By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Twitter: @MikekKuchar
Editor’s Note: This research will be centered on defending the following personnel groupings:
- 12 Personnel (one-back, two tight ends)
- 13 Personnel (one-back, three tight ends)
- 22 Personnel (two-backs, two tight ends)
- 23 Personnel (two-back, three tight ends)
Quite simply, when the offense becomes unbalanced, the defense needs to become unbalanced. Defenses have a choice to become unbalanced in three different ways:
- Adjust gap integrity with the front seven defenders
- Adjust the coverage rotation with the back half defenders
- Adjust with pressure
According to our research, we have found that the majority of coaches, 73 percent will adjust with the front seven defenders, while nearly 22 percent will adjust coverage rotation. Only 6 percent will choose to pressure them. It seems that most Odd front coaches will stay in their base front and just move people over to account for the extra gaps presented by the offense.
We segment our research below into how 3-4, two-high defenses are fitting up the run game against the following formation structures.
Formation Adjustment Fit Patterns:
- Three Surface Triple Width Unbalanced Formation Structure
- Four Surface Double Width Unbalanced Formation Structure
- Four Surface Nub Unbalanced Formation Structure
- Four Surface X Off Unbalanced Formation Structure
- Six Surface Nub Unbalanced Formation Structure
Three Surface Triple Width Unbalanced Formation Structure
The first formation we will present our research on is the unbalanced triple width formation above. It’s a formation structure synonymous with perimeter run and pass concepts to the field side. It presents three eligible receivers and four possible gaps to the strong side of the formation.
Best Practices
Since it’s purely a one-back formation, there isn’t a significant threat to the boundary side run game. For this reason, Illinois State University defensive coordinator Travis Niekmap treated this as an unbalanced look and stacked the linebackers to the trips side. He also will bump the front to declare a new Center.
As evidenced in the clip below, Coach Niekamp will also slant the front to the heavy surface side. So, instead of lining up in their responsible gaps, the front seven will get there on the snap of the ball. The movement will usually cause problems for the zone run game synonymous with one-back formations.
The clip below best illustrates this coaching point:
>> X&O Labs Members: Login here to continue reading
Join X&O Labs to Continue Reading...
When you join X&O Labs, you'll get instant access to the full-length version of this report — including access to everything in The LAB and Film Room. That’s over 4,000 reports and videos.
