Special Teams

Special Teams

We receive a lot of compliments about our Special Teams section on FirstDown PlayBook and it’s not surprising. Oh we know that the Special Teams section is not why most coaches sign up but once the season gets going and the bullets start flying, that’s when this comes in very handy.

In fact we had one head coach who told us that his staff is using FirstDown PlayBook as reference tool and his offensive and defensive staffs really found it useful. Then he went on to say that in his opinion the real plus for his staff was the Special Teams section.

This does not surprise us. During the thirty some years that I coached I would always visit with high school or college coaches in the off season and one common request was “Coach, do you have any good stuff on Special Teams?”

I would always try to spend time on it but that’s the problem. There is only so much time. That’s what makes FirstDown PlayBook’s Special Teams section so great. It is essentially a Special Teams clinic on your laptop, tablet or smartphone.

Hot 1 Kickoff Cover Changeup

Hot 1 Kickoff Cover Changeup

by FirstDown PlayBook on Jan 18, 2022

This Hot 1 kickoff cover changeup is a good example of how you can dictate what the return unit can do and then have an answer for it. ...

Don’t Forget Your Special Teams Resume

Don’t Forget Your Special Teams Resume

by FirstDown PlayBook on Jan 8, 2022

If you are looking for employment, don't forget your special teams resume as you walk the convention floors in San Antonio....

Kickoff Coverage: Avoid Technique

Kickoff Coverage: Avoid Technique

by FirstDown PlayBook on Dec 28, 2021

With kickoff coverage the avoid technique is a much faster way to get the main job done. That job is to get to the football....

Kickoff Cover 2 Gap Technique

Kickoff Cover 2 Gap Technique

by FirstDown PlayBook on Dec 4, 2021

Using the 2 gap technique on kickoff coverage has several elements that need to be taught. The first is teaching when to use the technique. ...

Blocked Punt? The Culprit Might Be Your Punter.

Blocked Punt? The Culprit Might Be Your Punter.

by FirstDown PlayBook on Nov 4, 2021

Whenever you see a punt blocked the announcers race to find a flaw with protection but rarely point out the main culprit...the punter....

Chargers’ Punt Alert Fails Vs Raiders

Chargers’ Punt Alert Fails Vs Raiders

by FirstDown PlayBook on Oct 5, 2021

The Las Vegas punt return team only had ten players on the field. The Chargers recognized it and went right to their punt alert. ...

Marshall 96 Yard Fake Reverse Kickoff Return

Marshall 96 Yard Fake Reverse Kickoff Return

by FirstDown PlayBook on Sep 24, 2021

One of the plays that kept Marshall in last night's game all the way up until the end was a 96 yard fake reverse kickoff return....

Check Your Shield Punt Pro Splits

Check Your Shield Punt Pro Splits

by FirstDown PlayBook on Sep 12, 2021

We want to take a moment to look at a special teams play early in the game. The Vols blocked the very first Pitt shield punt of the game....

Don’t Be A 4th Down Punting Cop Out

Don’t Be A 4th Down Punting Cop Out

by FirstDown PlayBook on Sep 3, 2021

When we hear a coach say "We are so bad at punting, we might as well just go for it every time." that is just being a 4th down cop out....

Get Your Special Teams Help In Seconds

Get Your Special Teams Help In Seconds

by FirstDown PlayBook on Jul 23, 2021

The Special Teams help you will find here kept us off the street many times in our thirty years of college and NFL coaching. ...

FirstDown PlayBook Kickoff Coverage Clinic

FirstDown PlayBook Kickoff Coverage Clinic

by FirstDown PlayBook on Jul 3, 2021

We break this kickoff coverage clinic into distinct parts. 1. Get Off Zone 2.Speed & Read Zone 3.Avoid Zone 4. Collision Zone 5.Tackle Zone...

Snapping Technique From Pat Mannelly

Snapping Technique From Pat Mannelly

by FirstDown PlayBook on Jun 28, 2021

Two of the most painful coaching experiences I ever had in football coaching revolved around entering training camp without a long snapper. ...