Formations for

Success
Jay Wilkinson
Jenks High School
jay.wilkinson@jenksps.org
918-299-4415 ext. 2399
 Formation Philosophy
We want to Dictate how the Defense lines
up.
We want to cause confusion.
(Shifts/Motions)
Create Mismatches.
Work to get great run looks.
Once we find a good run look, stay with it
until the defense stops it.

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 Formation Thoughts
Be able to put any player any
where.
Players can handle more info than
we think.
Verbiage.
Disguise your best plays/players by
using shifts and motions.

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 Our System
Easy to Learn.
High in Verbiage.
Y is our TE / 4th WR
H is our FB / 3rd WR (Shifty)
X is Split End (Usually Best WR)
Z is our Flanker (Possession)
T is our Tailback

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 Base Formation (Right)
X Y
Z
H
T
Away To the
from call. call.

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 Moving the Y
Wide Flex Normal Normal Flex Wide

Lex Rex

Normal – Regular split next to OT to call side.

Rex / Lex – Regular split next to OT to call side but off the ball.
Flex – Split 4 – 8 yards from OT to call side.
Wide – Align as the outside WR to call side.

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 Moving the H

9 7 5 3 4 6 8 10

1 0 2

0- Behind QB 4 – 5 yards deep

1/2- Straddle OT’s inside leg to call side
3/4- In Up position to call side
5/6- Regular WR alignment to call side
7/8- Align as Middle WR to call side
9 / 10 - Align as Outside WR to call side
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 Right 1

X Y
Z
H
T

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 Right 2

X Y
Z
H
T

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 Right 3

X Y
H Z

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 Right 4

X Y
H Z

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 Right 5

X Y
H Z

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 Right 6

X Y
H Z

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 Moving the Z
X

Twins Slot Hip Wing Normal

Weak Strong

Normal – Align in Regular WR alignment to call side.

Wing – Align next to TE/OL to call side.
Strong – Align in Power Back position to call side.
Weak – Align in Power Back position.
Hip – Align next to TE/OL to away from call side.
Slot – Align inside of X away from call side.
Twins – Align outside of X away from call side.
* Above example call side is RIGHT.
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 Right Slot
X Y
Z

H
T

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 Right Twins
X Y
Z

H
T

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 Called
Formations

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 Shoot
X Y
H Z

Y X
Z H

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 Trips
X Y
H Z

Y X
Z H

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 Ace
U Y
X Z

Y U
Z X

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 Poke
X Y
H Z

Y X
Z H

T
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 Quads
X Y
T H Z

Y X
Z H T

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 Empty
X Y
H T Z

Y X
Z T H

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 Goalline
U Y

H H
T
X Y

H D

T
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 Special Formation
Adjustments

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 Exit
Tells the X he lines up call side.
X is the only person effected by
the call.
Makes Invert teams pull the
string or get outnumbered.
Teams can sometimes over shift
too much.

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 Heavy
Puts both tackles away from the
TE side.
Only talks to the Tackles.
Perfect for teams that have
inverts.
Can give alignment problems for
teams that get in the habit of
calling the strength to the TE.
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 Attacking Specific
Defenses

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 Questions to Ask
3 x 1 vs. 2 x 2 which is a better
running formation, which is a
better passing formation.
Man in the secondary?
How do they handle overloads?
 Secondary or Underneath.

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 Questions to ask (cont.)
Empty?
Do they flip DE’s, LB’s?
How do they handle motion /
shifts?

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 4-4 Teams
How do they handle trips?
 Bubble
 Frontside Run
2 x 2 Are the inverts blockable?
 Yes - Read Run game.
 No – How do they cover the flats?
Will they pull the string or adjust
with the secondary?
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 3-3 Stack Teams
How good is their Nose?
 Can our Center handle him?
Blitzing Team or Reading?
Pull the string vs. Trips?
Coverage? Invert over? 2 over 3?

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