Option Concepts from 4 Unbalanced Formations

Oct 27, 2014 | Offense, Overload Formations, Flex Bone, Formation Structures, Offensive Systems

By Mike Kuchar - @MikeKKuchar

Senior Research Manager

X&O Labs

 

 

demeo04Introduction

Before we start addressing these specific unbalanced formations it’s important to note that most coaches will only use these formations if necessary.  The entire concept behind utilizing unbalanced formations is to dictate defensive structure. 

The premise is simple: 

  1. If they adjust with a person for a person, run the option game the other way (away from the formation).
  2. If they don’t adjust body for body, run the option game to the formation strength.    

FORMATION:  UNBALANCED TRIPS or “OVER”  (Diagram 22)

Slide22

Philosophy:

This formation has been a common formation among option disciples.  When conducting our research, we’ve found the following maxim uttered on numerous occasions, “an unbalanced formation forces a defense to become unbalanced” and that’s how it can be manipulated. While we found this formation particularly effective against Even fronts, it can be just as productive against Odd fronts as well. 

Benefits:

  • Forces defenses to tip its hand by rotating their coverage- either to or away from the trips side.
  • Provides for a possibility of any of the three split receivers to be the pitch back.
  • Adds “girth” to the perimeter, which helps in perimeter blocking schemes. 
  • The use of motion can get second level linebackers to bump, thus declaring its intention. 

Commentary:

“The University of Hawaii gave us an eight man front, so we went receivers over unbalanced into the boundary or the field and they match with a Corner.  So now there is one less guy to deal with out to the play side.  We went back to the weak side of the formation with our option game. Against 4-3 defensive teams we will go wide receiver over to the field and they will condense and play Cover Two to the field.  They will walk the Sam out and split the difference.  They didn’t add a person out there so now we have four blockers for three players.  We get on the back side Safety in a heartbeat.”- Mike Judge, Naval Academy

“The slot could become the dive back in what we call a  “Flip” alignment.  The TB becomes the pitch player.  If we are in trips formations against an eight-man front, it gets linebackers to bump with that motion.  It’s the same read with the same blocking.  If they don’t bump, we run triple the other way.”- Tony DeMeo, former head coach, University of Charleston.    

“’Over’ calls for the WR on one side to align on the same side as the other WR. He is on the LOS and covered by the other WR making him ineligible but it does give us another perimeter blocker that some teams will not account for.”- Joe Bosley, Hereford HS (MD).