Eastern Kentucky University's football team practices kickoff return strategies and drills, emphasizing proper positioning, assignment soundness, and continuous practice to improve execution and mental preparation.
The video, featuring Special Teams coordinator Derek Day, highlights the importance of competition and showcases drills for leverage, fly zone, and war zone techniques in special teams play.
You can see the complete Derek Day Kickoff Return System on Glazier Drive.
This video demonstrates a specialized drill focusing on leverage techniques for both kickoff coverage and return teams. Here's a summary of the key points:
Purpose of the Drill
- Teaches players how to maintain or gain leverage during kickoff situations
- Works both sides: coverage team and return team simultaneously
- Emphasizes the concept of "if you have leverage, keep it; if you don't have leverage, get it"
Two Key Zones Discussed
- War Zone: 5-yard box where contact happens
- Coverage players try to get through this area
- Return blockers make their contact here
- Emphasis on "sink, strike, restart feet" technique
- Fly Zone: An Area where return blockers avoid contact
- Players try to avoid making contact with the coverage team
- The goal is to create seams for the returner
Blocking Technique Highlighted
- "Sprint, flip, sink, strike, restart" sequence for blockers
- Creating even small seams can allow a good returner to score
- Doesn't require "devastating blocks" - just effective positioning
- Using player's length and staying square to maintain leverage
Practice Setup
- Players work in individual teams against another group
- Coaches or quarterbacks throw balls to simulate actual returns
- Return men try to hit the seams created by blockers
- Coverage players attempt to maintain their lanes and leverage
Coach Day emphasizes that this drill develops fundamentals that directly translate to game situations, with the ultimate goal of creating enough space for returners to find seams and potentially score touchdowns.
