O
n behalf of our Head Coach Urban
Special
Meyer and the rest of the Utah staff, we
would like to thank the AFCA for giving us
this opportunity to speak about our philoso-
Teams Wins phies and ideas on our special teams at
Utah. This past season, we finished No. 1
Games in the country in kickoff return average with
28.2 yards per return, and 27th in punt
average, with a 2.2 yard return average.
Our kickoff team held our opponents to
16.2 yards per return average.
Each member of our staff has a role on
special teams, that lets the players know
that special teams are important and each
position is coached with great detail.
Coach Meyer and our staff have the philos-
ophy that all phases of the kicking game
are the third component of how we win at
Utah. I will go through our philosophy of
special teams, our goals and then I will give
you more details to our punt, kickoff return
and kickoff coverage teams.
Every time our special teams take the
field, they have an opportunity to positively
influence the outcome of the game. As a
staff, we have researched and developed
our special teams phases with the philoso-
phy to remain as non-complex as possible,
but have enough diversity to handle all sit-
uations.
Each phase of the Utah Special
Teams has three simplistic goals:
1. Win the battle of field position.
2. Out hit the opponent.
3. Score points or set up a score.
1. Win The Battle of Field Position
During the course of a game every time
there is a kicking situation, there is the
opportunity to gain or lose 40-plus yards in
field position. Statistically, it is critical to
understand that the ability to score points is
directly related to the point where the drive
will begin.
The chart (Diagram 1) will demonstrate
the significance of field position during the
course of a game. The offense’s probabili-
ty to score a touchdown increases 11 times
when the drive begins on the plus-side of
the 50-yard line.
2. Out Hit the Opponent
To be a member of the Utah special
teams is a privilege. Each member must
take great pride in this privilege and work
hard to keep it. Every player on a special
team unit is as important as any position on
offense or defense. We will play only the
best. Our special teams will not only have
Diagram 1
a great bearing on the outcome of the
game, but will reflect across the country
what Utah Football is all about. There is
only an absolute to being a member, fly
around and hit the opponent.
3. Score Points/Set up a Score
We believe our special teams philoso-
phy and approach will greatly increase our
chances of scoring points for our team or
place our offense in the most advanta-
geous position to score.
Our special teams can score points in
the following ways:
A. Field goal.
B. Extra point.
C. Punt return for a touchdown.
D. Kick off return for a touchdown.
E. Punt block for a touchdown.
F. Field goal block for a touchdown.
G. PAT block for two points.
H. Cause a fumble on a kickoff return or
a punt return and advance it for a touch-
down.
Utah Special Team
Game by Game Goals
1. Win.
2. Better average field position after a
kickoff than opponent.
3. Better net punt average than opponent.
4. Better punt return average than
opponent.
5. Score or set up a score.
6. Give the offense the ball at least one
time on the plus-side of the 50.
7. Never give the opponent the ball on
our side of the 50.
8. Perfect execution (holds, snaps, ball
security).
9. Have at least one game breaker.
 A. Score.
B. Block a punt.
C. Block a kick.
D. Recover onside kick.
E. Cause a turnover.
F. Recover a turnover.
G. Down a punt inside the 10-yard line.
H. 60-yard change of field position.
10. No penalties.
Punt Protection and Coverage
I. Philosophy
Unquestionably, this phase of the kicking
game is the most volatile for us. For that
reason, this team will consist of 11 soldiers,
that will strain every opportunity we have.
The complexion of many games has turned
due to a blocked punt or a long return. For
these reasons, this area of the kicking game
demands more practice time and maximum
concentration by every soldier.
II. Physical and Mental Requirements
A. Athletes with a strong sense of
responsibility, people we can count on to do
their job.
B. Athletes with intelligence, people that
know what to do and how to do it.
C. Hitters.
III. Punt Team Goals
A. No blocked punts.
B. No punts returned for touchdowns.
C. Net punting average of 36.5 yards.
D. Average punt return of 8.0 yards or less.
IV. General Information
A. Timing - We must adhere to perform
our snap-to-punt process within the follow-
ing standards.
1. Snap..................... .08 seconds
Punter....................1.3 seconds
Total time of kick....2.1 seconds
2. If our time-to-kick sequences takes
longer than 2.1 seconds, we risk the possi-
bility of a blocked punt or premature
release by our coverage team.
These are the job descriptions we look
for at each position. They are tight end,
runningbacks, linebackers, safeties and
corners.
Gunners - big play makers; force two
blockers to control you.
Slots - contain men; excellent speed
and blocking skills in space.
Tackles - strong blockers with speed.
Guards - bigger, tougher, stronger
blockers.
Snapper - velocity and accuracy in snap.
Diagram 4
Personal Protector - quarterback of the
unit; toughness and speed.
Punter - get away, hang time, distance
and accuracy.
Punt Team Alignments
Diagram 2 Position Responsibility
Gunners Ball
Slots #1
Tackles #2
Guards #3
Center Left #4
PP Right #4
• All vertical set straight back and as
Center - Aligns first by setting his feet at long as possible. Gain depth before you
his selected width before he touches the domino out. Hold apex. Speed and depth
ball. is key.
Guards - Take a six-inch split from the
center (left guard, one-inch split). Punt Coverage
Tackles - Take a six-inch split from the Diagram 5
guard.
Slots - Align with the outside of your
inside foot on the outside of the tackles out-
side foot.
Gunners - maximum split (middle of
field- bottom of numbers, on hash, field
gunner on the hash, boundary gunner
between numbers and boundary).
Personal Protector - five yards behind
right guard.
Punter - thirteen yards deep.
Punt coverage is based upon a lane rel-
Vertical Sets ative to your leverage on the returner. Your
lane is a direct course to your leverage
Diagram 3
spot. This spot is defined when you get to
a point 15-yards from the returner. At that
point, you close to your leverage responsi-
bility.
Coverage Progression
1. Protect.
2. Shed.
3. Sprint to your lane spot.
4. Press up to the returner and come to
balance with proper leverage.
5. Keep the returner inside and in front
of you.
Technique: Kick with back foot gaining 6. Tackle and strip.
ground back, while driving thumbs to your
chest. Drag up-foot back. Be prepared to Coverage Assignments
kick three times before you domino out. Gunners - No lane; inside No. 1 lever-
Zone: Man assignments, with deeper sets. age; keep it in front; make it go lateral.
Man: Man assignments, with shorter sets. Attack opposite shoulder of returner.
Depth of set is critical. Pooch coverage, defend the goalline to the
returner.
Black Protection Slots - 15-yard lane spot, contain lever-
Man protection with zone drops. age, close to seven yards outside at ball
level. Fold after ball is certain through and
away.
Tackles - 10-yard spot, force leverage,
keep returner inside and in front.
Guards - Five-yard spot, heavy lever-
age, keep returner inside and in front.
Center - Ball leverage, go after the
returner.
Personal Protector - Ball leverage.
Lane Adjustments
If you beat the man inside of you on your
release, exchange lanes and take his lane.
The man coming out late will replace out-
side. Example - If the guard gets held up,
the tackle will replace him at five yards from
the returner.
Kick-Off Return
At the University of Utah this year, we
were able to lead the nation in kickoff return
average without returning one for a touch-
down. This was a result of having a con-
sistent scheme that we believe in and a
consistent performance by our players. We
have six different staff members that coach
different positions on the return team. This
individual coaching allows us to pay great
attention to detail.
There are four objectives that we preach
to our team:
1. Force the opponent to not kick deep.
Become the most feared return unit in the
country.
2. Secure the ball for the offense.
3. Average starting field position past
the 30-yard line.
4. Cross the 50 with a return one time
per game.
It is important for every member of the
team to understand and believe in these
objectives.
Another important aspect of the kickoff
return team is making sure that you are not
asking your players to do something that
they are not capable of doing. You must
match your personnel to the job description
of the position. The following is the job
descriptions we have for our personnel:
Center: Most demanding and critical
position on return team. Must possess
great change of direction skills, speed and
good size to handle single block on No. 5 or
No. 6. Must be a great competitor.
Guards: The ability to get depth in drop
and agility to block in the open field. He is
the post man on double teams with return
to your side. Needs speed to cut off cover-
age on returns away.
Tackles: Aggressiveness as the clean-
up man on double team blocks. Ability to
block in space and speed to cut-off cover-
age on returns away.
Tight Ends: Explosive hitter to set the
corner on returns to his side with “Ambush”
block. Very good speed for cut-off block on
returns away. Must possess good receiv-
ing skills and judgment for “Sky” kicks.
Fullbacks: Aggressive players with size
and strength. Contact players. Ability to
work well with a partner. Good hands to
field short kicks.
Returners: Great speed, extraordinary
vision and exceptional acceleration.
Competitor with flair. Must also have the
ability and desire to block one-on-one.
Ability to catch the football and hold on to it.
Courage.
We spend a great deal of time finding
players that fit these job descriptions and
have the desire to get the job done. This
year, we did not have one offensive or
defensive starter on our return team. This
also allows members of the team to work
on their technique.
We use two returns, a right (Diagram 6)
Diagram 6
and a left return. The rules are the same
only flipped with each return. In our right
return, we want our right guard and right
tackle to set the return by double teaming
No. 8 of the coverage team (we count 1-10
left to right). Our right tight end will then
block in No. 7. Our center, left guard, left
tackle and left tight end will block numbers
six, four, three and five respectively. They
will all use a left shoulder block technique.
They must keep there shoulders square
and be in a football position. Block the
coverage man with their left shoulder and
loose their man away from the side of the
return. Our fullbacks will lead the return up
the right side and will double team kickout
No. 9. The off returner will block No. 10.
The rules just flip for us to run our left
return.
One of the keys to using this type of
return is knowing the depth and direction of
each kick and how it will effect the cover-
age lane of the defender you are trying to
block. By having a simple scheme that
does not change, we are able to spend
time on the little details that are involved in
the return. Our practice time incorporates
individual technique work for this team. By
having several coaches involved, we are
able to have players that understand and
trust their assignment and technique. In
our program under the instruction of Coach
Meyer, we place as much emphasis on
each phase of special teams as we do on
offense and defense. This can be seen in
the pride that our coaches and players
have in the kickoff return team as well as
every other phase of special teams.
Kick Off Coverage
At the University of Utah, we are primar-
ily a deep-left kickoff team.
We hang our hats on being discipline
with our landmarks, and have all 11 players
do their jobs with fanatical effort. In 2003,
we were ranked second in the Mountain
West Conference with 34 attempts against
us yielding 550 yards at 16.2 per attempt
and zero touchdowns. Our great effort and
discipline on kickoff coverage played a
large role in this year’s conference champi-
onship run.
Mechanics
Stance: Turned at 90 degrees with
hands on knees.
Takeoff: Anticipate kicker ’s rhythm and
hit the line full speed.
Vision: Cover with speed, maintaining
good vision and anticipate where ball is
being returned. Read return, it is a play
(Diagram 7).
Coverage: Anticipate where the ball is
going (speed zone).
Converge: After covering through your
lane and up the field, start converging on
ball by attacking through the blocker’s
shoulder (hard hat) in the appropriate direc-
 C. Sky right
Diagram 7 Diagram 9
D. Squib right
E. Surprise onside
F. Onside check

3. On Field: The kickoff team will line

tion of the return man. Attack the ball car-
rier by using inside shoulder force.
Contain: The assigned people must be
disciplined to maintain their course and be
sure nothing gets outside them.
Safeties: Sprint up field through lane
and come to balance at 40-yard line. You
must make the stop.
Missiles: Be first down field with oppor-
tunity to make the first hit. Low and hard.
Work around wedge.
Coverage
1. Huddle on our sideline at the 50-yard
line. Get call from Coach Meyer.
6 5 4 3 2 17
LM M K RM
2. Missile will set the huddle and make
all huddle calls:
Huddle Calls:
A. Deep left (game plan)
B. Squib left
up in a bunch alignment on the field six-
yards behind the ball.
6 5 4 3 2 17
LM M K RM
4. Alignments: After the referees com-
mand the kicker will give the command
“set.” Sprint to your alignments.
5. Stance: Turned at ball, hands resting
on knees.
6. Take off: The kicker will have his arm
raised awaiting everyone to get aligned.
The kicker will say “Ready” as his hand
comes down.
7. The game is now in control of the
kicker. He will approach the ball when he
is ready. We must move with the kicker
and time it up to be sure we are not offsides
(sprint).
Deep Left - Rules, Landmarks
and Coaching Points
Diagram 8
Missile (M): Nose up returner, fly direct-
ly to the ball.
Left Missile (LM): Outside number of
the returner, keep leverage on returner.
Right Missile (RM): Outside number of
the returner, keep leverage on returner.
No. 1 - Contain player; landmark L2;
bottom of the numbers, inside shoulder
force, never let ball outside (21 Rule).
No. 2 - Force player; landmark L3; two
yards on top of the numbers, inside shoul-
der free.
No. 3 - Force player; landmark L4; split
difference between numbers and hash.
Inside shoulder force.
No. 4 - Force player; landmark L5; hash,
inside shoulder force.
No. 5 - Field player; landmark L6; near
upright, inside shoulder force.
No. 6 - Field Contain; landmark R6; far
upright; (21 Rule) never let ball outside of
you.
No. 7- Field safety; 40-plus; goal post; Do
not let ball outside of you. Never cross the
40-plus. Keep the ball on inside numbers.
Kicker: Boundary safety; 40-plus; num-
bers; do not let ball outside of you. Never
cross the 40-plus. Keep ball on inside
number.

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