John Papuchis breaks down how Florida State worked on special teams during spring

Florida State’s John Papuchis is entering his fourth season with the Seminoles as the defensive ends coach and special team coordinator. By now, he knows exactly what he’s looking for during the initial practices in the spring, where he first gets to install the various kick and punt playbooks. When asked at a recent press conference what the special teams units are focused on so far, he answered that they’re just starting to run some partial live action between a kicking and a return unit.

Here was his comment:

“You know, the spring, for us, is really a big focus on fundamentals and techniques, similar to the first couple weeks of our camp work. So we did work two different phases. We worked our combat zone, which is what we call it, combat zone compete, which is essentially kickoff cover vs. kickoff return, but in short area. So, you know, it’s not the full cover of the field but it’s the end of the play scenario.”

Papuchis went on to detail exactly what he’s looking from each side of the unit in drills like these.

“So for the for the coverage unit, obviously the the goal is to get off the block. When you don’t have time to runaround the block, it’s the two tap mentality: get off the block and make a play. And then for the return unit, instead of the guys having to drop and get to their landmarks, like you would on a return. Again, that space is closed, so it’s really about finishing the blocks and using the fundamentals and techniques that we teach. So we were able to get that complete.”

That’s some real nitty-gritty football talk right there and a neat insight into how FSU’s special teams operate in practice. Lastly, Papuchis said the ‘Noles have at least put in a punt unit so far, but are still in the initial stages of practicing all of these various formations.

“And then, the other thing that we install, because it has the most schematics to it, is our pun unit. So we have installed the punt unit. Today was was kind of the first time in a scrimmage setting that we were able to work that and we were able to work two groups in there. And I thought we got some really good work there.”

Florida State special teams is off and running in the 2023 offseason. Expect a crisp unit in the third phase in year four for John Papuchis