Football is a game of offensive and defensive formations that requires players and coaches to understand several basic terms used in these formations, such as strong side and weak side. In an offensive formation, the strong side is the side of the formation on which the tight end lines up, while the weak side is the side of the formation that is opposite the strong side. These terms also have relevance to defensive formations, specifically the linebacker positions.
Tight End
The tight end is a cross between a wide receiver and an offensive lineman. He must be quick enough to run pass routes and get open for a pass from the quarterback but must also be big and strong enough to provide pass protection and run blocking like the offensive linemen do. The tight end usually lines up on one side of the offensive line next to the right or left offensive tackle. On occasion, he will line up closer to the sideline where the wide receivers normally line up. No matter where he lines up, the tight end is the key to determining which side of an offensive formation is the strong side and which is the weak side.
Linebackers
A typical football team’s defensive unit contains two linebacker positions: outside and inside. In a 4-3 defense, a common defensive formation, four down linemen and three linebackers make up the defensive front, or the positions that are closest to the line of scrimmage. In this formation, two outside linebackers and one inside, also known as the middle linebacker, act as the defense’s second tier. The outside linebackers are known as strong side and weak side, a designation that depends on which side of the formation the tight end is located.
Linebacker Assignments
Some defensive units designate one outside linebacker as the strong-side linebacker and the other outside linebacker as the weak-side linebacker for each defensive play. In these situations, the strong-side linebacker changes sides of the field based on where the tight end lines up. Some teams opt to use an interchangeable strong-side linebacker system that keeps the two outside linebackers in the same position regardless of the tight end’s location, but change their assignments based on the tight end’s location. In either situation, the strong-side linebacker is generally responsible for covering the tight end if he runs a pass route or focusing on the ball carrier when the tight end provides pass or run blocking. The weak-side linebacker, on the other hand, follows the ball carrier from the rear side of the play, unless the play is designed to fool the defense by running or passing to the weak side of the formation. In these situations, the weak-side linebacker performs strong-side duties.
Exception
Usually, an offensive unit will run or pass to its strong side because the presence of the tight end gives it an additional receiver or blocker. In some situations, especially with pass-centered teams, an offense will line up without a tight end by placing an additional wide receiver on the field instead. When this happens, the strong side of the offensive formation is identified by the side of the field that has the most wide receivers. If the both sides have an equal amount of receivers, there is no strong side on that particular play.
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