George uses setup strategy to block punt Ira Kaufman, The Tampa Tribune, published 28 December 2015 Jeremiah George victimized the Chicago Bears with the old 1-2 punch Sunday. The second-year Bucs linebacker blocked a punt in the first quarter, setting it up by executing a savvy plan that began with Chicago’s opening possession. “I set it up on their previous punt,’’ said George, who was claimed off waivers from Jacksonville just before the start of the 2015 season. “I did a really good job of holding my guy up on their first punt, and he had a hard time getting down the field. The next time out, I knew he would want to get out really fast, so I swiped by him and it worked out perfectly.’’ George knifed in from the right side unblocked and basically smothered the punt directly off the foot of Patrick O’Donnell, who never had a chance. The ball caromed to Chicago’s 4-yard line, where George tried to grab it with one hand. Instead, teammate Howard Jones fell on the ball. On the next play, Doug Martin ran it in to put the Bucs ahead 7-0 midway through the opening quarter. “As I broke through, I was calm,’’ George said. “I didn’t want to miss the block, and I didn’t want to run into the punter. Then I heard the thud-thud and I got really excited when I went to pick the ball up. I was calm right up until the last moment.’’ When a jubilant George reached the sideline, coach Lovie Smith was waiting for him. “I ran over to Coach and he’s like, ‘You’ve got to scoop and score,’” George said. ”I was like, ‘Coach, I just blocked a punt.’ Still, I understand.’’