys can protect a punt against an aggressive rush and which guys can rush with speed and take a good angle to the block point. An example of a good rush angle and a poor rush angle are illustrated in the diagram.
The second is a half-field kick-off coverage/kick-off return blocking drill (3-on-3). We are looking for players who can set up a block in the open field with proper leverage and a good angle, while at the same time looking for guys who can cover a kick with speed and avoid blocks.
There are many ways to drill special teams scenarios and evaluate talent. The bottom line is that finding the right personnel that will execute on special teams isn’t about whether or not you use starters vs. role players. It’s about finding versatile, competitive football players and putting them in a position to make a play for your team.