Unbalanced Rugby Punt: How We Got Here

Unbalanced Rugby Punt
Abe Mikell
Defensive Line Coach
Special Teams Coordinator
Stuarts Draft High School
Virginia
How we got here
In the spring of 2006, my wife and I were getting ready to move across the state to a new school and a new
town. The school was also getting a new head football coach and he assigned me to head up the special
teams. We spoke a little bit about what we would be doing on offense (the wing-t), and I tossed out the idea
of running a rugby style punt out of an unbalanced double wing formation, Red for you Delaware guys.
Rod, the HC, liked the idea and from that point on we have used a rugby style punt. See the diagram below
for the formation.
Y G S G T T X
L R
I wanted to use a directional rugby punt from this formation for a variety of reasons.
1. Kicking directionally limits the returns used by the punt return team
2. Directional kicking allows you to focus your coverage to one part of the field
3. The formation, along with the motion we use, allows you to outnumber the return team on the kick
side of the field.
4. The rugby punt gives at least a mild threat of an outside run by the punter.
5. Rugby punts are also often more difficult to field than a traditional punt.
6. The blocking scheme we use is the same as the blocking for rocket sweep so our OL doesn’t have to
learn a new set of rules.
Team Goals
We have three main goals for our punt team:
1. Avg 30 yards net punting
2. No Blocked Kicks
3. Convert all attempted fakes.
Personnel
We are a small school with a pretty small football team of anywhere from 28-35 players, so we have to use a
lot of the same players that are used to play offense and defense. The Y will usually be our starting TE. The
rest of the OL will be made up of our most athletic offensive linemen, since we run the wing-t; this usually
means that they will be guards. A lot many of these guys will also be LBs on defense. The X will be one of
our top 3 WRs. The right wing will be our best blocking wingback. The left wing will be one of our fastest
guys who can also tackle well. The Q is usually our starting QB, but could be a back up or other player who
can throw the ball. In the past, we have had guards and wing backs take the role as punter. The main thing
we look for is the ability of the punter to put the ball consistently outside the numbers and at least 25 yds
downfield on the kick.
The Scheme
Rip Punt
AP
Y LG C RG RT FB X
LW RW
QB
Pos Stance Alignment Assignment Coverage Lane

Balanced 3 2’ Split Even w/
Y Step flat 3 steps to secure BS B, aiming at LG’s hip. 5-6 yards inside left hash.
Point LG’s Toes
Balanced 3 2’ Split Toes on
LG Step flat 3 steps to secure PS A, pull around center. Down Middle of Field
Point C’s heels
Normal
S On ball Secure snap, step to secure BS A. 1-2 yards inside left hash
Snapping
Balanced 3 2’ Split Toes on
RG Step flat 3 steps to secure PS B, aiming at RT’s hip. 5 yards inside Right hash
Point C’s heels
Balanced 3 2’ Split Even w/
RT Step flat 3 steps to secure PS C, aiming at OT’s hip. 1-2 yards inside Right hash
Point RG’s Toes
FB/ Balanced 3 2’ Split Even w/ Step flat 3 steps to secure PS D, aiming at widest DL’s far
2 yards outside Right hash
OT Point RT’s Toes knee.
2 –3 yds outside Take best release to ball. Keep ball inside left shoulder.
X Normal No Responsibility. Go to Ball
#’s on ball Secure catch and tackle. Force fumble
2 pt
3’ x 3’ off ghost Long motion in front of the QB. Ball Will be snapped when
LW Parallel w/ 4 yards from SL. PS Contain.
TE you are behind the FB. On snap, get outside WR for contain.
LOS
2 point
3’ x 3’ off ghost Take best release to ball. Keep ball inside right shoulder.
RW Parallel w/ No Responsibility. Go to Ball
TE Secure catch and tackle. Force fumble
LOS
Balanced 2 Heels at 4-5 yds Call cadence. Secure PS & BS A, 1st, then secure all On or 2 yds outside left hash.
QB
Point behind RG penetration from the left side. Release down field for ball Contain Responsibility on left.
P Punting 10 yds behind C Take snap. Angle hips to right. 1 or 2 step punt to #’s. Play Safety
Coaching Points and variations.

 The kicker should kick the ball at least 25 yds downfield and outside the numbers. We would rather
have a short kick go out of bunds, than a deep kick down the middle of the field.
 The kick can be executed to the left by simply flipping the formation and the assignments, but your
kicker must practice this regularly.
Below are some notes on the Punter’s Technique that I have acquired from various sources over the past 3
years. The most valuable source for this information has been www.coachhuey.com.
 Hold: The punter will hold the back half of the ball with the finger tips of both hands. The ball
should be held at approximately a 45 degree angle across the kicking foot.
 Drop: The punter should hold the ball around just above waist level, and lean, so as to drop the ball
on the kicking foot
 Footwork: When kicking in the direction of your kicking leg, the kicker should take the snap, then a
short open step w/ the play side foot. Toes should point to the sideline. The 2nd step should then be a
cross over step. Toes should point 5 yds downfield at the sideline. The punt should be made on the
3rd step, aiming at the target. When kicking away from your kicking leg, you should open your kick
side hip to the side
 Plant Foot: The plant foot should be aimed at the sideline 25 to 30 yds downfield and the kicking leg
should swing straight through the ball.
Fakes
We also have several fakes we like to run as part of our ruby punt package. The series was heavily
influenced by some of the single wing film that I have seen and articles that I have read. The fake series is
similar to any other wing t series, because it has a sweep as its base play, a counter, an inside play, and a
play action pass.
The Base Play: Direct Snap Jet Sweep
The first fake is a direct snap jet sweep to the left wing. The blocking stays the same for the OL , but the
snapper aims at the Q’s outside # for the motioning left wing to catch in the air.
FS
C SS C
B B
B T N T B
Y LG S RG RT OT X
L R
QB
P
Coaching Points:
 EMLOS: End man on the line of scrimmage.
 Y, LG, S, & RG, can release almost immediately up field to block 2nd and 3rd level defenders. S
should release flat for the Return man.
 Cracks must be communicated before the snap to ensure everyone is blocked.
The Counter: Tackle Trap

The second fake is a counter run to the right wing. The ball is snapped to the left wing in the air, and he
makes an inside handoff to the right wing following the outside tackle on an inside trap.
FS
C SS C
B B
B T N T B
Y LG S RG RT OT X
LW RW
QB
Other Fakes
We also have run a guard trap with the Q and a flood pass from the same backfield motion.
R
C C
B E B T T B E B
Y LG C RG RT OT X
LW RW
FB
Flip to Rip Fly Fake Punt 81 Bell Pass Flood

R
B B B
C C
E T M T E
Y LG C RG RT OT X
LW RW
FB
Originally from La Fayette, GA, I began my coaching career in 2001 as Head Coach of
Hampton Roads Academy in Newport News, VA after playing 4 years on the offensive line
at the University of the South in Sewanee, TN. In 2006, I began coaching defensive line and
special teams at Stuarts Draft High School in Stuarts Draft, VA.
Contact info:
Abe Mikell
45 Flory Avenue
Stuarts Draft, VA 24477
H-540-337-2638
C-540-649-4391
e-mail: amikell@comcast.net

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Unbalanced Rugby Punt

Pos Stance Alignment Assignment Coverage Lane

Coaching Points and variations.

The Counter: Tackle Trap

Flip to Rip Fly Fake Punt 81 Bell Pass Flood

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