Best Plays out of each formation

[CoachWeidner]

This season I am goig to use 2 basic sets for our Double Slot package

ACE

O---------------O---O---X---O---O---------------O
--------------O----------O----------O
.-------------------------O

This

O---------------O---O---X---O---O---O
--------------O----------O-------------O
.-------------------------O

and

O------------O---O---O---X---O---O
-----------O--------------O-----------O
.--------------------------O

Any opinions or experience running these against 5-2, 4-3 or 4-4 defenses? What has worked. We run, Midline, IV, OV and speed/lead/load...

just looking for some ideas, thanks!

[AMikell]

Coach,
I would personally throw out the 1 split and TE set and just go with the unbalanced line. I think the advantages you gain are tremendous v/s those out of the regular set. I would say use your Ace set and the unbalanced set. By balancing your set you force the D to declare strenght or balancing with you. W/ unbalanced, they are forced to unbalance with you or get smashed to the strong side. If they unbalance with you, you have them to the weak side. It's a no lose situation. I would watch out for teams that shift the Line to one side and their LB's to another. this can be a problem w/ 5-3 and 4-4 teams.

[CoachWeidner]

I am lost, are you saying to put the wing on the LOS?

[AMikell]

Sorry. I was not clear at all. The 3rd formation you have up is an unbalanced line.

X-------------T---T---G---C---G---Y
-----------S---------------Q----------S
---------------------------F


I would only use the above formation and your 1st formation, ace.

[CoachWeidner]

I see what you mean. Although it does give you a nice inside veer look and ties up the corner...

[CoachWeidner]

BUT... I get that with ACE any way

[CoachWeidner]

So coach, what your saying is to run veer to the weak side if they adjust or even a speed option, if they don't adjust then run outside veer to the strong?

O------------O---O---O---X---O---O
-----------O--------------O-----------O
.--------------------------O

[AMikell]

Out of the unbalanced set, you have tons. IV, OV, Mid, and Lead/Load to the X side and to the Y you have IV and Speed. I have never put the Y on the weakside of the formation in that set, but would in the future b/c it forces the Def to take him into account, and they can't completely rotate their coverage. With this, you still have all of your passing game to the X. You would have to account for losing the blocker, Y, but I am sure there are easy ways to do this.

[AMikell]

coach,
you have it dead on. that's exactly what I am saying. Give your QB the freedom to count #'s and he can put you in a spot to gut the def almost no matter what. If you run a loop blocking scheme to the Strong side, then you still have your IV, and don't have to really Check to OV at the LOS.

[AMikell]

By the way, out of the unbalanced set, if you count 4 men to the weak side run veer there. If you count more than 4 keep your play to the strong side. That's how I was taught to check the numbers.

[CoachWeidner]

thanks coach!

[kakavian]

Weidner-
Ran an option/jet package out of your "ace" formation. We had a lot of success with OSV against most even fronts, and ISV and Midline against Odd fronts. The only problem with this formation is with the wings in tight, is your opponent still can stack eight in the box even nine. One thing you might try, if you really ARE trying to dilute your DW thought patterns some, is to spread your wings out to two by two. You can still run your same pattern, but forces their LB's to committ to covering them, and gives your smaller wing backs a better angle to seal off the LB's on playside. It also can give you some advantages of space in your passing attack, allowing your wings to avoid being caught up in the traffic at the perimeter of the line. And since they are off the line, the "boop" pass over the ends head is there, which is difficult when they are too tight to the box.