Special Teams

continued nowadays. It's really only the extremely long snapper. I didn't have a single one. somehow get to the opponent's 25- or long, low kick that will get returned." I put the word out on campus that any 30-yard line, and if it has an adequate The rules makers also outlawed three one who had ever been a long snapper in field goal kicker, it's got a chance to years ago a nifty little device used on high school could try out the next day. score. Field position alone can enable a rare occasions by a very few coaches. Un We found one, and he made every road team to do that. til 1978, a field goal that was kicked out trip. That's all he did aU season. But a "Look at it this way. If a team has a of bounds was placed in play at the point team cannot live without a good long solid defense, but a poor offense, and the ball went out of bounds. Some snapper. If I didn't have one, I'd use one has a great punter and excellent punt coaches used their field goal kickers as of my 30 scholarships to find one, even if coverage, it can control field position "coffin comer punters." That rule he was 140 pounds." throughout a game. changed, however, at the same time the Not surprisingly, the punter himself is "Sooner or later, it is going to start a rule changed concerning the placing of regarded as the next-most-valuable possession near midfield, and then it the ball following missed field goals that player on the punt team. But linemen needs only to string together a couple of came outside the 20. protecting the punter are considered first downs to have a shot at a field goal. "Field goal kickers ought to be more more valuable than the speed-merchant "Have you ever seen a game won by a accurate than punters," says one coach specialists who fly downfield to cover 3-0 score? Sure you have. Nine times out who often used his kicker in the afore the kick. of ten, that field goal has come about mentioned manner."I found they could The punting teams are regarded as the after a game-long battle of field position. kick the ball out of bounds from long most important of the special teams, And it was the punting that determined distance better than most punters, and since teams usually punt more often the outcome of that battle." the other team often was unaware of than they kick off or attempt field goals. Of course, don't forget the admonition what we were doing." "If you figure you are going to punt six that special teams and field position can Vyho are the most important players to eight times per game," one coach fig win games "cdl things being equal." On on the speci2il teams? ures,"thenyou are probably going to use that November afternoon in Colorado On the punting team, they are obvi that 'play' more often than most single last fall, when Weil and Wyoming had the ously the snapper and the punter. Long plays your offense runs. It's certainly better of the special team's play and field snapping is a football art form, one that worth giving one of your most frequently position, it was Colorado State quarter^ is practiced often by players who othei^ used plays an adequate amount of time back Steve Fairchild who provided the wise might never have an opportunity to in practice." inequality. He completed 28 of 35 passes play college baU. But how can special teams actually be for 406 yards and three touchdowns. "I remember one year when we lost responsible for the outcome of a game? Which just goes to prove that the best our season opener because of two bad How can they enable a poorer team to field position of all is in the opponent's snaps from center on punts," a coach re defeat one with better overall personnel? end zone. calls."The following Monday, I tried just "No matter how poor a team's offense about every player on the team to find a is," explains one college coach,"if it can

The punting units are regarded as the most important of the special teams because they usually see more action during a game.