Quick kick
Encyclopedia
In American football
and Canadian football
, a quick kick is any punt
made under conditions such that the opposing team "should not" expect a punt. Typically this has been a kick from scrimmage from a formation that is, or resembles, one usually used other than for punting, or at least not resembling the one usually used for punting. Typically it will also be on some down before last down (last down being 3rd in Canadian, and, since 1912, 4th in American football), unless done from a formation usually used for place kicking; if opponents begin to anticipate quick kick on next-to-last down, then it may be done on a previous down.
If a team uses the quick kick a lot, surprise can be maintained only by their also having a fake quick kick play. One type of such play is the equivalent of the Statue of Liberty play
for the forward pass: the ostensible punter holds the ball out as if to drop it, then hands it to a teammate stepping behind or in front of him.
The quick kick is usually done from closer to the line of scrimmage than an ordinary punt. For approximately the decade of the 1910s in American football, the rules discouraged the quick kick by requiring that the ball be kicked from at least 5 yards behind one's line of scrimmage. Because of the closeness of the opposing team, the approach the kicker uses before dropping the ball for a quick kick is often designed to decrease the distance forward that the punter will step, and/or to reduce the time of the approach. One such technique is the "rocker step", in which the punter first steps backward and then rocks forward. Another is to take a somewhat sideways approach, leaning and kicking somewhat "across the body"; for a right-footed kicker this means approaching toward the right while leaning left.
A quick kick made relatively close to the opposing goal line is often executed by a technique called a "pooch punt
", which is a more controlled kick. A typical last down punt or a punt taken as a free kick is done with the emphasis mostly on maximizing distance.
made 20 quick kicks during his career, including one of the longest punts in NFL history, 91 yards, in 1989. Paul Bryant
was known to have used this on third downs when up big or as Kenny Stabler once said "I wanted to see how our defense could do". Another, more recent example is that of Kellen Moore
of Boise State University
against Louisiana Tech on October 26, 2010, when Moore delivered a 54-yard punt.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and Canadian football
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
, a quick kick is any punt
Punt (football)
In some codes of football, a punt is a play in which a player drops the ball and kicks it before it touches the ground. A punt is in contrast to a drop kick, in which the ball touches the ground before being kicked....
made under conditions such that the opposing team "should not" expect a punt. Typically this has been a kick from scrimmage from a formation that is, or resembles, one usually used other than for punting, or at least not resembling the one usually used for punting. Typically it will also be on some down before last down (last down being 3rd in Canadian, and, since 1912, 4th in American football), unless done from a formation usually used for place kicking; if opponents begin to anticipate quick kick on next-to-last down, then it may be done on a previous down.
Purpose
The purpose of a quick kick is the same as that for all punting, but with additional hope of:- preventing a runback (return) of the ball by the opponents,
- additional distance by the ball's bouncing or rolling instead of being fielded by an opponent, and
- (where legal) recovery and retained possession of the ball by the kicking team.
Disadvantages
The disadvantages (required for the punt to be unexpected) are one or more of these:- earlier sacrifice of possession of the ball, or sacrifice of a kick at goal (field goalField goal (football)A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
); - greater exposure to the kick's being blocked by an opponent (although that may be mitigated by its being unexpected), or inadvertently by a teammate;
- sacrificing distance or accuracy by need of being done quickly; and/or
- being done by someone other than the team's best punter.
More likely
Factors that make a quick kick more likely:- the play's being in a team's repertoire (practically a necessity for any play's likelihood)
- long distance to go for a new first down
- the other team's not showing anticipation of a quick kick, as by dropping a safety player far back
- being close to one's own goal line
- being close enough to the other team's goal line that a field goal attempt is credible, but far enough that its success is not likely
- current or historic rules allowing for the kicking team to recover and retain possession of the ball; see onside kickOnside kickIn American and Canadian football, an onside kick is a type of kick used at a kickoff or other free kick, or scrimmage kick or other kick during play, in which the ball is kicked favorably for the kicking team to avoid giving away the ball...
- the team's having a player good at both punting and other backfield roles
- the team's not having a good specialist at punting
- conditions that make long drives (moving the ball in continuous team possession) unlikely
- a strong wind blowing either with or against the team; a headwind would encourage a low kick which, if expected, would get quickly to the other team for a runback; a tailwind could allow an unfielded kick much extra distance
- hard playing surface, allowing extra distance via bounce
- the punter-to-be's lining up a yard or so deeper in formation than that back's usual position, (sometimes concealed by other backs' lining up deeper too) or going in motion by backpedaling
- fashion in the circuit in which the game is played
- to confuse the other team
If a team uses the quick kick a lot, surprise can be maintained only by their also having a fake quick kick play. One type of such play is the equivalent of the Statue of Liberty play
Statue of Liberty play
The Statue of Liberty is a trick play in American football, occasionally seen in high school football, college football and the NFL.-Execution of the play:...
for the forward pass: the ostensible punter holds the ball out as if to drop it, then hands it to a teammate stepping behind or in front of him.
The quick kick is usually done from closer to the line of scrimmage than an ordinary punt. For approximately the decade of the 1910s in American football, the rules discouraged the quick kick by requiring that the ball be kicked from at least 5 yards behind one's line of scrimmage. Because of the closeness of the opposing team, the approach the kicker uses before dropping the ball for a quick kick is often designed to decrease the distance forward that the punter will step, and/or to reduce the time of the approach. One such technique is the "rocker step", in which the punter first steps backward and then rocks forward. Another is to take a somewhat sideways approach, leaning and kicking somewhat "across the body"; for a right-footed kicker this means approaching toward the right while leaning left.
A quick kick made relatively close to the opposing goal line is often executed by a technique called a "pooch punt
Drop punt
A drop punt is a type of kick in various codes of football.It is the primary method of disposing the ball by foot in Australian rules football and the name describes its technique. The ball is held vertically, and dropped and kicked before it hits the ground, resulting in the ball spinning...
", which is a more controlled kick. A typical last down punt or a punt taken as a free kick is done with the emphasis mostly on maximizing distance.
Frequency
Quick kicks are relatively rare in American football, but they have never completely disappeared. Quarterback Randall CunninghamRandall Cunningham
Randall W. Cunningham is a former American football quarterback.After playing college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he was selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he remained through the 1995 season...
made 20 quick kicks during his career, including one of the longest punts in NFL history, 91 yards, in 1989. Paul Bryant
Paul Bryant
Paul Bryant may refer to:* Bear Bryant , American football coach* Paul Bryant , , British disc jockey* Cubby Bryant , American radio personality...
was known to have used this on third downs when up big or as Kenny Stabler once said "I wanted to see how our defense could do". Another, more recent example is that of Kellen Moore
Kellen Moore
Kellen Moore is an American football quarterback with the Boise State Broncos of the Mountain West Conference . Moore was born in Prosser, Washington and finished fourth out of four in voting for the 2010 Heisman Trophy....
of Boise State University
Boise State University
Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965...
against Louisiana Tech on October 26, 2010, when Moore delivered a 54-yard punt.