Playbooks
Landingzone Safety Return Middle is a kick return play run out of the Safety Kick Return formation, designed to funnel the return up the gut of the field behind a wall of blockers forming a middle return lane. This is a special teams return scheme, not a passing or run play from scrimmage, so there is no route concept or coverage beater involved. The primary read progression is for the returner to key the initial wall of blockers forming up the middle, identify the first wave of kicking team defenders getting engaged, then look for a crease off either hash before accelerating vertically once he clears the second level of coverage.
Identify the kicking team's gunner speed and release angles pre-kick, since fast gunners crashing down the middle can blow up this return before the wall sets. Watch for a personal protector or safety-type defender staying back deep as a last line of defense, because that player is the key open field tackler you need to shake after breaking the middle lane. If the kicking team shows a spread coverage look with defenders honoring both sidelines, the middle lane will be softer and this play becomes highly effective. Beware of kicking teams that funnel coverage defenders early toward the middle hash, since a heavy middle commitment on their end can clog your primary running lane and force you to bounce outside. Track user-controlled defenders on the kicking team who bait a lane then redirect, since experienced opponents will sometimes disguise their pursuit angle to sell the middle before crashing late.
Take control of your returner immediately at the catch point so you can manually track the developing middle lane instead of relying on the CPU to find the crease.
Use this play in short yardage kickoff situations or when you need a straightforward return without overcommitting bodies to one sideline, since the middle alignment keeps options open on both hashes.
Pair this with Landingzone Safety Return Left or Landingzone Safety Return Right if the opposing kicking team consistently overloads one side, giving you a lane-based counter based on their pre-snap kick coverage alignment.
Watch the kicker's approach angle and hang time before the catch. High hang time favors this play since your blockers have more time to set the middle wall before the kicking team's fastest defenders arrive.
If you notice the return team stacking gunners wide on both sides pre-kick, this play exploits the vacated middle of the field and should be your default call.