The 2019 New England Patriots blocked a team record 4 punts, the first time an NFL team had done so since the 2014 Eagles. Analyzing each blocked punt provides insight into how Special Teams units can be aggressive going after punts—teams who block punts win the vast majority of games. Further analysis also shows how to prevent unforced errors on your own punt team. Two of the blocked punts are primarily scheme related while the other two are primarily attributable to execution. Let’s start with the scheme blocks.
Week 14: 3rd Quarter, 4th & 19 from KC 35
On 4th & 19 from their own 35 the Chiefs line up in a standard spread pro punt formation, with three blockers to each side of the center, a personal protector, and a gunner split out wide to each side. The ball is on the left hash. The Patriots have eight men up, a jammer on each gunner, and one returner. Although they start with four men on each side, the Patriots shift to six right and two left from the punter’s perspective just before the snap with almost no space between them:
