offensive formations
Before the ball breaks, the offensive team lines up in formation. Most teams have a “base” formation that they prefer to line up in, while other teams leave the defense guessing. Teams often have “special formations” that they only use in obvious passing situations, close range or goalkeeping situations, or formations that they have developed for that particular game just to confuse the defence. Because there is an almost unlimited number of possible formations, only a few of the most common are listed below.
professional game
The Pro Set is a traditional formation commonly, a “base” set used by professional and amateur teams. The formation has two wide receivers, a tight end and two running backs with split backs behind the quarterback, who is lined up behind center. The runners are lined up next to each other instead of facing each other like in traditional I-Formation sets.
shotgun training
The Shotgun formation is a lineup used by the offensive team in American and Canadian football. Many teams use this formation in obvious passing situations, although other teams use it as a base formation. On the shotgun, instead of the quarterback receiving the snap from center at the line of scrimmage, he stands at least 5 yards back. Sometimes the quarterback will have a backup on one or both sides before the snap, while other times he will be the only player in the backfield with everyone spread out as receivers. One of the advantages of the shotgun formation is that the passer has more time to get into the pocket, giving him a second or two to place wide receivers. Another advantage is that standing further back of the line before the snap gives the quarterback a better “sight” of the defensive lineup. The downsides are that the defense knows a pass is very likely to come (although some running plays can be executed effectively from the shotgun) and there is a greater risk of a missed snap than in a simple snap between snapper and snapper. the quarterback.
The formation received its name after it was used by a professional football club, the San Francisco 49ers, in 1960. Combining elements of the short punt and spread formations (“spread” in the sense that it had receivers spread widely rather than closely or behind interior linemen), was said to be “shotgun”-like by spraying receivers around the field like a spread-shot pistol. Formations similar or identical to the shotgun used decades earlier would be referred to by names like “spread double wing”. Short punt formations (so called because the distance between the snap and the ostensible punt is shorter than in the long punt formation) generally don’t have as much emphasis on wide receivers.
The formation has at times been more common in Canadian football, which allows only three chances to go ten yards downfield instead of four in the American game. Thus, Canadian teams are more likely to find themselves with a lot of yards to make on the penultimate down, and thus more likely to line up shotgun to increase their chances of a big win. Teams like the Saskatchewan Roughriders use the shotgun for the vast majority of their plays.
wishbone training
The wishbone formation, also known simply as the ‘bone’, is a playing formation in American football.
The wishbone is primarily a run formation with a wide receiver, a tight end, and three running backs behind the quarterback (who takes the snap). The back lined up behind the quarterback is the fullback and the other two are halfbacks (although they may be called tailbacks or I backs in playbook terminology).
The wishbone is often associated with the option, as this formation allows the quarterback to easily run the option to either side of the line. It is also ideal for running the triple option.
History
The wishbone was developed by Offensive Coordinator Emory Bellard and Head Coach Darrell Royal at the University of Texas in 1968. Coach Royal was always a fan of the offensive option, and looking at the team’s staff, Coach Bellard saw three great runners. After experimenting with family members over the summer, Coach Bellard came up with the formation.
Trainer Bellard showed the formation to Darrell Royal, who quickly accepted the idea. It turned out to be a wise choice: Texas tied its first game with the new offense, lost its second, and then won the next thirty straight games, leading to two National Championships using the formation.
Houston Chronicle sportswriter Mickey Herskowitz gave it the name wishbone.
A variation of this formation is called a flexbone.
It is raining
The I formation is one of the most common offensive formations in American football. The I formation takes its name from the vertical lineup (as viewed from the opposite end zone) of the quarterback, fullback, and running back, particularly when contrasted with lineups of the same players in the now archaic T formation.
The formation starts with the usual 5 offensive linemen (2 offensive tackles, 2 guards, and a center), the quarterback under center, and two running backs in line behind the quarterback. The basic variant adds a tight end to one side of the line and two wide receivers, one on each end of the line.
typical roles
Formation I is typically employed in racing situations. The fullback generally fills a blocking role, rather than rushing or receiving, in the modern game. With the fullback in the backfield as a blocker, runs can be made to either side of the line with his added blocking support. This is contrasted with the use of tight ends as blockers who, by setting up at the end of the line, can withstand runs to only one side of the line. The fullback can also be used as a fake, since the defense can spot him more easily than the running back, they can be drawn in their direction while the running back takes the ball in the opposite direction.
Despite the emphasis on the running game, the I formation is still an effective base for a passing attack. The formation supports up to three wide receivers with many running backs serving as an additional receiving threat. While the fullback is rarely a pass catcher, he serves as a capable additional pass blocker who protects the quarterback before the pass. The threat posed by the formation also lends itself to play action passing. The flexible nature of the formation also helps prevent defenses from focusing their attention on the run or the pass.
common variations
There are many subtypes of the I formation, generally emphasizing the running or passing strengths of the base version.
* The Big I places a tight end on each side of the offensive line (eliminating a wide receiver). Along with blocking the fullback, this allows two additional blockers to run in either direction. This is a variant with an emphasis on running.
* The Power I replaces a wide receiver with a third back (fullback or running back) in the backfield, positioned to one side of the fullback. This is a variant with an emphasis on running.
* The Jumbo or Goal-line formation further expands the Power I or Big I, adding a second or third tight end to the line, respectively. This variant has no wide receivers and is almost exclusively a running formation intended to reliably gain minimal distance, most commonly two yards or less.
* The Three-wide I replaces the tight end with a third wide receiver. This is a variant of passing emphasis.
Formation I, in any variant, can also be modified as Strong or Weak. In either case, the fullback lines up about a side yard from his usual position. Strong refers to a move to the side of the quarterback with more players, weak to the opposite direction. These mods have little effect on the expected game call.
In Professional Soccer
In the NFL, the I formation is used less frequently than it is in college, as the use of the fullback as a blocker has given way to formations with tight ends and additional wide receivers, who can be called upon to block during running plays. The increasingly common ace formation replaces the fullback with an additional receiver, who lines up along the line of scrimmage. The I will normally be used in close range and goal line situations.
Goal Line Training
Single Game Back
The single throwback is a base formation in American football used by the offensive team that requires only one running back behind the quarterback. There are many variations on single back formations, including two tight ends and two wide receivers, one tight end/three wide receivers, etc. The running back can line up directly behind the quarterback or offset the weak side (away from the tight end) or strong side (toward the tight end).
