Category: Special Teams
Type: Play
WEDGE KICK OFF RETURN
The Wedge calls for 5 linemen up front, ten yards from the ball as the first wall. These linemen are seldom the largest on the team, as both size and speed are requirements for inclusion to the kick off team--an honored position on my team.
The second wall has three players. These players are usually of the linebacker, tight end, or fullback variety. An up back, and two deep backs round out the formation. The front line's primary responsibility is to ensure the ball is in fact kicked deep.
After verifying the kick, the center turns his back to the kicking team and sprints back towards the deep backs looking directly at the up back. When the up back points to, or otherwise signals the center, the center turns around and starts back up field. The two guards to each immediate side of the center do not turn their backs to the kicking team. Instead, they run diagonally back narrowing their relative proximity to the center. The tackles do the same, narrowing down the gaps from the guards. When the center turns around, the other four linemen come shoulder to shoulder and sprint up field presenting a unified front, or wedge of massive bodies. Their responsibility is not to single out individual defenders to block, rather it is to maintain the wedge and progress rapidly up field.
The first line should never drop back past the 25 (or 20) yard line before racing back up field. The second line back peddles no more than 10 yards and forms a second wall joined by the up back and the non receiving deep back. This second wall fills any gaps created in the wedge and picks off specific tacklers as they threaten the wedge, particularly from the flanks.
The ball returnee falls in behind the wedge seeking and willing to follow the mass of bodies up field, but remains poised and ready to explode through any presenting gap or seam that might become available. The wedge can be run regardless of where the kick goes, as the ball carrier can run to the wedge.
Submitted by: Coach Hutchison
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