SWAT Your Way to
Big Plays
O n behalf of Princeton football, I would
like to thank Tim Landis of Davidson
College and the Summer Manual Com-
mittee for the opportunity to contribute to this
year’s edition. As an assistant coach, it is an
honor and a privilege to be part of one of the
best coaching manuals in college football.
Steve Tosches, the head football coach
at Princeton, does a great job of emphasiz-
ing special teams through his practice
organization plan.
Preseason Schedule
We block off a 15-minute period early in
each practice in which we concentrate on
one phase of the kicking game. In addition,
after every morning practice, we have a 15-
to-20-minute specialty station segment.
We have designated six skills that we
believe need extra individual technique
time. We will choose two or three of these
skills and work the fundamentals with the
entire staff present.
The Six Skill Areas
1. Snappers - Holders.
2. Punters - Returners.
3. Kickers - Returners - Wings.
Don Dobes 4. Kick Blockers (Punt and PAT/FG).
5. Shock & Shadow Technique.
Linebackers Coach 6. Cage Drill (Punt Coverage).
Princeton University In-Season Schedule for Special Teams
Monday: Coaches break down individ-
Princeton, N.J. ual areas.
Tuesday: 10 minutes punt, 10 minutes
kick off return, five minutes PAT/FG.
Wednesday: 10 minutes punt, 10 min-
utes SWAT, five minutes PAT/FG, 10 min-
utes kick off.
Thursday: 10 minutes punt, 10 minutes
SWAT, 10 minutes kick off return and
hands team, 10 minutes kick off.
Friday: Video review of opponent’s ten-
dencies and game plan reminders (10 min-
utes each team).
It is because of this commitment that we
can give our players the tools to make
plays. This emphasis is a big reason why
we have blocked seven punts over the last
two seasons.
SWAT Team (Punt Block & Return)
Philosophy
1. Pressure all kicks, challenge the
opponent’s punt team to be perfect.
2. Set up returns off blocks, be alert for
fakes.
3. Force mistakes by the punting team
• AFCA Summer Manual — 1999 •
and capitalize on them.
4. Fundamentally sound schemes, sup-
ported by proper techniques.
5. Simple to teach, flexible to handle all
situations.
Objectives
1. Obtain possession of the ball.
2. Win the field position battle.
3. Change momentum of the game.
4. Create a big play.
5. Score.
Special Team Player Characteristics
1. Dependable.
2. Physical and tough.
3. Mentally sharp.
4. Intense.
5. Emotional.
Scheme
1. Ten men up, with two being jammers
vs. spread punt or two being spies vs. tight
punt.
2. Rushes are designed from balanced,
unbalanced and overload looks.
3. Against man protection teams, we will
stem, stack and cross rush lanes.
4. Make rushes and returns look very
similar.
5. Control eligible receivers and be alert
to possible fakes.
Key Terms
Block Point: A landmark 9-10 yards
deep, usually between the inside legs of
the two protectors next to the snapper.
MDM: Most dangerous man from a cov-
erage standpoint.
Snake, Power, Swim, Rip, and
Crossface: Types of rush techniques used
to get to block point.
Engage Number: Blocking assignment.
Shock and Shadow, Peel, Home Run,
Chase, and Ricochet: Types of blocks.
Trail: Technique used to mirror oppo-
nents in their cover lanes.
Leverage: What number or shoulder to
control, it can be inside/outside or right/left.
Use-Up: One for one exchange to stop
protector from helping on key rush men.
Jet Stance: Three-point sprinter’s stance
with 90 percent of weight on front foot.
Personnel
Right Side: R1, R3, R4.
Left Side: L1, L3, L4.
Jammers: L2, R2.
Jokers: L5, R5.
 Alignment and Gap/Responsibility
Position Alignment
L1, R1 1-2 yards outside end man on LOS
L3, R3 Head up on No. 2
L4, R4 Head up on No. 3
L5, R5 (Jokers) Inside Shade on No. 4
L2 and R2 vs. Spread; Press No. 1
(Jammers) vs. Tight; Head up on No. 1
Note: We number our opponent’s formation from outside to inside. Any changes of
formation by shifting or motion is handled by the Jammers and Jokers.
Diagram 1: Base Look vs.
Spread Punt
Diagram 2: Base Look vs. Tight Punt
Game Planning
It is important to prepare a checklist of
questions to answer as you break down your
opponent’s punt team. Here are some items
we believe help us develop a game plan:
Video Breakdown Checklist
1. Operation time of long snapper
and punter.
2. Long snapper’s consistency
when moving right or left.
3. Block point depth.
4. Top cover personnel.
5. Weakness in protection scheme.
6. Best and worst protector.
7. How to occupy personnel protector.
8. Hang time of punts.
9. Best alignment and technique
to use vs. the gunners.
Assignments
L1: Tilted jet stance with eyes keying
the ball.
• Explode on snap, attack block point in
a straight line.
• Take the ball off the kicker’s foot.
Gap/Responsibility
Force
C-Gap
B-Gap
A-Gap
Man-to-Man
D-Gap
Diagram 3: Punt Block Lucky
• Blocking assignment is punter.
L3: Slightly tilted jet stance with eyes
keying the ball.
• Explode on snap, attack C gap to block
point.
• Work a move vs. No. 3 or fullback,
freedom to have a two-way go.
• Blocking assignment is to wheel right
and join wall.
L4: Parallel jet stance with inside eye on
the ball.
• Attack B gap two steps then drop out.
• Check for backside fake and drive for
depth to returner.
• Landmark is 10 yards from returner
opposite the return.
• After catch lead return to right, block
most dangerous man outside the wall.
L5/R5: Parallel jet stance with inside
eye on ball.
• Attack A gap expecting to block the
kick, do not leave your feet and only jump if
fullback is between you and punter.
• Snake the A gap reading blocking
scheme on move.
• If fullback blocks you, use him up.
• Blocking assignment is to wheel right
and join the wall.
R4: Parallel jet stance with inside eye
on ball.
• Explode through B gap expecting to
block kick.
• Use a rip or swim move vs. No. 4, stay
outside for flush.
• Blocking assignment is to wheel and
join wall.
• AFCA Summer Manual — 1999 •
R3: Slightly tilted jet stance. Control C
gap.
• Explode two steps and shock No. 3.
• Force No. 3 to release inside and turn
and run to set wall.
• Expect to block and pin No. 3 to the
inside.
R1: Tilted jet stance, key the ball for
movement.
• Power rush and control No. 2, force
outside release by No. 2.
• Insure kick, turn and sprint to become
second part of the wall.
L2/R2: Align head up on gunners in a
press position two yards from line of
scrimmage.
• Slide inside or outside to gain leverage.
• Jam release and work for inside or out-
side wall position.
• Shadow gunner and force him to work
to get to returner.
Returner: Catch ball in the air if possible.
• Set up return with an upfield move to
the left or up the middle.
• Find L4 and follow to the right.
• Look for a seam between wall and lead
block by L4.
It has been a pleasure to share our
SWAT team ideas. If you have any ques-
tions or would like to discuss some of our
thoughts, please feel free and welcome to
call the Princeton football office at 609-258-
3514.
The American Football
Coaches Association
Promotes Positive
Recruiting Practices
All Coaches: Be positive. Talk
about your institution and not
other institutions.
Head Coaches: If you have
a recruiting problem with
another institution or have
rumors flying that should be
stopped:
Call the head coach of the
institution involved and
talk straight. It will elimi-
nate a lot of problems and
hard feelings towards one
another.