Formation (American football)
A Formation in American football refers to the position players line up in before the start of a play from scrimmage. There are both offensive and defensive formations and there are many formations in both categories.
Offensive formations
The offense almost always sets up first before a play. The rules of the game require an offensive formation to consist of seven players on the line of scrimmage, and four players at least one yard behind the line of scrimmage. Officially, only players at the ends of the line and the four backs may receive passes or advance the ball under normal game circumstances. Additionally, one back MAY be in motion either parallel to or away from (but NEVER towards) the line of scrimmage.
The above diagram shows the "T" formation, the most basic formation. In this diagram, "C", "G", and "T" are the center, guard, and tackle respectively. They are offensive linemen and are ineligible to handle the ball during active play. The QB is the quarterback. The quarterback has 3 options of what to do with the ball.
- He may keep the ball and run with it
- He may hand the ball backwards to a back (HB or FB), who may run or pass it
- He may throw a forward pass to the ends (TE) or the backs
At the highest level of play in the NFL and NCAA most teams play additional players near (but still behind) the line of scrimmage to act as extra pass receivers. The one constant in all formations is the offensive line, consisting of the left and right tackle, left and right guard, and a center. These five positions are often referred to collectively as the "line", and have the primary role of blocking. The two ends, which may be either wide receivers, or tight ends, may catch the ball. Of the four players behind the line, one is always the quarterback (defined as the player who receives the ball from the center) and three other backs. These backs can be half backs, (who primarily carry the ball), fullbacks, (who primarily block), or they can play near (but not on) the line of scrimmage to act as extra tight ends or wide receivers. A tight end that fills the role as the 4th back is often called an "H-Back" and a wide receiver that fills that role is sometimes known as a "flanker" or a "slot" receiver (depending on where he lines up). Most formations have a "strong" side (the side with the tight end, or the side with more players) and a "weak side" (the side opposite the tight end, or the side with less players). Below are the most common and historically significant offensive formations, along with descriptions and diagrams to display each. In each case, the diagrams will use the following symbols:
- QB = quarterback (the player who receives the snap to start the play)
- C = center (always the player who snaps the ball)
- G = guard
- T = tackle
- TE = tight end (also for H-back)
- WR = wide receiver (split end, flanker or slot receiver)
- HB = half back (the primary ball carrier)
- FB = full back (the primary blocking back)
It should be noted that this list is by no means exhaustive; there are literally hundreds of different ways to organize a team's players while still remaining within the "7 on the line 4 in the backfield rule" Still, this list of formations covers enough of the basics that almost every formation can be considered a variant of the ones listed below.
I formation
This is one of the most common formations used at all levels of football. It consists of two backs lined up behind the quarterback, with the back closest to the quarterback being called the fullback and the back behind the fullback called the running back, tailback, or I-back. The two backs line up either in a line (hence the name of the formation since it looks like a letter I) or with the fullback "offset" to either side. The fourth back is most commonly employed as an extra wide receiver. Here are three diagrams of I-Formation, strong side right (that is, with the tight end lining up to the right, typical for a right-handed quarterback). Notice that the 4th back required by the rules is the set-back wide receiver at the right (called the flanker).
Two other I formation variations include the Maryland I and the Power I. These formations lack a flanker, and use the maximum 3 running backs rather than the standard 2. They are used primarily as running formations. These may employ either tight ends or split ends (wide receivers) or one of each.[1]
Ace
Also known as "single back" formation. Consists of 1 running back lined up about five yards behind the quarterback. The other 2 backs can either act as extra tight ends or wide receivers. This formation is good for passing, but can also be good for running, as the extra wide receiver spreads the field and takes a defender out of the box.
Here is the basic single-back set. Notice the absence of a full back and the addition of the extra flanker. Since he is lined up in the space between the tackle and the split end, he is called the "slot" receiver. This formation may be referred to as "single back, slot left."
A variation of the ace is known as the spread formation. It utilizes 4 wide receivers and no tight ends. In the NFL, this formation was the basis of the Run-And-Shoot offense that was popular in the 1980s with teams such as the Detroit Lions and the Houston Oilers but has since fallen out of favor as a primary offensive formation.
It is often used as a pass formation, because of the extra wide receivers. It also makes an effective run formation, because it "spreads the field" and forces the defense to respect the pass, thus taking players out of the box. Certain college programs, such as the University of Hawaii and Texas Tech still use it as their primary formation. Brigham Young University also uses the spread offense, although they tend to employ their tight ends more frequently than the University of Hawaii and Texas Tech. TCU is also starting to employ the spread offense.
Joe Gibbs, twice head coach of the Washington Redskins, devised an ace variation that used a setback, or "flexed" tight end known as an H-back. In this formation, the normal tight-end is almost exclusively a blocker, while the H-back is primarily a pass receiver. This formation is often referred to as a "Two Tight End" set. Some teams (like the Indianapolis Colts under Tony Dungy) use this formation with both tight ends on the line and use two flankers. Many other teams in the NFL, even those that don't use this as a primary formation, still run some plays using a variant of this formation.
Split backs
Also called the "pro-set," this is similar to the I-formation and has the same variations. The difference is that the two backs are split behind the quarterback instead of being lined up behind him. This formation is most often associated with Bill Walsh's San Francisco 49ers teams of the 1980s and his West Coast Offense. A modern example of the "pro-set" can be seen in the Florida State University Seminoles offense, which favors a Split Backs formation. The Seattle Seahawks also favor this type of formation with the tight end usually being replaced with a third wide receiver
Single wing
This archaic formation was popular for most of the first 50 years of modern American football, but it is rare today, except as a novelty. There are many variations of this formation with really the only common thread being that, rather than lining up "under center," the quarterback is lined up a few yards behind with RBs on either side of him (similar to a modern shotgun formation).[2]
The most famous version of the Single Wing offense would be Knute Rockne's "Notre Dame Box" that he ran with the Four Horsemen. It contained two tight ends, and 4 backs. The quarterback in this formation (called at the time a "single-wing tailback"), like today's shotgun QB, received the snap on the fly. The other 3 backs lined up on the same side of the QB in various arrangements. Also, the formation often featured an unbalanced line where the center (that is, the player who snapped the ball) was not strictly in the center of the line, but close to the weakside. The formation was originally designed as a brute-force running formation (since it had 6 players to one side of the center and only 3 on the other), Rockne's innovations with this formation were using complicated backfield shifts and motion to confuse defenses, and adapting it as a passing formation. The single wing has recently had a renaissance of sorts with high schools; since it is so rare, its sheer novelty can make it successfu
Shotgun
The modern descendant of the Single Wing. The quarterback lines up about five yards behind the center, in order to allow a better view of the defense and more time to get a pass off. The shotgun can distribute its 3 other backs and 2 ends any number of ways, but most commonly employs one running back, lined up next to the QB, one tight end and three wide receivers. This formation is most commonly used for passing but the quarterback can also hand it off to a running back or run himself. Some teams use this as their primary formation, such as the Indianapolis Colts, the University of Hawaii and Purdue University. Most commonly, however, the Shotgun is used in long yardage situations, when the team is playing catch-up or in other obvious passing situations. Historically, the Shotgun was used to great success as a primary formation in the NFL by the Tom Landry-led Dallas Cowboys teams of the 1970s and the 1990s Buffalo Bills teams under Marv Levy, who used a variation known as the K-gun.
Pistol
This offense was originated by Chris Ault of The University of Nevada Wolf Pack. It is essentially a shotgun variation, with the quarterback lined up closer than in standard shotgun, and a running back lined up behind, rather than next to, the QB.
T formation
Like the single wing, this formation is no longer in popular use. It is essentially the precursor to most modern formations, in that it places the quarterback directly under center (in contrast to its main competitor of its day, the single wing, which had the quarterback receiving the ball on the fly).
It consists of three running backs lined up in a row about five yards behind the quarterback, forming the shape of a T. It may feature two tight ends (known as the Power T) or one tight end and a wide receiver (in this case known as a split end). The latter variation is known as the Split T. This is a running formation in which the option is effective. The T formation was made famous by the University of Minnesota in the 1930s and 1940's (winning five national titles). When the Chicago Bears used the T-formation to defeat the Washington Redskins by a score of 73-0 in the 1940 NFL championship game, it marked the end of the Single Wing at nearly all levels of play, as teams, almost overnight, moved to formations with the quarterback "under center" like the T.
Wishbone
A variation of the T-formation invented at the University of Texas at Austin by an assistant under Darrell Royal. It consists of three running backs: a fullback lined up directly behind the quarterback, and the two halfbacks split behind the fullback. It can be run with two tight ends, one tight end and one wide receiver, or two wide receivers. It is used as a running formation for the most part. The option style of offense (where the Quarterback decides to run, handoff, or pitch the ball after the snap rather than before) is most closely associated with this formation. Notable college teams to run the Wishbone include Darrell Royal's Texas Longhorns of the 1960s, Alabama of the early 1970s, and Oklahoma of the late 1970s and early 1980s. As with any hugely successful formation or philosophy, as teams learned how to defend against it, it became much less successful. By 1990, few major programs were using the wishbone any more.
Flexbone
A common formation found in colleges and high schools. In this formation, one back (the fullback) lines up behind the quarterback. Both ends are often split wide as wide receivers, though some variations include one or two tight ends. The two remaining backs, called wingbacks or slotbacks, line up behind the line of scrimmage just outside the tackles. This formation is primarily used to run the option, especially the triple option. Often, one of the wingbacks will go in motion in the direction the play is being run in. United States Air Force Academy and the United States Naval Academy are two college football teams that use this formation.
Wing T
A formation similar to the Flexbone, though much older, is known as the "Delaware Wing-T" was created by longtime University of Delaware coach and NCAA Rules Committee chairman David Nelson, and perfected by his successor Tubby Raymond. It has become a very popular offense with high schools and small colleges. It was designed at the time to be a mix between the single wing and T-formation. It took the motion and run-strength of the single wing, and the QB-under-center from the T. In this variation, there is only one wing back, with the other back lined up next to the fullback on the opposite side from the wing back.
Empty backfield
Also known simply as "Five-wide", a reference to the five wide receivers. In the empty backfield formation, all of the backs play near the line of scrimmage to act as extra wide receivers or tight ends. This is almost exclusively a passing formation used to spread the field, often to open up short inside routes or screen routes. It can also be run with one or two wing backs like the flexbone formation allowing a running game and the ability to run the option. The quarterback can line up either under center or in the shotgun. This formation is becoming more popular in the NFL and college football, with recent successes at Texas Tech University and by the New England Patriots in their 3 Super Bowl winning seasons.
Goal line formation
Also called "jumbo", "heavy", "full house" or other similar names. As the name implies, this formation is used exclusively in short-yardage situations near the goal line. This formation typically has no wide receivers, and often employs 3 tight ends and 2 running backs, or alternately 2 tight ends and 3 running backs. Often, a tight end or full back position is occupied by a player who normally play offensive line or defensive line positions to act as extra blockers. The Chicago Bears of the mid 1980's famously used defensive tackle William "The Refrigerator" Perry as a full back in this formation. In most cases, it is exclusively a running formation, designed to score by brute force. Some teams have successfully used this formation to pass out of, most famously the New England Patriots, who have used linebacker Mike Vrabel as a tight end to catch touchdown passes in both Super Bowl XXXVIII and Super Bowl XXXIX
Double wing
The Double Wing was invented by Don Markham, a high school coach from California. The Offense looks a lot like a flexbone, except that the offensive line's splits are narrow, and the full back is only 1 inch away from the Quarter Back. The offense is primarily a running offense using misdirection and power plays. Most double wing plays use a motioning wing back at the start of each play. Unlike the Flexbone, this offence rarely uses an option play.
The Burns version of the Double Wing focuses on 3 core plays. These plays are the Toss, Cross Toss, and Wedge. The Toss is the bread and butter play of many Double wing offenses.
Double wing wildcat
The Wildcat formation is a version of the double wing invented by Hugh Wyatt. The formation uses the same plays as the double wing offense except that it uses a direct snap to either back and allows for more passing.
Defensive formations
Rules regarding defensive formations are not as complex as their offensive counterparts. The only rule regarding defensive formations is that all defensive players must remain on their side of the neutral zone (defined as the width of the ball) before the snap. If they line up on the wrong side of the line, the offending player(s) are offsides. The three basic defensive positions are defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs.
Defensive linemen are either "defensive tackles" (lined up inside) or "defensive ends" (lined up outside). These are "DT" and "DE" in the diagrams
Linebackers are categorized as middle linebackers (often called "Mike"), strongside linebackers (often called "Sam") and weakside linebackers (often called "Will). Strongside linebackers line up on the same side as the tight end, weakside away from the tight end. These are "MLB", "SLB" and "WLB" in the diagrams.
Defensive backs can include cornerbacks (usually 2, indicated by "CB"), a strong safety (lines up on same side as tight end, indicated by "SS") and a free safety (so called because they are "free" to roam where needed, indicated by "FS".)
Two terms often heard in referring to defensive formations are "the box" and "the secondary". The box is defined as the area with 5 yards of the line of scrimmage near the offensive linemen. This area is most commonly occupied by defensive linemen and linebackers. The secondary is the area occupied by defensive backs, and includes the entire field outside of the "box". The two standard NFL defenses, the 4-3 and the 3-4, have "seven in the box"
- A defensive formation with the "box" highlighted:
These formations assume the offense is lined up strong side right (from the offenses point of view). These diagrams could be matched up to the diagrams above to make a complete 22 player football field.
4-3
This is the base defense for most teams. It consists of four defensive linemen, three linebackers, and four defensive backs (two safeties, two corners). Against two-receiver offensive sets, this formation is effective against the run and the pass. In the 4-3, the linemen tend to line up in the gaps between the offensive line. On passing downs, the Mike is often responsible to cover any running backs, the Sam covers the Tight End, and the Will either covers a back or "blitzes" in an attempt to "sack" the quarterback.
- Basic 4-3:
- 4-3 over (linebackers shifted to strong-side):
- 4-3 under (linebackers shifted to weak-side):
3-4
This is the base defense of some teams. It consists of three defensive linemen, four linebackers, and four defensive backs (two safeties, two corners). The advantage is that while 4 players still usually rush the line, the quarterback can be less sure of which of the 4 linebackers will join the 3 linemen. Sacrifices some size (of linemen) for speed (of linebackers). In this formation, the single tackle usually lines up directly over the "nose" of the ball, and is often called the "nose tackle". In this formation, the linemen often line up directly in front of the offensive line, while the linebackers "shoot the gaps".
- Basic 3-4:
3-4 Eagle
In this variation of the 3-4, the nose tackle is removed from play and in his place is an extra linebacker, which lines up on the line where the nose tackle would be, sometimes slightly behind where the nose tackle would be. It allows defenses more flexibility in man to man coverages and zone blitzes. It was created by the defensive guru Buddy Ryan.
4-4
Consists of four defensive linemen, four linebackers, and three defensive backs (one safety, two corners). Puts "eight men in the box" to stop the run, but it sacrifices deep coverage against the pass, especially if the opponent's receivers are better athletes than the cornerbacks. The formation is popular in high school football, where many offenses still run the ball far more than they pass it.
- Basic 4-4:
46 (forty-six)
This formation was invented by Buddy Ryan, defensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears during the 1980s. Not 4 down linemen & 6 linebackers; it's actually a 4-4 set using 4-3 personnel . This was accomplished by moving a safety up into the "box" instead of a fourth linebacker. The '46' refers not to any lineman/linebacker orientation but was the jersey number of Doug Plank, the player Buddy Ryan first used in this role at Chicago. The other feature of the 46 was the placement of both "outside" linebackers on the same side of the formation, with the defensive line shifted the opposite way. This defense was the philosophical equivalent of the "Notre Dame Box" offense devised by Knute Rockne in the 1930s, in that it used an unbalanced field and complex pre-snap motion to confuse the opposing offense. Chicago rode this defense into a 15-1 season in 1985, culminating in a 46-10 win over New England in Super Bowl XX.
- The 46. Notice the strong safety in the box and the 2 outside linebackers shifted to the same side outside of the defensive end:
5-2
Consists of five defensive linemen, two linebackers, and four defensive backs (two corners, two safeties). Used to stop the run without sacrificing a safety. This formation is common in high schools and college.
- The 5-2. If the defensive ends drop into pass coverage, this formation becomes functionally equivalent to a 3-4:
Nickel formation
Any formation that uses 5 defensive backs (from nickel = 5 cent piece) instead of the usual 4. Often used when the offense is using extra wide-receivers, as it matches an extra corner back against the extra wideout. The extra corner is often called a nickelback. Some variations use an extra strong safety instead of an extra corner. Strong safeties are often the most physical of the safeties, often resembling linebackers, so a nickel with the extra safety can be more effective against the run than one with an extra corner. Comes in several varieties:
- The 4-2-5 removes a linebacker from the standard 4-3 to get the extra defensive back. A variation is the 2-4-5 which replaces rush ends with outside linebackers. It is common among teams which normally use a 3-4 set:
- The 3-3-5 removes a lineman to get the nickelback:
- The 33 stack uses an extra strong safety, and "stacks" linebackers and safetys directly behind the defensive linemen:
- The 3-5-3 refers to a defense that has three down linemen (the "3" level), three linebackers and two corners (the "5" level), one free safety and 2 strong safeties (the "3"level). This is similar to a 33 stack, but with players more spread. Also called the "umbrella" defense or "3-deep." In this set, the third safety would be referred to as a "weak safety" (WS) and allows two position safeties at the mid-level with a third safety deep. It is because of this that the secondary safety in a football defense is called a free safety rather than a weak safety:
Dime formation
Any defense consisting of six defensive backs. The sixth defensive back is known as the dimeback and this defense is also used in passing situations (particularly when the offense is using four wide receivers). One defensiveback more than a nickel, thus one coin higher than a nickel:
- A 4-1-6 (typical dime set-up):
Quarter formation
Any defense consisting of seven defensive backs. The seventh defensive back is often an extra safety, and this defense is used in extreme passing situations (such as to defend against a Hail Mary pass). It is occasionally referred to as the Prevent defense (as in, preventing a game-winning Hail Mary).
- 3-deep quarter formation (3-1-7):
- Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots, has used this unusual "Quarter" formation with NO linemen (a 0-4-7 if you will):
Goal line defense
Defense used on the goal line or in short yardage where the entire defense lines up close to the line of scrimmage in an attempt to stop an expected running play. It is usually used to counter a Goal Line offense. Since there is not more than 10-11 yards of field left, the safeties can be pulled for more linemen or linebackers.
A goal-line defense with "9 in the box":
References and external links
- ^ Diagram and description of the Maryland I at dailyutahchronicle.com
- ^ The single wing formation, at coachwyatt.com