NFL Punting Mechanics and Analysis

                                                   

           As a swing coach, the most important(and most difficult) thing to do is understand each players 'stroke' and know how to diagnose the inconsistencies. The exact  mechanics of the punting motion and leg action has to be defined to each and every punter. I try to emphasise the important of balance and the need for one fluid motion. I've found that if the proper posture(neutral hips) is maintained throughout the entire punting motion(catch to kick), the steps, drop and leg snap will follow in harmony.

            That being said, I've had great success this year as Bio-mechanics Adviser to Cincinnati Bengals' P Kevin Huber, St. Louis Rams' P Donnie Jones and New England Patriots' P Zoltan Mesko.  

           The following is an analysis of St Louis Rams All Pro punter Donnie Jones prior to the 2009 season. Since being the first punter in NFL history to average over 50 yds gross and 40 yds net in 2008, Donnie has proven to be one of the premier punters in the NFL. Take note of Donnie's posture and drop preparation(inset). By maintaining this posture and preparing the drop 'out in front', the odds of making solid ball contact are greatly increased.

                 

      

THE ART OF PUNTING

        Rhythm, timing and patience are the key elements required to execute an effective punt. From catch to kick, punting is one fluid motion. After all the work, after all the repetitions, after the mental  preparation, we must trust the process while in the heat of battle. A great punt is the product of trusting the process. An 11 yard block point is a product of trusting the process. A 1.2 second “catch to kick” is the product of trusting the process. A punt with 5.0 second hang time is a product of trusting the process. As in all aspects of life, we have to let go in order to gain control. We can’t squeeze it, white knuckle it or force it to happen. We have to let it happen. Less is More - Once a consistent rhythm is minimal physical effort by allowing your lower leg to properly release which will violently snap your foot through the hitting zone established, less effort actually produces better results.  We need to take a deep breath, relax, trust the process, and finish.

                                    INTRODUCTION

             

              Field position is one of the key ingredients to winning in the game of football.  An effective punter that can change field position is a priceless commodity. The process of punting has four major elements: 1) The Posture/ Body Angle, 2) The Footwork, 3) The Drop and 4) The Leg Snap. Mastering each element will be only made possible by being mentally and physically prepared to compete every time you step on the field. By following faithful daily routines of drill work and conditioning, the punter will be able to repeat the one fluid motion needed to achieve effective hang time, distance and placement.

        Maintaining the proper body angle, “letting your hands work” on the grip, “letting your get feet into the ground” on the approach, "floating the drop" to the hitting zone, the patience of  "waiting” on the leg snap and ”finishing” the kick will give you the best chance of becoming an efficient punter.

       Due to the aggressive nature of the game of football, patience and timing are skills that are only mastered through mental preparation, repetition and muscle memory. The philosophy of the “Set and Pull ” technique is to maximize foot speed with minimal physical effort by allowing your lower leg to properly release which will violently snap your foot through the hitting zone.

                      PLAYER ANALYSIS

     Donnie Jones is a great  athlete with sound flexibility and technique. He has worked exceptionally hard to master the "Set and Pull" technique in order create exceptional leg speed. Donnie's success is directly due to his focus on the process. He has contined to do the  work necessary to be consistent mentally as well as physically. After years of snapping his leg properly, he knows what it feels like to do it right . Donnie knows he needs to start his "RHYTHM" as soon as the snap hits his hands. His get-off times are quick and his hang times are consistant because he works the drills daily.

     

      Donnie's make exceptional progress working on the following : 


1) "LETTING" YOUR FEET GET INTO THE GROUND - As he receives the snap, start his rhythm - keeping his steps short and  behind him on the approach,


 2) WORK YOUR HANDS and FLOAT(STICK) IT - adjusting his drop during his approach and floating it outside his left knee with more urgency (keeping it on the “PRO SIDE”), 


3) STAND TALL - by bending at the waist and maintaining his body angle and  stable/neutral hips(neutral hips won’t slide),


 4) SET IT - setting his leg properly and keeping it set prior to leg snap,


 5) GET UP THROUGH IT- integrating his plant leg into the process, pushing off up and through the ball as the kicking leg snaps, and most of all, 


6) PATIENCE – WAIT ON IT - waiting on his knee to clear, snapping his lower leg up versus down. On film, he should be snapping his lower leg "up and through" the ball in front of his body vs down/behind his body.

   Donnie knows to embrace the drills and workouts as well as really focus on his concentration. Mental toughness is needed to replicate the technique consistently. A good rhythm of “Catch to Kick” will be needed to be successful in the 1.2 get off range.  Starting his consistent rhythm, working his hands effortlessly, setting his leg,  letting his feet fall into the ground on approach , floating his drop, and finishing his kicks will be the focus point.

Good punting - GM

Michigan State Punter ...... Or Linebacker?

Patience Process Letting Go

      I'm sitting in my hotel room contemplating the word  'destiny'. How do I share my message of hope? How do I get kids to take action? Do I need to package it in a way that kids can digest it? I know my Rise Up Detroit project is noble. I'm working out the details w/ founder Michael Corbin for the everyminute.org relaunch. I'm coaching aspiring punters across the nation. I'm trying to 'help'.

      This week I'm at the University of Alabama, helping the coaches learn how teach my 'Set & Pull' technique. Seeing the droves of kids coming in for workouts, it takes me back to my first days in college......wanting success so bad I could taste it. My heart would pound when it was my turn to 'show my wears'. To punt the football. It's taken many years of deep reflection to answer this question  "Why was I  so stressed out when it came to performance?" The answer lies in the work.

    The science of punting was in it's early development in the '80's. With the evolution of film analysis and integration of bio-mechanics, I've finally realized how the punting motion works. The elusive 'why' I'd been looking for all these years. When I was playing, I had no concept of the word 'relax'. My 'repeater swing' needed to be meticulously practiced. Even though I had to re-learn it every day,  I would eventually 'find my groove'. I can remember going in after practice and watching film.  I focused on my body angle, leg extension and foot position at impact. I made sure to finish each kick with my leg high in the air.If  I wasn't doing it to my satisfaction on film, I would go back out and fix it. That's what I 'saw' in pictures while growing up in New Jersey. Legendary punters Ray Guy and Dave Jennings would always finish with their leg  high up into the air. I did my best to imitate this technique my entire career. But in the depths of my subconscious mind, I knew there was an easier way. 

        My 'Set & Pull' punting epiphany came to me in the spring of 2000. Three(3) years removed from the game, I finally understood the concept of 'letting go in order to gain control'. I realized why I had such a tough time having fun playing the game of football. Undiagnosed torn ligaments in my hip and a broken back didn't help things much,  but I knew there was an easier way to create leg(foot) speed.  I didn't have the patience(or bio-mechanic) knowledge to relax and allow my leg to release. My negative mental 'chatter' caused me to drift. I focused on 'results' versus 'process'. I knew I could do better. I wanted to be perfect.

         The game of life has a strange way of teaching us lessons. After all the years of work. The countless  hours of frustrating trial and error. The lesson was this ....  All I had to do was "let go". 

 This is why I teach................GM

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A Ticket To Ride

           One of my goals is to teach as many kids as possible the secret to punting the football consistently. Many retired college/ NFL players and coaches can 'pop a Bud", tell war stories and go on about who they played with. This is whole different ball game...... I want to teach what hasn't been taught before. I want to share my hard earned wisdom and give every dedicated high school/college punter the ability to earn a scholarship and experience the thrill of punting in front of 100,000 fans. I want to let each athlete know the importance of being part of a team. The importance of getting your degree and using football as a stepping stone to life. My relationships with head coaches across the country will open the doors. There are hundreds of schools that are looking for punters, kickers and long snappers. And if I believe in you, I'll make sure every college and university is aware of your talent. It's a matter of developing a consistent rhythm and being able to repeat it under pressure. The Set & Pull punting technique is the ticket to be part of a team, to build self esteem and fulfill a dream.

        There are many camps and great coaches that can help you develop into a competitive punter. Steve Hoffman, Pat Sempier,  Mike McCabe, Gary Zauner to name a few. Not for their lack of effort or passion, but too many coaches fall into the trap of focusing on the 'results'. The hang time. The 'get off' time. The drop. High extension. The secret is to learn how to 'snap your leg'. These are all products of a process. When you learn to snap your leg properly, the get off time, the stepping pattern, the drop, your extension, trajectory, placement and hang time will simply fall into place.This is where the 'Set & Pull' technique comes into play.

  While I was playing at Michigan State and then the following 9 years in the NFL,  I would tell myself -  "Get the drop out", "Take short, urgent steps" , "Keep your head down", "Get your leg up into the air". These are all valid goals and coaching points. And I did a pretty good job of executing them. However they are all 'products' of the the 'process' of snapping your leg properly. The Set & Pull. 5.0 The "All Pro Move". Staying balanced physically and mentally. Keeping your shoulders, hips and feet square. Letting go in order to gain control.

      During my whole career, I was constantly looking for the perfect stroke. I would say to myself " It's got to be easier than this!!!". Grinding it out on the practice field. Always feeling 'rushed'. A tendency of mine was always trying to 'kill it'. Which would lead to long steps, inconsistent drops and mis-hits.When I finally figured out how to REALLY snap your leg, I was 5 years removed from the game. It's definitely not easy to do. If it was, everybody would be out punting footballs. It takes time and dedication to the 'process'.

If you can get a hold of some old film of Ray Guy, you'll see poetry in motion. Ray Guy's flexibility and innate ability to snap his leg has been a mystery.......... until now.

     While coaching St. Louis Rams' Donnie Jones the technique at LSU, he struggled at first. The patience and timing needed to execute the Set & Pull technique can be elusive. I've had many students that would say "I can't do this!". But Donnie stuck with it and is one of the premier punters in the NFL!

    The same can be said of Alabama's PJ Fitzgerald. At first, PJ struggled with the idea of  using the S&P  move. "Letting go in order to gain control". But he stuck it out, worked with Mike McCabe at One On One Kicking, and had a brilliant senior season and was an integral part of the 2009 National Champion Crimson Tide.

      Years of trial and error in the heat of battle, infinite hours of film analysis and coaching  has led to my development of the most efficient style of punting to date......... The Set & Pull 5.0. The 'All Pro Move'. I'm looking forward to teaching this technique to the masses........ Parents and coaches included.

Balance and Posture

There are many reasons why I teach the 'Set & Pull' technique, but one of the most important is that it eliminates the many 'moving parts' that come with punting the football at the amateur level. If we can simplify our 'stroke' and repeat it consistently, we'll have the best chance at having fun and performing at our highest level.

    One of the most over-looked aspects of punting the football is balance and posture. Similar to a golfer getting ready to start his/her swimg or a baseball player in the batter's box, one common denominator is the positioning of the feet and body. In order to create the most kinetic energy possible( foot speed, club head speed, bat speed, etc), our posture and balance must be solid. With solid balance, we'll be able to allow our body to unfold naturally, giving us the least resistance and maximum foot speed.

    

    Within the 'Set & Pull' technique, I teach an 'adjustment step', so my balanced 'ready position' is as follows:

      With feet shoulders width apart, take a balanced stance with the 'plant foot' forward.  The toe of the kicking foot aligns with the instep of the plant foot. The enables us to athletically move  laterally and vertically if the snap is off target. Since I teach our athletes to have a  'bounce in their step', I like the weight of the body slightly towards the toes.  With your chin up slightly, take a deep breathe, exhale and bend at the waist. (see photo). The shoulders, arms, hands, hips and feet are square to the target. Let your arms hang naturally in front of you with your thumbs gently opening outward. This will give your long snapper a good target.

      Energy is stored in both of our legs(plant and kicking). In true game conditions, the flight of the ball from the long  snapper will vary. Being in a relaxed  'football position' when the ball arrives helps us get into 'the  flow' of a smooth stepping pattern. This balance and posture will keep our feet 'under us' during the stepping pattern. In order to take advantage of all of the leverage and power of the 'Set & Pull', we must have patience and remain relaxed and balanced throughout the motion.

      One of the many benefits of keeping our feet 'under us' with a solid base is that the drop will have a better chance of being released into the 'hitting zone'. When we take long steps, lean back and 'come out of it' at impact, we 1) lose balance and power, 2) lengthen our kicking leg and 3) shorten our drop. This leads to the feeling of having a 'short drop', when in reality you've created a 'long leg'.  Work on keeping your feet 'behind you' during the stepping pattern and you'll feel the balance and control needed to 'rip it'.

Good Punting- GM

All-Pro Special Teams Academy

    
        To have success in the kicking game, foot speed is most vital component.

       Beginning November 15th, 2011, my team of current/former All-Pro NFL players will be available for individual and group instruction in  Florida. In addition to a step by step introduction to the 'Set & Pull' technique, the 'a la carte' menu will include in-depth film analysis, a bio-mechanics evaluation, pool training as well as customized strength and conditioning programs with former NFL strength coach Jeff Fronk (www.fitnessbyfronk.com).

   To inquire about available times and pricing,  please contact Coach Montgomery via thepuntingcoach@gmail.com or call 248-752-7572.