Football requires strength, speed and the ability to impose your will on your opponent. However, football is not just about being stronger and tougher than the player on the opposite side of the line. Strategy plays a key role in determining the outcome of most games. You can use a variety of alignments to gain a strategic advantage in football.
Two Running Back Set
In a standard football formation, a running back and a fullback will line up behind the quarterback in the offensive backfield. This gives the offense a number of options, primarily in the running game. The quarterback can hand the ball off to either back, but the running back is the primary ball carrier and the fullback usually does the blocking. This is largely a conservative formation and will give the quarterback very limited passing options.
Shotgun Formation
In a shotgun formation, the quarterback will line up 7 to 8 yards behind the center, and he will catch a spiraled snap sent back to him at waist level. This is usually a passing formation. Before the snap, the quarterback will look at the defensive alignment and attempt to determine the weak spot. After the ball is snapped, the quarterback does not have to drop back. He already is fairly deep in the pocket and he can see how the coverage unfolds. He can find an open receiver much more easily than if he had to drop back after taking the snap from under the center.
Wildcat Formation
The wildcat formation is an offensive variation used at the professional, college and high school levels. It is designed to confuse the defense and lead to big plays. In the wildcat, the ball will be snapped to a running back or a receiver directly. The quarterback may be involved in the play, but he won't get the ball directly from the center. Instead, a running back runs to a spot about 5 to 6 yards behind the center and often catches the snap on the run. He will attempt to run or pass while the defense tries to figure out who has the football. The wildcat formation is similar to the single-wing, which was popular during the 1940s and early 1950s, but eventually fell out of favor.
Five-Wide Receiver Formation
This is one of the most explosive offensive setups, and it is designed to get a receiver running wide open against the defense. An offense normally will not have five wide receivers because that may leave a deficiency among the blockers. However, when a team wants to score quickly to build a lead or come back when it is trailing, the five-wide receiver setup may help a team reach its goal. It is high risk and high reward. If a receiver breaks open quickly, the quarterback can get the ball to him in stride. However, if the defense can cover each wide receiver, the offense may have a difficult time preventing the pass rush from getting to the quarterback.
References
- "Play Football the NFL Way"; Tom Bass; 1991
- "Inside the Helmet"; Peter King; 1993
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