Playbooks

Nfl Kick Return

Kick Return·Personnel not specified

At a Glance

FormationKick Return
Personnel
Not specified
Plays3

In 86 playbooks

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Overview

Nfl Kick Return is the standard kickoff return set inside the Kick Return formation, and it is built around a full 11 man return unit rather than the specialty looks you get from hands team or safe return alignments. You get two returners deep, a five man front wall, and a second level wedge that sets up the initial double teams. Unlike the trick or reverse heavy sets in this formation, everything here is designed around clean, repeatable blocking assignments and letting your returner's speed and elusive ratings do the work.

Strengths

  • Return Middle Match Up assigns blockers directly to the nearest coverage defender, which is the most reliable way to avoid whiffed blocks against high awareness kick coverage units
  • Return Left Lead and Return Right Lead let you pick the sideline before the ball is kicked, so you can attack the side away from the kicking team's best coverage tackler
  • User controlling the returner in this set gives you full control over the cutback, and the lead blockers stay in front long enough to set up a jump cut off the wedge
  • Deep returner alignment forces the kicking team to actually kick the ball into play instead of consistently squibbing it short
  • Works with any high speed, high elusiveness returner, so a fast backup receiver or third string back can flip field position without any package tweaks

Weaknesses

  • Directional kicks to the sideline neutralize the lead blocking, since your wall is flowing one way and the ball lands in the opposite corner
  • Squib and low trajectory kicks force a mid level player to field the ball, taking your best returner out of the play entirely
  • A user controlled coverage defender shooting a gap in the front wall can blow up the return before the wedge ever forms
  • Committing to Return Left Lead or Return Right Lead pre kick means a poorly placed kick leaves your blockers running to nothing
  • Fumble risk climbs sharply if you try to field the ball on the move or start the return before securing the catch, especially with low carrying returners

Usage Tips

Default to Return Middle Match Up when you do not know the opponent's kick tendency, then switch to a lead call once you have seen two or three kicks land in the same spot

Take user control of the returner every time and let the AI handle blocking, since human cuts consistently beat the AI's return path

Watch the kicker's pre kick aim arrow and directional adjustment, then flip to the opposite lead call if the kick is trending to one hash

Trailing late with limited timeouts, live with a shorter return from Return Middle Match Up rather than forcing a sideline cutback that risks a fumble or a stop inside the 15

Put your fastest ball carrier with solid carrying at returner in franchise depth chart settings, not just the highest overall skill player

Plays (3)

Plays in Nfl Kick Return
PlayDiagramOpen
Return Left LeadKick Return
Return Middle Match UpKick Return
Return Right LeadKick Return

Other Sets in Kick Return

Landingzone Nfl Kick Return

9 Plays · Unknown

Onside Base

1 Play · Unknown

Onside Heavy

1 Play · Unknown

Onside Small

1 Play · Unknown