Playbooks
Landingzone Return Left is a designed kick return play that pushes the entire wall and return lane to the left side of the field, funneling the return man behind a staggered blocking wedge. The blocking scheme sets up double team blocks on the first wave of coverage defenders while alley blockers peel back to seal off pursuit angles from the return lane. Your primary read is patience: let the wall form, press the cutback lane if the left alley gets sealed, and look for the first crease created by your leading blockers before committing north.
Identify the gunners lined up outside the numbers on the receiving team's left side, since they are the first defenders your wall blockers must engage. Watch for contain defenders crashing hard down the outside lane, this is the primary defense that kills the Return Left blocking scheme if your alley blockers get beat off the snap. Check the depth of the second level coverage defenders (typically linebackers and safeties on kick coverage), a shallow second wave means the cutback lane behind the wall will be tighter. If the coverage team overloads bodies to the return side pre-kick, expect a squeeze from both sidelines, be ready to cut back through the middle trap lane instead of forcing the left side. Watch for a lone deep safety staying home as the last line of defense, he dictates whether you can turn the corner outside the wall or must cut upfield immediately after the initial blocks clear.
Take control of your return man immediately after the catch and stay behind the wall instead of trying to outrun coverage laterally.
Watch the kicking team's coverage lanes pre-snap, if they are stacked heavier on the right hash, Landingzone Return Left exploits the vacated left side.
Use manual sprint bursts only after your blockers engage, premature acceleration will get you caught by outside contain defenders (gunners) before the wall sets.
Pair this play with Landingzone Return Right in your return call sequence so the opposing coverage team cannot key blocking angles based on your tendencies.
On squib kicks or short kicks, switch to Landingzone Return Middle New or Landingzone Return Middle Trap instead, since the left wall needs a deep kick to fully develop.