CFB 27 Kickoff Strategy: Squib, Sky, and Directional Kicks
CFB 27 Kickoff Strategy: Squib, Sky, and Directional Kicks
The Most Overlooked Play in Football
The kickoff is the only play in CFB 27 that happens after every score and at the start of each half, yet it receives less strategic attention than any other phase of the game. Most players boot the ball through the end zone for a touchback and move on. But the kickoff is a tool — a way to dictate where the opponent starts their drive, to burn clock in critical situations, and to prevent explosive returns that can swing momentum in an instant. Understanding the full kickoff menu — the deep kick, the squib kick, the sky kick, and the directional kick — gives you options that your opponent probably is not prepared for. For kickoff strategy discussions, visit CFB27.com (https://cfb27.com/).
The Deep Kick: Default but Not Always Optimal
The deep kick for a touchback is the default choice because it eliminates the possibility of a return touchdown and guarantees the opponent starts at the 25-yard line. It is the correct call in most situations — when you are ahead and want to minimize variance, when the opponent has an elite returner, or when your kick coverage unit is weak. However, there are situations where the deep kick is suboptimal. If the opponent has a slow, methodical offense that struggles to drive the length of the field, the touchback actually helps them by giving them predictable field position every drive. If you have an elite coverage unit with fast, high-hit-power players, a high hang-time kick inside the five-yard line can pin the opponent deeper than a touchback.
The Squib Kick: Burning Clock and Creating Chaos
The squib kick — a low, bouncing kick along the ground — serves two purposes in CFB 27. First, it burns clock: the ball bounces unpredictably, and the return team cannot field it cleanly, which forces them to waste time chasing it down. This makes the squib kick essential in end-of-half and end-of-game situations where the opponent needs time to drive down the field. Second, the squib creates chaos: the ball is often fielded by an offensive lineman or tight end who is not a natural ball-carrier, and those players are slower and more fumble-prone than return specialists. The downside is field position — a squib kick typically results in the opponent starting around the 35-40 yard line, which is worse than a touchback. Reserve the squib for clock-burning situations specifically.
The Sky Kick and Directional Kick
The sky kick — a high, short kick that lands around the 10-yard line with maximum hang time — is designed not to prevent a return but to force a return in unfavorable circumstances for the return team. Your coverage players arrive as the ball comes down, and the returner is hit before he can reach full speed. The directional kickoff aims the ball toward the sideline, forcing the returner to field it near the boundary where the sideline acts as an extra defender — if the returner hesitates or runs laterally, your coverage can pin him against the sideline. Both the sky kick and directional kick require practice to execute consistently, and the ideal power level varies by kicker. Spend time in practice mode mastering these alternatives. Connect with the CFB27.com (https://cfb27.com/) special teams community for kicker recommendations and technique tips.