Punt Returns and "The Wall"

#1
Pump Guy

Pump Guy

If Steve Spurrier were my neighbor, I would move.
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#1
In the 70's and early 80's, basically when George Cafego was our special teams coach, we would work to form a wall of blockers along the sideline on punt returns.

On the punt, we would hold up at the line as normal, but once the punting team released, instead of chasing them down the field, our blockers would run to the sideline in position. This meant the returner was on his own in the middle of the field, but if he made it to the wall it was a thing of beauty. You had defenders chasing the punt returner and this meant they would run into the blocks on the wall rather than being chased by someone trying to block them.

I don't understand why this has fallen out of favor. When, if ever, do you see downfield blocking have any real effect on a punt return. It seems for the most part that it is luck and individual effort by the punt returner. It also sets up a lot of "block in the back" penalties.

My dad had a conversation with Cafego about it one day and he discussed how difficult it was for players to have the discipline to hold long enough to make sure there was not a fake and then get to the proper position.

I guess with limited practice time, there is only so much you can incorporate into a game plan.
 
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#2
#2
Kind of a lost art. It's sad because we can win a lot of games with a solid kicking game. Can't tell you how many games I've seen the Vols win because of special teams growing up.

It is the single most important aspect of the game of football. Field position, that is......
 
#5
#5
There's a call on every punt. Just a matter of whether the kick cooperates.
 
#6
#6
Makes me think of the" illegal wedge" call a few years ago. Anybody remember that crap? What game was it? I think it nullified a huge return
 
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#7
#7
Didn't the NCAA put a ban on walls in returns? Like no more than two guys can block next to each other or something? Maybe I'm thinking of wedges.

Yep. Rule 6 article 10 a.

Illegal Wedge Formation
ARTICLE 10. a. A wedge is defined as two or more players aligned shoulder to
shoulder within two yards of each other.
b. Free-kick down only: After the ball has been kicked, it is illegal for three or
more members of the receiving team intentionally to form a wedge for the
purpose of blocking for the ball carrier. This is a live-ball foul, whether or
not there is contact between opponents.
PENALTY—Noncontact foul. 15 yards, spot of the foul, or 15 yards, spot
where the subsequent dead ball belongs to Team B if this is
behind the spot of the foul. 15 yards, previous spot with the
down repeated if the subsequent dead ball belongs to Team A.
[S27]
c. Formation of the wedge is not illegal when the kick is from an obvious
onside kick formation.
Click to expand...

http://www.dfoa.com/attachments/article/69/2013-14_Football_Rule_Book.pdf
 
#8
#8
Pump Guy said:
In the 70's and early 80's, basically when George Cafego was our special teams coach, we would work to form a wall of blockers along the sideline on punt returns.

On the punt, we would hold up at the line as normal, but once the punting team released, instead of chasing them down the field, our blockers would run to the sideline in position. This meant the returner was on his own in the middle of the field, but if he made it to the wall it was a thing of beauty. You had defenders chasing the punt returner and this meant they would run into the blocks on the wall rather than being chased by someone trying to block them.

I don't understand why this has fallen out of favor. When, if ever, do you see downfield blocking have any real effect on a punt return. It seems for the most part that it is luck and individual effort by the punt returner. It also sets up a lot of "block in the back" penalties.

My dad had a conversation with Cafego about it one day and he discussed how difficult it was for players to have the discipline to hold long enough to make sure there was not a fake and then get to the proper position.

I guess with limited practice time, there is only so much you can incorporate into a game plan.
Click to expand...

There are a few reasons it fell out of favor.

1) Due to the limited protection around the point of reception, it requires an extremely tough and disciplined returner. These aren't easy to find; look at the difficulties of finding an option quarterback who will carry out fakes despite knowing he'll get clocked on 50% of the plays.

2) It's too static to adjust to a change. A wall return normally has the direction of the wall called in the huddle, meaning that a kick toward the opposite sideline will leave the returner completely exposed with no hope of getting positive yardage out of it at all.

3) The moving (rugby style) punt has really eliminated the ability to set up a wall. The wall is built around the idea of the return team's attackers getting to heel depth of the punting team, then bailing out and setting up once the ball is away. A moving punter will occupy the return team's front 8 for too long, and possibly increase the chances of a fake since there's no way to both attack the punter and be able to set up a wall.

4) In terms of risk management, most special teams coaches prefer to get positive yardage out of every return. With the wall, there's too high of a risk of negative yardage, in addition to the possibility of the returner fumbling and there being no teammates around to recover it.
 
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#9
#9
#10
#10
Watched the chiefs tonight and rookie DeAnthony Thomas (Oregon) took a punt to the house. He used moves and then was gone. Major upgrade for chiefs over Dexter McCluster.
 
#11
#11
We ran this in high school. Saw many players get ear holed looking at the returner and not the blocker. Man that was fun.
 
#14
#14
madbamahater said:
Kind of a lost art. It's sad because we can win a lot of games with a solid kicking game. Can't tell you how many games I've seen the Vols win because of special teams growing up.

It is the single most important aspect of the game of football. Field position, that is......
Click to expand...

But wait, I thought kickers, snappers and special teams players were a waste of a scholarship. Wouldn't it be a better use of a scholarship to give it to a 12th string WR who might one day as a 5th year senior come in on a few plays to give the starters a break?

:whistling:
 
#15
#15
I think the reason is that the punters are punting the ball higher and giving their coverage team time to get down on top of the returner.
 
#16
#16
Talking about another "wall"...the only thing I don't like about our system is the deep "wall" or gate of 3 blockers protecting our punter. Defenders get a running shot and if they split one defender, it's a block. That system was the reason we were able to block a punt against UGA for a TD...except it was on them.
 
#17
#17
I think Devrin Young should step up and be a Leader for this team,at not only Special Teams but for the offense. He is a Senior and been on the field since a freshman. I wonder why CBJ doesnt publicy view DY as a leader? Just a Thought
 
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#19
#19
I was thinking that due to so many players getting significantly injured on kickoff and punt returns, that they were implementing rules to prevent a wall or wedge
 
#20
#20
madbamahater said:
Kind of a lost art. It's sad because we can win a lot of games with a solid kicking game. Can't tell you how many games I've seen the Vols win because of special teams growing up.

It is the single most important aspect of the game of football. Field position, that is......
Click to expand...

Daryl Hardy! Special Teams Bad A$$!!
 
#21
#21
There is a rule against it.

It's not a lost art, or anything else. It's because it's a penalty.
 
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