I Formation First Look

[Fluff E Bunny]

(PART ONE)

OK, I didn't have as much time to do this as I would have liked (had a wedding to go to yesterday), but I have a first pass.

Lets look at the five basic 'standard' I formations (not including specialized I's like Maryland): I Form Y Trips, I Form Tight, I Form Twins, I Form Slot and I Form Normal

Here's what they all look like. Players enclosed in parentheses are eligible for motioning, although not all plays will allow you to motion all valid players.

I Form Y Trips:

.........T..G..C..G..T..(TE)................WR
.................Q....................(Y)
...............(FB)
...............(TB)

The FB motions to the outside shoulder of the T/TE on either side. The TB always motions away from the TE's side and lines up as a WR on that side about 5 to 7 yards away from the tackle. The TE can just move to the other tackle.


I Form Tight:

.....TE..T..G..C..G..T..(TE)
.................Q...............................( WR)
...............(FB)
...............(TB)

The TB can motion to the left as a WR or to the right as a slot. FB motion is to the outside shoulder of the TE's. The WR just goes to the other side. The TE on the right can be motioned to the outside shoulder of the other TE. (This formation just begs to have the left TE subbed out for another OL)

I Form Twins:

WR............T..G..C..G..T..TE
.......(S)............Q
......................(FB)
......................(TB)

Motioning the slot all the way over effectively puts you into I Normal. FB is as above, and the TB can be motioned left just to the right of the slot to give a trips look or right to give you another WR split out.

I Form Slot:

WR............T..G..C..G..T.............(WR)
........................Q.............(S)
......................(FB)
......................(TB)

FB is as above. TB can be motioned left to become a slot receiver - giving you a spread look - or right to the left of the slot to give you trips. The slot guy can change sides. The right WR can be motioned left to the left slot, and the right slot will step forward to the LoS to cover the tackle. Its a way to get your two best receivers on the same side, if nothing else.

I Form Normal:

WR............T..G..C..G..T..(TE)
........................Q......................... .(WR)
......................(FB)
......................(TB)

The TB can motion left or right to become a slot receiver. FB is as above. TE can just switch sides.



Obviously, since you can motion as many as four different players in these formations, you can achieve a multitude of looks. The basic philosophy is this:

1) First try to motion a guy who isn't needed in the play away from the play to see if you can draw a defender away from the play side if facing man to man.

2) You want to motion a guy who ins't really involved in the play TO the play side versus zone to add an extra body for blocking. For these first two, we're generally talking about the slot receiver, but it is important to get the TE motioned as well, especially for dive plays, to give you numbers to a side, or if you are facing a defense that likes to shift to the TE's side, to draw defenders to the opposite side fom the play.

3) For passing, you want mismatches and/or single coverage.

4) Run like hell, then start pulling out the PA passes.

5) Use the option plays to keep the defense honest.


Next I'll go over the entire set of plays for I Form Y Trips....

[Fluff E Bunny]

(PART TWO)

The I Form Y Trips playbook, page one.

I spent my time today labbing this formation out and learning the plays it has. I then did a play-now game with 8 minute quarters (so I had more time to get used to calling the plays in a real game situation). The results were staggering for me, really. I threw for over 330 yards at a 60% clip. This is for a guy who usually throws for maybe 150 yards (6 minute quarters) and a whopping 20-30% completion rate. Even more impressive to me was that I ONLY ran this formation, so the D had plenty to key on and they still had a hard time stopping it.

OK, so here are the plays, left to right, top to bottom in the book and my comments:

COUNTER LEAD: This is your basic misdirection play. It is honestly the same play as Weak Counter because you can hotroute the run direction. I wish they had gotten rid of one of the two in exchange for another pass play. This is a hit or miss play. I have had it go for big yards and for 5 yard losses. But, you need to run it to keep the defense honest.

- Motion the slot to clear out if man coverage.
- Motion the FB out wide if they show zone (move the slot back if the man covering him doesn't move).
- If you have potential numbers to the other side (eg if you are facing a nickle), hot route the run, then motion the TE over.

SLOT POST: Probably the best play in the formation for passing.

- Motion TB Left:
- If you see 2 safeties back, drop back and pass to the TB who will be running an inside slant after the motion and normally draws coverage from a LB. A mismatch!
- If you see 1 safety back:
- With tight to medium coverage, drop back a few steps then just lob to the WR. This is one of those 'rediculous' deep passes, but honestly the DB will just often not be as fast as the WR and you are generally looking at one on one coverage because the slot takes the safety out with the post.
- If they give you a large cushion in coverage, you can quick hit the WR because his route is actually a very shallow angle route.

- Motion the slot left:
- vs Man just deep lob the WR again. You want one one one matchups any time you can get them, plus you're stretching the D to keep them honest for your more bread and butter short stuff. You can also hit the slot WR who is now doing a fade. But, I found for that play to work you need to be lined up on the hashmark and do a medium powered pass to get it complete. Not high % though.
- vs Zone, drop back and hit the TB for a short gain. Usually you won't get anything with this, and might even end up with a loss. But I've seen the guy covering that zone completely wiff on the tackle and the TB can pick up yards. High % but low yield.

I generally recommend using the TB motion instead of the slot motion (not a lot of point to FB or TE motion that I can see).

WEAK COUNTER: As I said, its basically the same as Counter Lead. Wasted play in the book.

continues....

[Fluff E Bunny]

PART THREE

I Form Y Trips playbook page 2

FB DIVE: This is your bread and butter play. In my test game my FB ended up with about 60 yards. You can motion only the slot and TE. Mix it up along with hot routing to change the gap.

TRIPLE OPTION REVERSE: I think this is another wasted play. It roughly the same as the Triple Option play, but the 'reverse' part slows it down and makes it less effective. Use the counters for misdirection not this.

FB FAKE TOSS: We've already discussed this on the board, but this is your change-up play from the FB Dive. Use it later in the game after you've got the D used to seeing the Dive. Not generally a huge gainer, but not bad either. A little too slow developing for my tastes.

continues...

[Fluff E Bunny]

PART FOUR

I Form Y Trips playbook page 3.

HB DIVE: The other bread and butter play besides the FB Dive. Same deal here, motion the slot or TE as desired, follow FB through the hole or bounce outside.

PA STOP AND GO: This is a play you go to after establishing the dive, since that's the PA motion for this. I wouldn't use it on a short distance down since the D will try to get more pressure in those cases, so medium or long and maybe reserve it for 1st or 2nd down. Simple to run, motion TE or slot, let the PA go, drop back, lob to the WR. If you've established the run this gets to almost be a money play. Do NOT gun it, or you wont get your money back ;)

HB OFF TACKLE: This uses zone blocking, so you all know the story. I've had it go for some big gains though but it just isn't a go-to play.
- Hot route to the opposite side and motion the TE over.
- Short Motion the slot over and snp when he gets close to the outside of the TE. If you're lucky he'll give you a decent block outside and you can scoot around for some yards.

continues...

[Fluff E Bunny]

PART FIVE


I Form Y Trips playbook page 4:

FAKE RIGHT OPTION LEFT: Don't even bother with this play. It is a misdirection play but it just seems to get blown up. If you can make it work for you, then bravo.

PA HB TOSS: Another play that just isn't terribly effective. Might be good with some hot routes, perhaps an IN for the slot. I don't hot route receivers much because the f'n HFA screws it up....even if you're in your own damn stadium!!!

STRONG TOSS: Another so-so play. Not a go-to play but you should run outside enough to keep the D honest for your dive plays.
- Motion slot to clear vs man.
- Short motion slot or motion FB right vs zone.
- Hot route opposite side and then motion TE over to that side.

continues...

[Fluff E Bunny]

PART SIX

I Form Y Trips playbook page 5:

SLOT QUICK: Short and quick pass play. Very, very effective. If you have tight coverage, the quick hitter still usually completes for a short gain. Sometime when you hit the slot, the WR will come over and pick the defender and your slot may roll around to the right for a nice gain.
- Motion TB or TE left away from the slot. Snap and gun to the slot for a short gain.
- Motion slot left. Snap and gun to the WR.

SPEED OPTION: Like most speed option plays in the game, this one is pretty good, if for no other reason than to test the D's outside containment. You can use whatever combination of run hot routing and motion of TE/slot that you want. But always try to go to where you perceive the D to be weakest.

OPTION PASS: I don't recommend trying the pass part of this. If you call it, just run the option. Overall I would just skip this play.

continues...

[Fluff E Bunny]

PART SEVEN

I Form Y Trips playbook page 6:

SPRINT OPTION: Not as good as speed option, but OK.
- If you want to run it left, motion the TE over to the left.
- If you want to run it to the right, hot route and then motion the Slot to see if you can clear out his defender if facing man. If not, leave him there and motion the FB out to the right instead.

MAN FLOW: This is a really nice play, and I only ever motion the slot over. The primary target here is the WR, with the TB as your outlet running his angle route. 3-3-5 can make this one tough to complete.
- If, after you have motioned the slot, there is only one DB 'outside the box' on the WR's side, you're gonna quick hit the WR. To do this, you must hold back on the analog all the way back when you snap. Snap and gun to the WR. Holding back on the analog keeps the pass from going to the intended spot of the hook route which is farther up field...where the DB is waiting to pick it off. Normally the WR will end up diving for the ball and you get an easy 5 yards.
- If, after the slot is motioned, you have more than one DB still left over to the WR's side, you need to read the LB's. Snap the ball and drop back.
- If the LB's come inside (blitz or whatever) or take deep drops, just take the nice easy throw to the TB who will be open in that middle gap.
- If an LB is spying or locks onto the TB in tight man coverage, keep dropping back and try to hit the slot WR who will now be running a deep post route.

TRIPLE OPTION: This is your keep-em honest play, especially if you've had success running the Slot Post play with the TB motion. You can hot route this to the other direction depending on D strength (line slides etc)
- If the D-Line is in normal alignment or spread, run the FB dive phase.
- If the line is spread, follow the FB in with your QB as a lead play.
- For the dive phase, motion the TB so you get the same 'look' as the Slot Post play with TB motion.
- If the D-line is in normal alignment or pinched, run the QB/TB phase.
- For this phase, motion the slot WR.



A note about the option plays. If you motion the TB out wide, and then motion him back inside, you can snap while he is still in motion and he'll be 'at speed' for the option from the start. This can get you a few extra yards. :)

[Fluff E Bunny]

I'm going to try to look at the rest of the I formations in the following order as I get the chance:

I Form Tight - This is a brutal running formation
I Form Slot - This looks like it could be pass happy with up to four receivers.
I Form Normal - The standard.
I Form Twins - Possible zone flooder.

I'll also try to draw up the formations and each of their motioned 'looks'.

[Air Raid]

Interesting stuff!!...will have to check it out tonight!! :D

[kbell97]

Very true Air Raid , nice stuff indeed. I haven't used this offense yet this year. I am definately going to print this out and try it. Nice Read Fluff :D

[Fluff E Bunny]

A little followup here. I haven't had time to totally lab out the rest of the formations. What I have done, however, is start a dynasty with a created team of B level (replacing Duke in the ACC, called East Math College Second campus, or EMC2...the Pi Rho Maniacs ;) ) to see if the I formation works without stuf players like I had for FSU.

The verdict. So far yeah. But I've only played Baylor and Navy :)

What I have found is that the FB really needs to be included in the offense. I had a lot of success with the FB smash play out of I Form Slot, and that was against a 4-3. I didn't use any option, but I think I may try it against better defenses since that gives me both the inside FB dive and outside TB running.

The Slot Post and Man Flow plays I outlined earlier are just scary effective. My first game I threw for over 300 yards and better than 60%. That's just not how things normally go for me :)

[Air Raid]

...Well Fluff...I'm sarting to see the light with the I-Formation....so much so that I can't really say that the offense I have been running the last week or so is a true Spread offense...kind of a surprise coming from me....

....It's more of a 50/50 Power Spread, meaning that I run 50% Gun and 50% under center.....but still pound the ball about 70% of the time.....

Here is the Playbook I created for this offense:

I Form-Y-Trips
I Form Normal
Ace Normal
Ace Trips
SG 2 Back Slot
SG Ace Twins
SG Bunch
SG Trips
SG Spread

....The Running game is four demensional...(1) Option (2) Power (3) Misdirection (4) Single Wing (QB Runs)....

....On an average of 50 runs the distribution looks like this...HBs 24 rushes....QB 14 rushes...FB 10 rushes...WR 2 rushes

...The FB is a MAJOR part of my rushing attack...he gets the tough inside yards....

...The HB serves as a Superback...he gets carries and receptions...but I split the action between two backs to keep them fresh...

...The passing game is three demensional...(1) PA (2) Quick Passes (slants, crosses) (3) Screens.....

....TEs are pure blockers in this system (they serve as extra linemen) and the majority of the passes go to the WRs and the Backs.....

...I have found at least two "go to" (high %) plays in each formation that really open the field up and make it tough to guess what I will do next....think of it as a combination of Rich Rodriguez's Power Spread Offense, Lou Holtz's I-Formation Offense and Mike Shanahan's PA passing attack.......

[Fluff E Bunny]

....The Running game is four demensional...(1) Option (2) Power (3) Misdirection (4) Single Wing (QB Runs)....

I'm more two dimensional. Power first and foremost. 'Option' second, which is really just speed option and QB choice from SGspr. I don't have much success in this game with misdirections, as far as counters go. Its even more pronounced with a crappy O-line and slow RB. The AI just doesn't block down well enough for it to work 'right'.



....On an average of 50 runs the distribution looks like this...HBs 24 rushes....QB 14 rushes...FB 10 rushes...WR 2 rushes

For me: TB 65% FB %30 and QB %5. I haven't found any plays where the WR's can be effective (please enlighten me! :) )



...The FB is a MAJOR part of my rushing attack...he gets the tough inside yards....

Glad to see my conclusion confirmed. In my second gave vs Navy, my FB was the leading rusher with just under 100 yards, TB had about 85...but was a major factor receiving. I want to find more ways to get the FB into the passing game to open it up even further.



...The HB serves as a Superback...he gets carries and receptions...but I split the action between two backs to keep them fresh...

Where do you set the substitution stuff, I can't find anything other than the coaches options page and I dont think it makes a difference.



...The passing game is three demensional...(1) PA (2) Quick Passes (slants, crosses) (3) Screens.....

For me, quick passes; 'medium' passes (in's and letting the slants go across field), and deep ball if I have the matchup advantage. I still can't get the screens to be reliable.



....TEs are pure blockers in this system (they serve as extra linemen) and the majority of the passes go to the WRs and the Backs.....

I'm almost to the point where I'm going to sub in linemen, but I'm still trying to find a good scheme for passing to the TE. In last night's Tech v Tech game, VaTech scored a long TD on a pass vs cover2 where the CB had released the WR and the safety didn't come over because he was trying to cover the TE who had gone on a streak. I need to see if I can find something like that.



...I have found at least two "go to" (high %) plays in each formation that really open the field up and make it tough to guess what I will do next....think of it as a combination of Rich Rodriguez's Power Spread Offense, Lou Holtz's I-Formation Offense and Mike Shanahan's PA passing attack.......

Yeah, I'm about the same. Two go to passing plays and two go to running plays.

[japes]

For me: TB 65% FB %30 and QB %5. I haven't found any plays where the WR's can be effective (please enlighten me! :) )

SG Bunch WR Opt and WR Opt HB Pass - But don't pass.




Where do you set the substitution stuff, I can't find anything other than the coaches options page and I dont think it makes a difference.
)

I use Virginia Tech alot an one thing I do is use multiple RB...
Imoh is my RB1
Humes I use in my power sets - Ace big Twins and Ace normal

and my receving RB Hamilton i use as sort of a 3rd down back in the Ace spread formation.

Keeps them fresh





I'm almost to the point where I'm going to sub in linemen, but I'm still trying to find a good scheme for passing to the TE. In last night's Tech v Tech game, VaTech scored a long TD on a pass vs cover2 where the CB had released the WR and the safety didn't come over because he was trying to cover the TE who had gone on a streak. I need to see if I can find something like that.

SG Y-trips - WR Under the TE usually draws the Safety or LB and the inside slot man running an In is open

I-form Normal - PA FB FLat either the TE draws the coverage and the wr coming under is open or the wr draws the cover and the TE gets a long catch.

I-Form Normal - TE Drag - motion the WR across the formation and then look for either him or the TE

[japes]

Almost forgot

Ace Normal - TE Seam - if you hot route the wr running the in to a streak you have a play that attacks cover 2. If the Safeties widen to cover the outside receivers the TE gets an easy catch if not one to the WR should be open (VS cover 2)

PA Counter works similarly

[Fluff E Bunny]

SG Bunch WR Opt and WR Opt HB Pass - But don't pass.

I only have one SG formation (spread), but since I tight serves the same purpose as ace big twins and I like ace big twins better, I was gonna switch I tight out with SG5W, but I may try the bunch out instead. Thanks.

Are these as cheesy as the HB option pass from Ace Normal and I Normal? If so I may have to pass on 'em.


I use Virginia Tech alot an one thing I do is use multiple RB...
Imoh is my RB1
Humes I use in my power sets - Ace big Twins and Ace normal

and my receving RB Hamilton i use as sort of a 3rd down back in the Ace spread formation.

Keeps them fresh


What I was asking though is that I thought there was someplace you could fiddle with sliders to say sub this guy out when he's at x% and back in when he's at y%. I remember seeing it once but now for the life of me I cant find it.


SG Y-trips - WR Under the TE usually draws the Safety or LB and the inside slot man running an In is open

I-form Normal - PA FB FLat either the TE draws the coverage and the wr coming under is open or the wr draws the cover and the TE gets a long catch.

I-Form Normal - TE Drag - motion the WR across the formation and then look for either him or the TE

I use the PA FB Flat as my FB passing, but never tried hitting the TE or WR, I'll give that a shot. Thanks.

[japes]

There are alot of good plays in SG Bunch.

I would not consider the WR OPT and WR SWEEPS as cheesy they are along the lines of what Utah uses for their Jet Sweep Series. There really the only Plays I have gotten any WR Rushing Production out of.

I run Ace Normal and I Normal but I have never ran the HB Passes out of them so I couldn't answer that one.

as far as Sub% it is in the Coaching Strategies area above Coaches Report card if I recall correctly but you can just set one slider of Offense and one for Defense.

I wish you could do it for positions. It would be nice to rotate DL without your best DB getting pulled as it would also be nice to have a fresh RB and WR on the field without you starting OL go off.

I try to cope with this using the formation subs like I mentioned earlier.

[japes]

By the way back to your original reason for this thread.

I have the I-form Normal plays diagramed as well as the other formations that I use and I added some of your notes and some from others as well. I will uploaded somewhere this evening and post a link. Maybe someone else will find this useful.

[Air Raid]

Almost forgot

Ace Normal - TE Seam - if you hot route the wr running the in to a streak you have a play that attacks cover 2. If the Safeties widen to cover the outside receivers the TE gets an easy catch if not one to the WR should be open (VS cover 2)

PA Counter works similarly

...The PA counter with that adjustment is one of my favorite plays to run...and if the safties creep down to stop the run...I will hot route my TE to stay in and block and hit my WR running the post over the top on one on one coverage :) .......TE seam is also a nice play....

[Air Raid]

There are alot of good plays in SG Bunch.




The SG Bunch is the deadliest formation in the game IMO :)

[Mjphillips]

It is on the controller settings or configuration menu where u choose auto strafe and that stuff

[M-Dub?]

Hey Fluff, are you still going to continue with your breakdown? I am really looking forward to I Normal & I Slot, since those are the two I have in my playbook.

BTW, on the subject of good passing plays to the TE, there is a play in Pro Normal that I like a lot (can't remember the name). Your WRs run curl outs, your TE runs an in, and your two backs run flats. I like to hot route the HB to a streak and send him in motion to the left. You can occasionally get him one on one with an LB for a nice long gain, but the TE is open most of the time on the in pattern, which is usually good for 7-10 yards a pop.

[Fluff E Bunny]

Hey Fluff, are you still going to continue with your breakdown? I am really looking forward to I Normal & I Slot, since those are the two I have in my playbook.

Yes, but this weekend was hella busy. I only got to play one game and was amazed I won it (my created team vs VaTech at Tech...last second field goal!)

I did trade out I Form Tight for SGbunch and had a little success with that. The WR run plays just don't seem to work for me, but my created team has next to no speed whatsoever.

[Fluff E Bunny]

It is on the controller settings or configuration menu where u choose auto strafe and that stuff

Thanks dude. Leave it to EA to put a game play option on a controller option page :mad:

[japes]

I did trade out I Form Tight for SGbunch and had a little success with that. The WR run plays just don't seem to work for me, but my created team has next to no speed whatsoever.

Yeah you need at least some speed from the WR for these plays to work.

Using Virginia Tech I sub freshmen WR E. Royal in as the inside bunch WR in the SGBunch and have moderate success.

Since Draws or Screens never work for me on 3rd and long I like to use the WR runs instead when I plan on conceding a punt. sometimes I actually get a first down. especially when they play M2M and Blitz from the bunch side, good for 12 yards in that situation.

[Fluff E Bunny]

Back again finally with another formation labbed out. I have to say this is one of my favorites now, and I use it a lot.

This is, in a way, a spread formation. Now I know what you're thinking, BS! But the formation starts with 3 wide, and no TE's. Further, you can turn it into a 4 wide formation with simple motion (either spread two to a side or trips to a side) of the HB. Kind of a power ace spread when you think about it, because your back is the FB and he's aligned much closer to the LoS to take advantage of any blocking advantages quickly.

But I digress..

CHECK:
- If you are facing 3-4, 4-3 or the like where you have only one DB covering the left WR (ie not Dime, 3-3-5 or 4-2-5) you can quick hit the left WR. Pull back on the analog prior to snap, snap and then gun it to him. A quick few yards.
- If you don't have that look, Motion the slot-side WR over to the left.
- If you see man coverage, you want to hit the slot
- If you see zone coverage, look for the RB underneath the zone where the two receivers are clearing out.

FB BLAST: Awesome play
- This is simple and effective. Hot route to weakness and motion either the slot or WR as you please. This is a very reliable play, and you don't need a stud FB for it to work. It can really chew up 3-4 and 4-3, and is almost unfair against dime and nickle.

SLANTS:
- Quick hit the slot if nobody is directly covering him.

- Motion slot over
- vs. Man hit the slot
- vs zone hit the RB

- You can of course let this play develop longer if you have time and take advantage of the slants for separation.

- The FB is an option, but I found it hard to get him to actually catch the ball.

HB BLAST: Like some of the other blast plays in the game (Ace Normal for instance), this is just too slow developing to be useful. I'd avoid it.


SLOT CORNER: (If you're facing 4-4, this is your play)
- If you see a 5+ yard separation and only one DB to either side (3-4, 4-3). Pull back on the analog and quick gun to the WR with the most separation. He'll generally dive forward to catch the ball for a quick 3-5 yards.

- If they have tigher coverage, you need to check the safeties:
- 2 safeties deep: Always motion the slot over.
- vs Man: generally drop back and hit RB
- vs Zone: Drop and try to hit the slot between the safeties

- 1 safety deep: Motion the slotside WR over
- vs Man: Drop and try to hit the slot (now the right-most WR) on his corner route
- vs Zone: Try to quick hit the motioned WR. The pass will sometimes skip over to the left WR and he'll catch it instead :)

- The tailback is your outlet.

LEAD TOSS:
- Hot route to weakness and motion slot-side WR as needed.
- It can be hit or miss, but you can get some good yards.

PA FB SEAM: Use this if you manage to have success with the HB Dive play
- Motion the slot so he has more room, he will be the most open if you get time to pass. As with most PA's, it can be slow to develop.
- FB will come open of the LB's overcommit to the PA.

HB ISO:
- Hot route to weakness as needed
- IF you have a fast TB: Motion the slot-side WR and snap the ball just as he gets between the slot and the tackle. Run to that side. If you have speed you can get some sick yards off of this.
- If you have slow TB like me, motion that WR all the way across instead and run to weakness.

HB SCREEN:
- Motion TB to left to get 'Ace Spread' look.
- Primary target is the WR streak
- Second is the WR crossing
- Last chance is the TB for a short gain.
- Use this in conjunction with triple option FB dive to keep the defense honest.

PA IN: Very slow developing
- Motion whatever and try to hit the In route. I usually end up sacked.

HB DRAW:
- Same as any of the other dive type plays as far as motion and hot routing to weakness. You want to try to spring this on the D if you have had passing success and you're in a 'passing down'.

WR DRAG:
- Motion anything but the WR who runs the drag, generally speaking that is the guy who you should hit.

TRIPLE OPTION COUNTER: Very effective
- FB dive phase is your first go like any triple option
- Motion either of the slot-side receivers to clear
- Hot route as needed
- You can also motion the TB out wide if you've had success passing to him on other plays. Basically a decoy to try to get the LB's spread out, then hit the FB dive or follow the FB with the QB.

STRETCH: Very effective
- I found if you motion the slot-side WR over and snap the ball just as he gets past the slot that you can drop back and gun to that guy. Didn't really seem to matter what type of coverage, he just catches it a lot.
- The default play is in itself very effective vs man. Two streaks and a post, plus two swings as outlets (both backs will actually turn upfield, so if you have time but good deep coverage, hit those guys)

SLOT AROUND: Burn this play. Seriously. This isthe type of play that makes me think that the EA people didn't playtest any of the plays at all. It just simply cannot work against any kind of pressure. Maybe against prevent, but who the hell calls prevent?

They really could have made this type of play effective. All they had to do was make it a WR toss play instead, and allow the slot to be motioned and allow the snap while he's motioning. That way the slot would be in a position when getting the toss to actually have a shot at gaining yards. Further, you could have fake toss and option plays that would compliment it and make it a good concept for the game. But no.

TRIPLE OPTION: Use Triple Option Counter instead, its better.

OPTION PASS: Slow developing. If you call it, just run the option unless you are getting no presure, then you can hit one of the passes.

POWER OPTION: There is nothing powerful about this. Skip it.


In summary, a good formation, but the pass plays could have been thought out better (go figure). I tend to use the FB Blast, Triple Option Counter, Slot Corner and Stretch the most.

If you are getting a lot of 3-4, 4-3, Nickle, and Dime called against you, this can really be an effective formation because of the matchups. Versus 3-4/4-3, if the slot is not covered, he's basically a gimme for the quick slant. If the LB's move out to cover the slot (and potentially the motioned TB), you then end up with a weak middle. Basically, it forces the D to choose its poison.

If you see 4-4 called against you a lot, just keep calling Slot Corner, that damn slot will be open for the quick deep lob more often than not. I labbed against random 4-4 and it went for either a deep completion or TD 70% of the time at least.