BSR Grand Prix

THE FAR FORMATION

Typical personnel:

1 halfback
1 fullback
1 or 2 tight ends
1 or 2 wide receivers

What it is: A base formation that has the (FB) fullback lining up behind the quarterback and the (HB) halfback lining up splitting the inside leg of the weak side tackle. The strong side is always where the tight end lines up. The FB is a running threat to either side of the formation. He can also be used as a possible third receiver either to the weak side or strong side. The HB can be used in route combinations with the split end, while the (TE) tight end can work in combination with
the flanker.

Keys to a winning Far Formation: To be consistently successful from the Far formation, you'll need a BURLY, hard-hitting fullback to SLAM into the line of scrimmage. The offensive line also has to be powerful enough to create HOLES when the defense knows what is coming. You'll have to have a FAST, nimble, fumble free, and with good hands half back that can hit the corner with blinding speed.

Works well when: You want to throw your opponent off by going to the weak side of the formation. Passes to the HB in the flat are great and pitch out runs can be a surprise. The HB is in prefect position to get to the out side of the formation QUICKLY. Hence the HB PITCH and TOSS plays are DEADLY with the RIGHT HB. Note: The weak side guard will ONLY pull if he is UNCOVERED! "No player lined up over top the Weak side guard".

Strengths: Offers good balance between running and passing, but passing success depends on running the ball well. With the Far, teams run to set up the pass. Play-action passes are very effective when running game is successful. Roll out or sprint out passes Shouldn't be done to the weak side but they work great towards the strong side. Although the HB is a long way away from the strong side. Teams still tend to run towards the strong side of the formation with success. Counter and trap plays work fine after you've set them up to defend the weak side. Surprise them with a quick pitch to the weak side always setting a man in motion for blocking help.

Weaknesses: Defenses know you are going to run strong side the MAJORITY of the time from the Far, so it's easy for them to focus on the featured running back. Always having two running backs on the field, limits the number of available pass receivers. If the running game gets bogged down, play-action passes lose their effectiveness.

Far-Form Sub-Formations

One running back lines up behind each guard in all sub-formations, plus the following.

Far Normal-One wide receiver splits wide on the line of scrimmage, the other is split wide but lined up in the backfield on the opposite side of the line of scrimmage.

Far Slot Normal-Wide receivers line up wide on the line, with the tight end lined up in the slot between a tackle and a flanked wide receiver.

Far Twins Normal-One wide receiver splits wide on the side opposite the tight end, and a flanker lines up in the slot.

Far 3 WR-The tight end is replaced by a third wide receiver, and a flanker lines up in the slot. This is one of the best formation to operate out of the WCO West Coast Offense.

Far Big-One wide receiver is replaced by a second tight end, Both tight ends line up next to offensive tackles, and a flanker splits wide to one side of the line.

SINGLE BACK NORMAL FORMATION

Typical personnel:

1 halfback or 1 fullback
1 or 2 tight ends
3 or 4 wide receivers

What it is: A base formation that has the (HB) halfback or a (FB) fullback lining up behind the quarterback. The strong side is always where the tight end lines up. The HB or FB is a running threat to either side of the formation. He can also be used as a possible fifth receiver either to the weak side or strong side. The HB can be used in route combinations with the split end, slot receiver or flanker, while the (TE) tight end can work in combination with the flanker.

Keys to a winning single back Formation: To be consistently successful from the single back formation, you'll need a BURLY, hard-hitting half back or fullback to SLAM into the line of scrimmage. The offensive line also has to be powerful enough to create HOLES, and be able to provide pass protection. When the defense knows what is coming. You'll have to have a FAST, nimble, fumble free, and with good hands half back or full back that can hit the corner with blinding speed and be able to catch a pass when the QB is in trouble.

Works well when: When you want to attack the strong side of the formation or when you want to throw your opponent off by going to the weak side of the formation. Passes to the HB in the flats are great, counter, trap plays, and pitch out runs can be a surprise. The HB is in prefect position to get to the out side of the formation QUICKLY. Hence the HB PITCH and TOSS plays are DEADLY with the RIGHT HB. Note: The weak side guard will ONLY pull if he is UNCOVERED! "No player lined up over top the Weak side guard".

Strengths: Although designed and labeled as a GREAT for passing formation. If you have the personnel this set offers good balance between running and passing, but running success depends on passing the ball well. With the single back formation, teams pass to set up the run, especially on short and flood routes. Play-action passes are very effective when running game is successful. Roll out or sprint out passes work great towards the strong side. There are several formation offered that will shift the HB or FB shifted to weak side or strong side of the formation. Teams still tend to run towards the strong side of the formation with success. If the defense sell out to stop the passing game, they leave themselves open for counter, draw and trap plays. They also work fine after you've set them up to defend the weak side.

Weaknesses: Defenses know you are going to Pass the MAJORITY of the time from the single back, so it's easy for them to focus on the passing game. The quarterback must get rid of the ball quickly if the defense decides to blitz. Deep pass routes can leave the quarterback vulnerable to blitzes. If the passing attack isn't clicking, forget about running the ball.

Single Back Sub-Formations

Single Big-Uses two tight ends, with a flanker on both sides of the line.

Single 3 WR-One tight end, with one wide receiver split wide on the opposite side of the line. One flanker lines up in the slot opposite the tight end, and another flanker lines up wide on the same side as the tight end.

Single Wing-One tight end, with one wide receiver split wide on the opposite side of the line One flanker lines up in the slot opposite the tight end, and another flanker lines up near the tight end.

Single 3 WR Trips-One tight end, with one receiver split wide on the opposite side of the line, two flankers line up on the same side of the line as the tight end.

Single 4 WR-No tight end, but receivers split wide on each side of the line, with one flanker lined up in the slots on either side of the line.

Single 4 WR Inside-No tight end, but receivers split wide on each side of the line, with one flanker lined up outside each wide receiver.

There will be a complete breakdown of the Single back formation in the next few pages. After all this is my FAVORITE formation to operate out of.

Single Back History

Many coaches have incorporated the one-back set into parts of their offense. I feel strongly that it can be used as a legitimate full time offense. It was developed by Don Coryell, but his protégé Joe Gibbs took it to the next level. His utilization of multiple formations, shifting, and motions baffled opponents. In the year of their first championship (super bowl 17) the Redskins set a new NFL record for points in a season.

Most standard offenses employ 2 wide receivers a tight end and 2 running backs. As football evolved and miss-direction was being phased out, the I-formation was becoming the dominant set, and the fullback was carrying the ball less and less. The fullback was now a blocker first. But why have a back in the backfield that is doing nothing but blocking? What Joe Gibbs did was substitute that blocking fullback and put in a third wide receiver, a playmaker. And when that third receiver lined up wide, the defense had to respect that and take a defender out of the box to line up on the wide receiver. Not only did this help the passing game but the more spread out formation stretched the defense horizontally and the passing threat stretched them vertically. The formation decreases the defense in the box by 18%, which opens up a lot of natural space for the running back. And when Gibbs wanted that blocking specialist in he employed another tight end (H-back) who was a bigger blocker than a fullback and was lined up in a position to be more involved with the passing game.

I will explain a few principles of the shifts that my team employs.

Personnel: X: split end, Z: flanker, Y: tight end, H: second or third receiver

Formations: There are four base formations which can be altered into infinite variations

SHIFTS

When I want my line to shift I'll let them get set and shift on the first fake hut, at this point I will send a receiver into motion, then flip the play or change to a totally new play. The farthest man moves first as if he was going in motion, when he passes the QB I'll call for the flip play then the rest of the eligible receivers move into position. (I will also do a shift where the Y shifts to the other side; this is called "FLIP")

An offensive system that is unique and an opposing team is not used to facing will cause pandemonium for their defense. Defensive players are trying to remember their assignments and keys according to strength of formation, etc. then along comes a shift, then a second shift, then a motion...Multiple formation looks and a shift package is a weapon in itself. The Giants used this technique against the Vikings in the 2000 NFC Championship game. The game was a blow out with the Giants coming out on top.

We have two main running plays, the power, and the counter. Both plays have to be run in a corresponding manner, the power is the staple and the counter keeps the defense honest.

POWER

This is an off-tackle run with zone blocking the last defender on the line of scrimmage is being kicked out by the TE the rest of the O-line is trying to seal their man in, if the defense over pursues they can push their defender out towards the original hole and the RB will find the cutback lane.

COUNTER

Lets say we're running the counter to the right out of the WEAK formation (2 TE set)

H- Fill for LT (protect backside)

LT- Pull and seal

LG- Pull and kick out end man on line of scrimmage

C- Gap down

RG- Gap down

RT- Gap down

Y- Gap down

With all the shifts and motions, there 100 ways to block the front side and there are 100 ways to protect the backside of the counter.

FLASH PASS

3 receivers are clustered close together and then spread apart in different directions. can be run with motion or in the FLOOD formation in a "bunch" alignment

inside receiver (H) is running a 5 yard flat route

middle receiver (Z) is running a 10 yard flag route

outside receiver (X) is coming underneath the Z and picking H's defender

QB-5 step drop (man) progression from H-Z-X (zone) read flat defender if he drops off hit H, if he comes up or widens hit Z.

There are a few other 5-step plays I use out different formations with different positions interchanging roles on different plays (ex. In some case the RB will be running the flat in the starburst). Along with our 3-step passing attack (slants, quick-outs, 7 yd. bedrock) and the play-action series, it is quite a formidable passing game.

The main philosophy is to execute a few plays to perfection out of many looks. The pre-snap movement causes confusion on defense and creates match-up problems.