Playbooks
Field Goal Return
At a Glance
Overview
The Field Goal Return set is the defensive special teams look you bring out when the opponent lines up for a field goal attempt. Its only play, Fg Block Return, differs from a standard all-out block look because it drops a returner deep near the goal line or in the end zone. The rest of the unit still pressures the kick. The call has two goals: get a hand on the ball up front, and keep a live return option behind the line for short or missed long attempts. Because the ball is live on a missed field goal that lands in the field of play or is fielded in the end zone, this set turns a failed kick into a potential kick six.
The alignment has no traditional personnel grouping. You get a loaded front of rushers crowding the interior and edges, and a lone returner stationed deep. Pulling one body out of the rush means slightly less push than a maximum block call. In exchange, you gain a speed player who can punish a kicker attempting from 50+ yards. The core matchup it creates is your fastest returner against the field goal unit's slow linemen and kicker. Once the ball is fielded, that unit has almost no coverage speed.
In competitive play this set is about controlling variance at the end of halves and games. When the opponent is forced into a long attempt with the clock near zero, a missed kick fielded by a dangerous returner can flip a result instantly. Meanwhile your user-controlled rusher can still attack the block lane and force the kicker to rush his timing.
Strengths
- Stations a live returner deep to field short or missed long attempts, creating kick six potential that a standard block call cannot offer
- Punishes long field goals (50+ yards) at the end of halves, when low kick trajectory and weak accuracy make misses and short kicks likely
- The field goal unit is built with linemen and a kicker, so any clean catch by a fast returner faces minimal coverage speed and open lanes to the sideline
- Still brings a loaded front, so a user-controlled rusher timing the snap can shoot the interior or edge gap and contest the kick
- Pressure up front can bait the opponent into a rushed kick or a fake decision, disrupting their special teams rhythm
Weaknesses
- Pulling a player back as the returner removes a rusher, lowering block probability compared to a pure maximum block call
- Vulnerable to fakes, since a thinner front and a deep returner leave flats and short zones unaccounted for if the holder or kicker runs or throws
- Offsides and roughing the kicker penalties while user-rushing can hand the offense a fresh set of downs or a shorter kick
- On short, high percentage attempts the returner is essentially wasted, because the kick almost always clears the crossbar
- A botched return decision, such as fielding a ball deep in the end zone and getting tackled at the one, can cost field position on a play that would otherwise be a touchback
Usage Tips
Call Fg Block Return primarily on long attempts at the end of a half or game, where a miss fielded in the field of play gives you a free shot at a game-breaking return
Before the snap, set your fastest, most elusive player as the returner in the depth chart so the deep man is a true home run threat
User the rusher lined up over the widest interior gap, anticipate the snap cadence rather than jumping early, and hit the block button as the kicker plants to avoid offsides
Against opponents with a history of fakes on fourth and short, switch to a safe look instead, because this set leaves the short areas vulnerable
Once the ball is fielded, attack the sideline away from the kicker's side immediately. Linemen pursue slowly, so speed to the edge beats cutting back into traffic
