Running speed is a vital factor when running back kicks in football. A return man who has excellent speed and can elude the first wave of tacklers often is in a position to make a long return that might result in a touchdown. A return man must follow his blockers and needs to understand what the coverage team is trying to do to stop him.
Catch the Ball Cleanly
Kickoff returners must catch the ball cleanly prior to starting to run the ball back up the field. This takes significant practice. Return specialists often are wide receivers, defensive backs or running backs who handle the ball frequently; however, the ball is coming at the receiver from a much different angle on a kick return and he must get used to waiting for the ball, catching it cleanly and then assessing the coverage before running upfield.
Follow Your Blockers
After catching the ball, you must get past the first wave of tacklers to arrive on the scene. This is largely done by following two or three of your best blockers. No matter how fast you are, you are going to need to get one or two effective blocks if you are going to have a long return. When the blocker can turn a potential tackler toward the sidelines, look for the blocker's inside shoulder and take advantage of that block.
Open Space
Get to an area where there is open space and then turn upfield and accelerate. As a return specialist, you will need to be patient to follow your blocks, but once you have done that and gotten into the open, you must turn on your speed and outrun the coverage unit. This requires quickness to change gears and the acceleration to pull away from a potential tackler who might be one step away from you when you begin your move. "I always liked the challenge of when the defender had an angle on me and I could turn on the speed and run by him," said Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Gale Sayers. "It was always one of the most satisfying moments in football."
Spin Away from Contact
When a return specialist is running with the football, he might see a tackler closing in on him. Instead of absorbing the hit head on, spin as the tackler makes contact. This will confuse the tackler and might prevent him from overpowering you because the hit is no longer square. You must time your spin so that it comes at the same moment the tackler makes impact. This can result in a missed hit and might allow you to make extra yardage.
References
- "Inside the Helmet"; Peter King; 1993
- Gale Sayers; Pro Football Hall of Famer; Chicago
- Coach T's Website: Kickoff Returns
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