April, Rocca and directional punting
Will Bobby April count on Sav Rocca to punt the ball out of bounds when the Eagles face dangerous punt returners? He talked about that during a media gathering earlier this week.
April, Rocca and directional punting
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
During our in-game chats over the last two years, the same question is brought up every time the Eagles face a dangerous punt returner.
Why don't they just kick the ball out of bounds?!
I always try to explain that it's not that simple, but new Eagles special teams coach Bobby April offered a better explanation when I asked him a question about directional punting during Tuesday's media event at the Novacare Complex.
April demonstrated that for a punter to boot the ball out of bounds, he has to move in the direction where he wants the ball to go. Special teams protection is generally set up for the punter to have a pocket, much like a quarterback. When a punter wants to aim for the sidelines, he has to take several steps in that direction, meaning either protection has to shift or he risks having the punt blocked.
April said that kind of movement could be something Sav Rocca does a little bit more, given his Australian Rules Football background, but his explanation for why it's not done more league-wide made sense. April said if he were confident in a punter to kick the ball out of bounds, he would ask him to do it every time since it eliminates the possibility of any kind of return.
Another interesting nugget from the lively special teams coach, who slipped into imitations of Bill Cowher and Chan Gailey without thinking twice, was his take on calling for a trick play. In my mind, I always pictured special teams coaches constantly trying to convince head coaches to run fake punts, fake field goals, onside kicks, etc.
But April presented a different side of the equation. As the special teams coach, it's his job to speak up if he sees an opportunity for a trick play. Often times, those things are decided during the week, as early as Tuesday (although the situation in the game obviously has to be right).
When the head coach decides to go for it, it's a heightened level of nervousness for April, not excitement. If the trick play goes wrong, it's what everyone's talking about after the game - fans, reporters, even his peers and players.
In other words, they are high-risk calls that occasionally provide a big-time reward.
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I'd be jumping for joy if Rocca would just get it down the field. This guy's got a big time leg with his (only) one-step windup; he should be nailing it 50-60 yds every time.
You don't coach football to be coddled. Grow some stones and go for it!— IgglesFan79- Andy Reid is addicted to trick plays. Whats next, Sav Rocca imitating Randall Cunningham? Reid falls short on basic football items like: CLOCK MANAGEMENT and RUSHING OFFENSE.— Smashmouth
- "I punt from the land down unda'...where women blow and men chunda"— dragoon6
- Seems the "quick kick" could work even better....surprise and the ball is wobbly and prone for fumbles.— psuwelsh
Comment removed.- I say Reid should put in an Aussie Rules play for Rocca -- have him run around the left end, bounce the ball on the ground, run a few steps and drop kick. Oy!— J H
- Love it JH!— Trifecta
- This guy April sounds like he knows what he's doing, I just hope the actions of ST's match the words.— dlivesay
Rocca gets the balls outside the numbers (hashmarks) about 2/3 of the time which is about twice the average for punters. This allows for better coverage downfield.— ICDogg
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