Playbooks
Nfl Kickoff is the standard special teams set inside the Kickoff formation, and it is the one you will live in on every score and to open each half. Unlike onside or squib variants that pull coverage players tight and change the alignment of the front line, Nfl Kickoff spreads all ten coverage defenders across the width of the field at even intervals behind the kicker, giving you balanced lane integrity from numbers to numbers. There is no true personnel group here: you are running your special teams depth chart, which means the gunners, backup linebackers, and reserve safeties you assign in franchise directly determine how fast your coverage unit closes on the returner.
The three plays in the set (Kickoff Deep Left, Kickoff Deep Middle, Kickoff Deep Right) are placement calls, not blocking scheme changes. Deep Middle is the touchback default and the safest call when you do not want to user the kick. Deep Left and Deep Right pin the ball toward a boundary, which shortens the field the return unit can work with and lets your coverage defenders squeeze the return into the sideline. The functional matchup advantage in this set comes from your speed distribution: put your fastest special teams players on the outside lanes when you call Deep Left or Deep Right, because those are the defenders who have to beat the wedge to the corner.
Because the meter and the directional stick both matter here, Nfl Kickoff rewards players who treat the kick as a skill input rather than an auto call. Power, accuracy, and post release loft control let you drop a high, short kick around the 5 yard line that arrives at the same time as your coverage, which is the single most effective way to hold a returner inside the 20 without risking a touchback.
Call Kickoff Deep Middle with a touchback when you are protecting a two score lead late, because the free 5 yards is always worth avoiding a return variance swing.
Use Deep Left or Deep Right against opponents who consistently return the ball, and aim the arrow toward the sideline your fastest coverage player is aligned on.
Practice the high short kick: aim slightly short of the goal line and add loft so the ball hangs, then let your coverage unit arrive with the catch instead of after it.
Edit your special teams depth chart in franchise and stack it with your fastest reserve defensive backs and linebackers, since coverage speed decides more kickoff outcomes than kick power does.
User the coverage defender closest to the ball rather than the outside contain man, and take a conservative pursuit angle so you funnel the returner back into your unblocked teammates.