Using the Over Formations with all 5 Eligible Receivers to Gain the Numbers Advantage in the Run Game

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The full text of “Using the Over Formations with all 5 Eligible Receivers to Gain the Numbers Advantage in the Run Game” by Andrew C. Brown, from the Vol 2 — Spring 2019 issue.

Part 1 By: Andrew C. Brown Over the course of my intense study and analysis of football teams’ formations from high school, college, and pro teams I am amazed that the Zone offense/wildcat formations are not used more…. especially when you can shift all five eligible receivers to one side to gain a numbers advantage for a speedy QB or TB/RB in a wildcat type formation. Below is diagram one of how to gain the numbers advantage by having all five eligible reciters line up to one side.

Using the over formations with all 5 eligible receive

Running this formation and its variants from under center has certain advantages that may be more advanta - geous in the passing game when you want to incorporate a lateral pass to Y or the inside WR (which will be discussed in the 2nd part of this series). However, the under center for the running game is great with a quick, speedy type back that is able to hit the open hole quickly and get north-south.

A word of caution, however, is needed in that these plays illustrated here do require patience on the ball carriers’ part so the linemen can execute their assignments. Below is a diagram of a QB Sneak/Zone type play away from the strong side of the defense and to the advan - tageous side for the offense. This is great against teams that are pass conscious against you and/or have an over-zealous Defensive end weakside. There are three major advantages you will have offensively here: 1.

You will have the five linemen going inside zone type lanes giving them a 5-3 advantage; 2. The high safety over the 5 wide side should leave most of the field wide open for your back; and 3. The defensive ends are generally trained to get upfield and funnel everything back inside or look for the QB-this plays right into their scheme and turns it against them. ivers to gain the numbers advantage in the run game.

The second sneak type play from under center runs to the other side when the team shifts the high safety to the weak side. While you would think that the 5 on 5 with the wide receivers would not be advantageous it is as we will assume the inside WR/Y can get the angle on his man. In other words, a hat on a hat should be the norm every time for the 5 wideouts in this scheme. The only difference for the linemen is that they are running a inside-zone right type lane scheme should still give them a 5-4 advantage.

Just like the previous play the QB needs to be patient for just a split second for the linemen to open the hole. Again, defensive ends are generally trained to funnel plays back inside and go upfield first; this will allow for the QB to take his one second step left and then cut behind the double team on the DT and look for daylight before the DE knows what is happening.

Below are two diagrams from the gun. Running from the gun will also allow for easier throwback/cross the field double pass trick type plays (to be discussed in the third part of this series). The stretch zone play relies on the RG and RT executing the seal combo block on the defensive end. If that block happens correctly the ball carrier should run for a TD the first few times you run this.

The strong side play where the high safety has moved to the wide-open side of the field (most likely after you’ve scored several times or ran for big chunks of yardage) is an inside type zone play. This play relies on the double team of their right-side DT (your left side DT when seen from the QB point of view). As long as everyone gets their hat on their assigned hat you should get huge chunks of yardage every time.

Some teams may want to get way to fancy by running motions and zone options from this formation, but I would advise to run those from your base formations. Shifting the 5 eligible receivers to the same side is to sow confusion of your opponent’s defense and their coordinator losing sleep all week trying to figure out how to stop you. In conclusion when executed correctly shifting your five eligible receivers to one side is a great addition to help you keep the advantage you need to win those crucial games!