Blanketing the Spread Formation: How to Defend Trips in the Open Field

As the advancement of offensive football continues, many teams have shifted away from the traditional one tight end, two back scheme that emphasizes an inside power running game – and have implemented some form of a spread offense. Steve Spurrier made a living off of it during the 1990’s and it has since spread like wildfire down to all levels of football. Offensive coordinators are finding a way to get their best athletes on the field making defenses account for up to six skill players on each play at a time and it has many defensive coordinators scratching their heads.     What has presented a myriad of problems for defenses is the trips formation. By alignment, trips or trio as some programs call it, is defined as any 3x1 set, meaning three receivers to one side of the formation. This could be utilized with a bunch formation (three wide receivers) or can incorporate a tight